Girls basketball: Wallowa wins two, loses to top-ranked Crane

Published 6:00 pm Sunday, December 31, 2023

HELIX — The Wallowa girls basketball team prepares for the upcoming 1A Old Oregon League season on a high note after a 50-22 nonleague victory over Griswold on Friday, Dec. 29 in Helix.

Defense played a large part in the win as the Cougars held the Grizzlies scoreless in the second quarter and led comfortably at halftime, 27-7. The defense again came through in the final eight minutes as Wallowa held Griswold to only four points.

Zoe Hermens and Sophie Moeller each put in 17 points for Wallowa and in addition, both Cougars were perfect from the free-throw line, allowing Wallowa a perfect 100% free-throw mark for the game. Six Wallowa players placed points on the board in the victory.

Earlier, the Lady Cougars split a pair of games at the Eastern Oregon Holiday Crossover on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 27-28.

After cruising to a 65-26 victory over the Lady Hornets of Harper to open the Eastern Oregon Holiday Crossover on Wednesday, the Wallowa girls basketball team learned the next day why the Crane Mustangs are ranked No. 1.

The Lady Cougars saw a three-game win streak come to an end as Crane downed Wallowa 62-33 in nonleague tournament action on Thursday.

“Crane is an amazing team and have one of the best 1A players I have ever seen in Kortney Doman,” said Wallowa coach Greg Oveson. “I felt we played well against them.”

Wallowa started the game well, putting 14 points on the board in the first quarter but only added two in the second quarter to trail 32-16 at the half.

Zoe Hermens led Wallowa in the loss with 15 points including three baskets beyond the arc. Sophie Moeller added 12 points.

Wallowa (9-4 overall) now prepares to open the league season in the Cougar gym on Thursday, Jan. 4, hosting the Joseph Eagles (4-7 overall). The league tipoff time is 7 p.m.