Tigers take over top position

TRUCKING TRACY: La Grande’s Jenny Tracy makes a move on the baseline during a Greater Oregon League game against Mac-Hi Tuesday. The Tigers held on for a 43-42 win, moving to the top of the league standings. - PAUL HARDER/The Observer

The Tigers squeaked out a 43-42 victory against the Pioneers in a game that went down to the wire.

“That game was a little ugly, but we’ll take it. A win’s a win,” LHS head coach Doug Girdner said with a sigh of relief.

After falling behind early in the first quarter, La Grande made a run that ended on a Shayla Powers bucket with

seconds left to give the Tigers an 11-7 lead.

The second quarter was marred by sloppy play by both teams, with numerous turnovers. However, as careless as the play got, LHS found enough offense to take its largest lead of the game at 15-9.

The Pioneers made a run of thier own to cut it to 20-19 at the half.

“It was a game of runs. We would make a little run, and they would come right back at us,” Girdner said.

Mac-Hi took its first lead since minutes into the game in the third quarter, then went on a 8-2 run to take a 27-22 lead.

After a Tiger timeout, La Grande found its offense again, going on a 9-0 run to end the third quarter that finished on a Jenny Tracy three-pointer at the buzzer to give LHS a 31-27 lead.

“My teammates were counting down so I knew how much time was left,” Tracy said about her shot. “I had enough time to square up and shoot.”

La Grande looked to have all the momentum heading into the final quarter, but Mac-Hi wouldn’t go away, cutting the lead back to two at 37-35 on a three-pointer with five minutes left.

The Pioneers had a chance to tie the game with two minutes remaining but failed to convert on two free throws.

La Grande stretched the lead to 42-37 with 50 seconds left on a Sidney Brown lay-in. McLoughlin responded with a three pointer on the other end, then quickly fouled La Grande.

The Tigers had a chance to extend the lead at the line but hit just 2-of-6 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter, and just 8-of-19 for the game.

“We’re better than that. We have to be able to close out games a little easier and hit our free throws,” Girdner said.

Fortunately for the Tigers, Mac-Hi struggled at the line itself and came up short of a conference road win.

“We’ve been working hard in practice,” Tracy said. “We just have to stick with it and keep working hard.”

Girdner stressed those same sentiments after the game, saying,“The harder we work the better we play. I thought we outworked McLoughlin tonight and earned a win.”

Paige Aldred, Powers and Brown all finished with eight points for the Tigers. Lauren Mills chipped in with seven.

The Tigers travel to Baker Friday. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

MAC-HI (42)

Erm 2 0-2 4, Toeder 7 3-8 20, Betancourt 0 0-0 3, Burchell 5 4-9 14, Munk 0 1-2 1.

LA GRANDE (43)

Aldred 2 4-8 8, Tracy 0 0-0 3, Tsiatsos 1 0-0 2, Partney 1 0-0 2, Alexander 1 1-2 3, Brown 4 0-2 8, Mattson 1 0-0 2, Mills 2 3-7 7, Powers 4 0-0 8.

McLoughlin    7    12    8    15  –  42

La Grande    11    9    11    12  –  43

3-points goals: LG, Tracy 1; MHS, Roeder 1, Betancourt 1.