Free throws lift Panthers past Leopards, 35-30

SHOW OF HANDS: Imbler's Emma Bowers is surrounded by a wall of Spartans Friday as Maddison Thatcher (30), Bri Thatcher (14) and Lena Carr (24) close in. The Spartans defeated the Panthers, 45-37. BRAD MOSHER / The Observer

COVE — Imbler picked up a 35-30 victory over the Lady Leopards Saturday, but the game was won at the free throw line.

The visiting Lady Panthers had eight field goals and one three-pointer. The Panthers won the game by hitting 16 of 36 attempts from the line.

Cove hit seven field goals and had three three-pointers for a total of 23 points — four points more than Imbler hit from the field. But the Leopards made just seven of 18 tries at the line.

Imbler held a narrow 11-8 edge after the first quarter and added to the cushion by leading at halftime, 18-11.

But the Leopards came back in the third quarter to tie the game after outscoring Imbler 13-6. Five different Cove players scored in the third quarter rally.

According to Cove coach Brendan May, he had five freshmen playing in the third quarter and watched them start coming together against Imbler. "They are gaining confidence. I don't think they are afraid any more." He also said the future looks brighter for his young team and they make be ready to surprise some people during the district tournament in Baker City. 

"We want to play more than one game of importance (in the tournament). That means we need to win the first game," May said. If the Leopards can do that, the team will play at least three games in the tourney, he added.

Kelcie Wiley led Imbler with 10 points, while Katia Olson had eight.

Both Danika McIntosh and Ally Fullerton finished with six points each.

Emma Bowers added four points, while Miah Slater added one point.

Freshman Kindra Moore led Cove scorers with eight points, while Hailey Hulse added seven and Hannah Hulse put in six. 

Kayla Johnson and Madison Courtney each added three points, while Mikayla Murchison added two. Molly DelCurto finished with one point.

Spartans 45, Panthers 37

IMBLER — The Pine Eagle Spartans pulled away from a stubborn Imbler girls squad Friday to claim a 45-37 decision on the road.

The two teams battled back and forth through the first half and into the third quarter before the Lady Spartans were able to take a slight advantage over the hosts in Imbler.

Halfway through the third quarter, Pine Eagle inched ahead to a 25-22 lead when Emma Bowers was fouled on a three-point shot. 

The Imbler freshman hit three free throws to tie the game again but those would be the last points Imbler scored in the  period.

By the buzzer, Pine Eagle had scored five points to take a 30-25 lead into the final quarter.

The Panthers tried to close the gap several time, but after Pine Eagle opened up an 11-point lead with four minutes left that the hosts made their biggest run at the Spartans.

Down 40-29, Bowers and Danika McIntosh hit baskets to close the score to 40-33 with 2:29 left. That was the closest the Imbler team would get.

Chelsie Gulick and Bri Thatcher led the Lady Spartans with 14 points each, while Lena Carr finished with seven points. Maddison Thatcher and Jamie Butler each scored four points. Elise Terjeson had two points. 

The Panthers were led by Katia Olson's nine points, while McIntosh and Bowers had seven points apiece. Both Kelcie Wiley and Jacey Teeter added five points each. Maddie Lease finished the game with two points.

Wallowa 40, Cove 18

WALLOWA — The Lady Cougars jumped out to a 28-7 halftime lead on their way to a 40-18 victory over Cove Friday.

Wallowa senior Bekah Jamerson led her team in scoring with 12 points, while Morgan Waters had seven and Skylar Waters finished with six points. Shawna Chrisman scored four while both Sara Chrisman and Baylee Shelton put in three points each. Taylor Harshfield and Samantha Johnson both had two points. Kristyn Young added one point.

Hailey Hulse led Cove with 10 points, while DelCurto had four points.

Hannah Hulse and Rene Mills both scored two points.

In the second half, Wallowa outscored the Leopards by a 12-11 margin.

Wallowa will host Powder Valley Friday at 6 p.m. in the Old Oregon League finale for both teams. Cove travels to Halfway for a game with third-place Pine Eagle at 6 p.m. Friday.

Badgers 65, Eagles 33

JOSEPH — Led by Jessica Pedro's 20 points, Powder Valley's girls basketball team picked up a 65-33 road victory over the Eagles Friday. 

After starting off with a 16-11 first quarter lead, the Lady Badgers moved out to a 37-23 score by halftime and kept pulling away. The game was put out of reach when the Lady Badgers went on a 20-1 run in the third quarter.

Breanna Gibson led the Joseph scorers with eight points, while Noel Taylor finished with seven. Hailee McClure had four, while Holly Taylor, Jade DeLury and Sidney Cooney each added three points. Danica Gross and Charley Doss each scored two points and Paige Hunting added one free throw in the fourth quarter.

Both Ali Abrego and Jessi Stephens joined Pedro in double-figure scoring with 12 and 10  points respectively. 

Alexandra Colton had eight points, while McKinsey Hampton put in seven. Jayde Silbernagel had four points while Katie Feik added two. Taylor Martin and Amanda Feik each added one point.