Enterprise falls to Oakridge, claims sixth place at tourney

Published 5:45 am Friday, March 1, 2024

PENDLETON — The Oakridge Warriors broke open a tight game with a 28-point final quarter, handing the Enterprise Outlaws a 64-53 loss in the state 2A basketball tournament Saturday, March 2 at the Pendleton Civic Center.

The win gave Oakridge fourth-place honors in the state tournament. The Outlaws, champions of the Blue Mountain Conference and the tournament’s No. 8 seed, finished their season with sixth-place honors and an 18-11 overall record.

Enterprise had a 38-36 lead going into the fourth quarter, but then the Warriors went on a 14-4 run, including four three-point shots, during the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to regain the lead. The Outlaws closed the lead to 57-50 with less than two minutes to play but couldn’t get any closer.

Tessa Duncan scored 18 points and pulled down 14 rebounds for the Outlaws and was named the Moda player of the game for the team.

Alex Rowley scored 16 points and had seven rebounds in the loss. Nevaeh James had eight points. Owyhee Harguess had four points and 10 rebounds, and Kendall Wigen added another four points. Grace Lathrop wrapped up the Outlaws’s scoring with three points.

After not hitting a three-point shot during their first two games in Pendleton, the Outlaws went 6-of-22 from three-point range on Saturday.

Oakridge’s Jade and Sadie Snyder combined for 58 of the Warriors’ 64 points. Jade Snyder, with 36 points and 15 rebounds, was named the Moda player of the game for the Warriors.

Oakridge, the No. 10 seed in the tournament, finished its season with a 22-9 mark.

Outlaws beat NestuccaThe Outlaws earned their slot in the fourth-place/sixth-place game by defeating Nestucca, 57-47, on Friday, March 1, behind a 26-point effort from James.

The Outlaws broke open a tight game in the third quarter, when they outscored the Bobcats 14-5 to erase a 28-27 halftime deficit. The Outlaws shot 46.2% from the floor in the second half, while holding the Bobcats to 11.1% shooting.

Rowley added 18 points and hauled in 16 rebounds for the Outlaws. Kimber Stein had five points in the game, and Duncan added four. Codi Cunningham and Wigen each scored two points.

James was named the Moda player of the game for the Outlaws. Hallee Knight, with 15 points, was the player of the game for the Bobcats, who ended their season with a 23-5 mark and had won 17 straight games before traveling to Pendleton and losing twice.

Western Christian stops OutlawsThe Enterprise girls basketball team did a good job defending 11 players of the top-ranked Western Christian Pioneers in the quarterfinal game of the 2A state tournament on Thursday, Feb. 29.

The 12th member of the Pioneers — Tri-River Conference Player of the Year Runon Muroya — was a different story.

Muroya exploded for 30 points, 25 of those in the first half, as the Pioneers beat the Outlaws, 57-29 at the Pendleton Convention Center.

The Outlaws seemed primed for a possible upset of the Pioneers when the first quarter ended with Enterprise down by only five points, 17-12.

But the bottom fell out for the Outlaws in the second quarter, when they were outscored 21-5 and headed into halftime down 38-17.

Enterprise’s scoring woes continued in the second half, with the team adding only 12 points over the final 16 minutes.

Runyon was named the Moda player of the game for the Pioneers.

For Enterprise, Rowley picked up Moda player of the game honors for the Outlaws after scoring 12 points and picking up seven rebounds. Wigen and Stein each added four points.

Western Christian of Salem went on to win the 2A state championship on Saturday night, defeating Bandon, 45-40. The Pioneers finished their season with a 30-1 mark.

Enterprise loses just two seniors, Rowley and Cunningham, to graduation.

Outlaws win all-league honors

ENTERPRISE — Three members of the Enterprise Outlaws girls basketball team were recently named to the Blue Mountain Conference All-League team after votes from the conference’s coaches were tallied.

Senior Alex Rowley closes out her high school basketball career with first-team honors.

Second-team honors went to junior Nevaeh James and fellow junior Tessa Duncan.

Three players on the first team list were unanimous decisions, including Stanfield’s Mazie Reeser, Weston-McEwen’s Kelsey Graham and Heppner’s Halle Hisler.

In addition to Enterprise’s Rowley, Stanfield’s Reeser, Weston-McEwen’s Graham and Heppner’s Hisley, the first team included Kayla Monkus of Stanfield.

On the second team, in addition to Enterprise’s James and Duncan, were Charlotte Hansell (Weston-McEwen), Kylee Jackson (Stanfield), Hadlie Nation (Heppner) and Emery Kaydence (Irrigon).

Honorable mention honors went to Rillie Mitchel (Grant Union), Delany Stefani (Heppner), Kahleigha Haney (Stanfield) and Taylor Quaempts (Weston-McEwen).