Buckaroos, Rose end Cougars’ season with 43-36 loss

Published 11:00 am Thursday, February 22, 2024

Buckaroos bounce Cougars from tourney

ST. PAUL – The Wallowa girls’ basketball team ran into a problem by the name of Audra Rose as the St. Paul Buckaroos claimed a 43-36 victory over the Cougars in first-round action of the 1A state basketball tournament.

Rose, a junior post for the Buckaroos, had over half the Buckaroos’ total points, putting in 26 in addition to grabbing 17 rebounds for St. Paul.

In the loss, Zoe Hermens and Sophie Moeller combined for 25 points and 12 steals for the Cougars.

Wallowa ends its season with a 14-11 overall record. Missing the 1A Old Oregon League tournament after an unexpected loss to Nixyaawii, the Cougars maintained a ranking that was strong enough to earn a spot in the state playoffs. A string of wins early in the year helped boost that ranking in addition to a .500 record in the tough 1A Old Oregon League.

Next year’s team will be without seniors Hermens, Moeller, Jadyn Tanzey and Cecilia April.

Joseph falls to Chiloquin in first round

CHILOQUIN — The Joseph girls’ basketball season came to an end as the Chiloquin Panthers downed the Eagles 57-41 on Wednesday, Feb. 21 in the Chiloquin gym.

Joseph made the trip to the Klamath County school to open the first round of 1A state playoffs as the 22nd seed in the 32-team field.

The home team Panthers hosted as the 11th seed.

Team and individual statistics were not provided for the game.

Joseph ends the season 13-14 overall and with a 6-4 record in 1A Old Oregon League showing. The Eagles placed third in the recent Old Oregon League tournament.

Four seniors will be departing the team: Next season, Joseph will be without Aimee Meyers, Abby Orr, Rose Christenson and Lakotah Steel.

— John L Braese