Imbler’s Trace VanCleave battles with Cove’s Cameron McGowan during Saturday’s championship game at the Cove Booster tournament. Imbler won the title 39-34. BRAD MOSHER - The Observer

COVE — Imbler built up a big lead Saturday, then had to hold on tight to preserve a 39-34 victory over Old Oregon League rival Cove in the boys championship game of the Cove Boosters tournament.

Imbler made a fast impression, jumping out to a 9-0 lead before Brandon Batty’s two free throws with less than five minutes left in the first quarter. 

Imbler’s Stephanie McGilvray avoids having the ball stolen away by Union’s Carsyn Roberts in the championship of the Cove Booster Tournament Saturday. BRAD MOSHER - The Observer

COVE — Imbler needed to overcome a rough start and a large lead by rival Union Saturday to claim the Cove Boosters basketball tournament crown, 30-28.

The biggest obstacle for the Lady Panthers was Union’s Keesha Sarman.

Sarman scored seven of the Lady Cat’s 11 first-quarter points as Union dominated Imbler early in the game. 

La Grande’s Tyler Isaacson scrambles to get away from Lionel Perez of Weiser in the 126-pound Muilenburg championship match Saturday at La Grande High School. Isaacson lost the match 16-5 for his third straight second-place finish in the tournament. CASEY KELLAS - The Observer

Hardwick wins at 113 to lead La Grande; Staigle leads Enterprise to small-school championship

The La Grande wrestling team nearly pulled out a team win at the 35th annual Muilenburg wrestling tournament Saturday, but instead the Tigers had to settle for second place. 

EOU’s Leigh Anne MacCarthy was one of 21 Cascade Collegiate Conference volleyball players to be named a Daktronics-NAIA scholar athlete last week.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Eastern Oregon University student-athlete Leigh Anne MacCarthy has been named a Scholar Athlete for her success in the classroom. 

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced last week that 408 volleyball student-athletes have been named 2012 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes.  

The Muilenburg wrestling tournament returns Friday at La Grande High School.

Around 20 teams from all over the region will compete in what has become one of the state’s premier wrestling tournaments.

Last season the Muilenburg featured 20 teams and 330 entrants

La Grande’s Denise Comfort (4) became the first player under Melinda Becker to make the first-team all-state team.

After a season where the La Grande volleyball team dominated its league and made a trip to the state playoffs, the Lady Tigers were rewarded with their first all-state selection under coach Melinda Becker.

Senior outside hitter Denise Comfort was one of nine players at the 4A level voted by coaches as a first-team all-state selection recently. 

The Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball team is riding high.

And after a 2-0 weekend that improved the Mountaineers to 14-0, the team has its highest-ever ranking in the latest NAIA top-25 coaches poll.

Imbler’s Danika McIntosh had nine points and seven rebounds in the Lady Panthers’ 43-13 victory over Elgin Tuesday night in a non-league contest. The win improves Imbler to 1-1 on the season, while the Huskies drop to 1-3. BRAD MOSHER - The Observer

ELGIN — Imbler’s girls basketball team found the cure for its bad “cold” Tuesday in Elgin.

After scoring less than 10 points in the second half of their previous game, the Panthers warmed up for a 43-13 non-league win.

Now Elgin coach Mike Slater has to look for the cure for his team. 

EOU’s Anthony Brown lays the ball in as Warner Pacific’s Jeremy Jones goes for a block during the Mountaineers’ 61-59 victory Saturday night at Quinn Coliseum. CASEY KELLAS - The Observer

Mounties get by Knights despite poor night shooting 

The No. 4-ranked Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball team was able to hold off an upset-minded Warner Pacific squad 61-59 Saturday night at Quinn Coliseum.

The win extends the Mountaineers season record to 14-0.

EOU’s Nicole Redd scored 17 points and dished out six assists in the Mountaineers’ 84-59 victory over Warner Pacific Saturday night at Quinn Coliseum. CASEY KELLAS - The Observer

The Eastern Oregon University women’s basketball team put on a shooting clinic Saturday night against visiting Warner Pacific.

The No. 10-ranked Mountaineers drained 13 three-pointers and shot 50 percent from the field in an 84-59 victory.

“We’ve been struggling offensively before this weekend, and the girls put in some extra work outside of practice and it paid off,” head coach Anji Weissenfluh said.