by CASEY KELLAS / The Observer

CORVALLIS — The Lady Tigers are in the state semifinals.

But they sure made it interesting.

La Grande held off a ferocious second half rally by Banks in the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament Wednesday night at Gill Coliseum, pulling out a 49-47 victory to advance to Thursday’s semifinal. 

When the La Grande girls basketball team tips off against Banks tonight in the quarterfinals of the 4A state tournament at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, the Lady Tigers will be representing more than just the Grande Ronde Valley.

Denise Comfort, Madison Elliott, Breanna Partney and Lauren Mills have racked up individual awards for La Grande the past four seasons, but a state title still eludes the four seniors. BRAD MOSHER/The Observer

by CASEY KELLAS / The Observer 

La Grande’s senior quartet look to go out on top at state

The La Grande girls basketball team has seen its fair share of success the past four seasons under head coach Doug Girdner. 

During that span the Lady Tigers have won 56 games going into tonight’s quarterfinals showdown with Banks at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis.

Union’s Amber Fiorito (34) and Kaci Langford (20) battle for a rebound with Kim Webb of Regis in the 2A state championship game Saturday night at the Pendleton Convention Center. The Rams won the game, 60-48. The Union girls basketball team (below) poses with their medals. CASEY KELLAS/The Observer

by CASEY KELLAS / The Observer 

Regis holds off Lady Cats for 2A championship, 60-48 

PENDLETON — For the third straight season, the Regis Rams were crowned champions of the 2A girls basketball state tournament, defeating Union 60-48 in the title game Saturday night at the Pendleton Convention Center.

But the Lady Cats, making their first appearance in the championship game in school history, didn’t make it easy on the 2A juggernauts. 

La Grande’s Madison Elliott hugs Avery Albrecht after the Tigers’ win Saturday. BRAD MOSHER/The Observer

by BRAD MOSHER / The Observer

Enterprise’s Marta Stangel was named to the All-Tournament second team at the 2A state tournament Saturday in Pendleton. CASEY KELLAS/The Observer

by CASEY KELLAS / The Observer

PENDLETON — The Enterprise girls basketball team just couldn’t get shots to drop in Pendleton.

A day after shooting 17 percent in a loss to Western Mennonite, the Outlaws hit just 22.2 percent (12-54) in a 50-34 loss to Pilot Rock Friday that eliminated EHS from the 2A state tournament.

Imbler’s Garrett Bigej tries to strip the ball from a Columbia Christian player in Saturday’s fourth/sixth-place game of the 1A state tournament in Baker City. NANCY CAMPBELL photo

BAKER CITY -— Imbler’s Panthers pounced on Columbia Christian in the first quarter and never let the Knights get in control on the way to 60-42 victory and a fourth-place finish in the state 1A tournament Saturday.

The victory gave the Panthers a final season record of 20-4, while Columbia Christian fell to 21-9.

EOU’s (back row, from left) Talissa Baldovino, Kody Coxen, Hans Roelle, Ryan Rosenau and Doug Benson pose with their all- American trophies, while Jodine Steemers (bottom row, from left) and Ryan Booth do the same.

GENEVA, Ohio — Strong performances and all-American honors highlighted the Eastern Oregon University track and field team’s performance on the final day of the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at the SPIRE Center.

Talissa Baldovino, Jodine Steemers, Doug Benson, Ryan Booth, Hans Roelle and Ryan Rosenau all earned all-American honors on the track during the three-day event.