IMBLER QUARTERBACK BRYAN MILLS throws a pass during the Class 1A State Championship game Saturday in Hillsboro. Observer photo/PAUL HARDER

At least that’s how head coach Lee Lowe felt.

His team fell to St. Paul 38-34 in the Class 1A State Championship game Saturday.

Imbler and St. Paul navigated through the Class 1A football playoffs for the chance to meet for the state title.

For the Panthers it’s their third straight trip to the title game.

GUARD RYAN TOOKE is one of seven seniors on this year’s La Grande boys basketball team. - Observer File Photo

The Tigers welcome back seven players that were juniors on last year’s team, including the reigning GOL player of the year Kevin Attila.

La Grande Tiger Baseball is hosting a pitchers and catchers camp Dec. 19-20 at the La Grande Middle School gym. Register by Sunday to receive a camp T-shirt by calling Mark Lanman after 5 p.m. at 541-910-4852. Only 20 pitchers and 10 catchers will be admitted to the camp.

The first session Dec. 19 runs from 8 a.m. to noon while the second session goes from 1 to 4 p.m. The camp Dec. 20 runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Geared toward 9- to 18-years-olds, organizers say players will learn basic fundamentals and advanced tips during 11 hours of instruction.

Participating coaches include Mark Lanman, head coach of LHS basemball and Darwin Roberts, assistant coach of LHS baseball. Trent Evins, pitcher at Lassen Community College for two years and at New Mexico Highlands University, will also coach along with Walla Walla Warriors second-year pitcher, Richie Carmichael and first season pitcher Josh Yundt.

The La Grande Tigers boys basketball team started strong and ended strong Tuesday night against Pendleton, but it was the middle quarters where the Tigers struggled as the Bucks eked out a 59-54 victory.

“I was surprised we didn’t get that one,” La Grande head coach Aaron Mills said. “I thought we had enough in the final minutes, but they held us off.”

The Tigers got off to a blistering start, grabbing a 9-1 lead just minutes into the game. But Pendleton fought back in an even first half to take the lead at halftime 22-18.

LEWISTON, Idaho — The Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball team had little trouble defeating Lewis-Clark State College Saturday night, 73-47.

Eastern Oregon’s Jordan Gregg was named the Cannon’s Building Materials Tournament MVP after finishing with 23 points and 29 rebounds in a pair of Mountaineer victories over the weekend. The senior had a game-high 16 rebounds and added 11 points Saturday.

The Mountaineers’ Dan Stafford finished with a game-high 20 points against the host Warriors. The senior shot 6 for 8 from the field, including 4 for 5 from behind the perimeter. EOU shot 11 for 24 from behind the arc, and 39 percent from the field.

CALDWELL, Idaho -- The Eastern Oregon University women’s basketball team defeated Whitman College in the third game of the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Classic, 62-53.

The Mountaineers (5-3) were led by Tana Stickney’s game-high 25 points on nine of 18 shooting from the floor. The senior made both of her three-point attempts. Alyssa Garro followed her 20-point, six three-pointers performance Friday, with nine points and three three-pointers Saturday. Anne Barnett grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

Eastern led by as many as 11 points three times in the game. Whitman led four times. Its largest lead was 19-15 with 5:25 remaining in the first half. A Jenele Peterson jump shot with 15:08 left in the second half was Whitman’s final lead.

WESLEY BURGESS CARRIED THE LOAD for Imbler against Triad in the state semifinals Saturday. Burgess carried the ball 38 times for 294 yards and four touchdowns during a 30-20 victory. NANCY CAMPBELL submitted photo

The Panthers will gladly take their 30-20 win against Triad, but it came at a potentially high cost.

Senior quarterback Bryan Mills went down early in the second quarter of the semifinal game at Summit High School Saturday.

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Eastern Oregon Mountaineer cross country team fared well at the NAIA National Championships Saturday.

The men’s team finished in 12th place and were led by D.J. Flores who placed 16th with a time of 25:38. Flores earned All-American honors with a top-30 finish and was just one minute off the pace of first place finisher Silas Kisorio of Oklahoma Christian.

EOU’S KYLE MILLER DRIVES TO THE basket during a 69-39 win against Williamette University at the Aramark Holiday Classic Saturday in Quinn Coliseum. EOU Athletics

The Mountaineers (4-1) picked up the victory in the second and final game of the fifth annual Aramark Holiday Classic. Alyssa Garro paced EOU with 18 points. The junior finished 7 for 12 from the field, including 4 of 9 from behind the arc, and was named to the All-tournament team.

Freshman Kelsea Hurliman added 13 points for Eastern, hitting three of her seven three-pointers. The Mountaineers were 11 for 40 from behind the perimeter, and shot 35 percent from the field total.