BURNS The 2A Grant Union Prospector boys basketball team had a hard-fought first game at last weeks two-day Burns Tournament.

The Pros faced the Burns Hilanders, losing to the tough 3A team 40-49.

It really came down to both teams playing good defense, and Burns simply had a couple of fewer turnovers and made a couple more shots than we did, said head coach Steve Speth, adding his team shot just 4 of 13 from the free-throw line.

The Hilanders will do well in their league this year, he said. We play them at home in January and look forward to the rematch.

The team made a comeback Friday, toppling the 1A Jordan Valley Mustangs 60-51.

Grant Unions momentum gained them a 28-point lead at one point in the third quarter.

We started off shooting the ball well and put the game away early, he said, adding, Mitch Moulton and Kody Nelson had their best offensive days so far this season.

The younger players got a lot of playing time against their good and very big counterparts, he said.

Jordan Valley never gave up and made the score close at the end, he said. Our younger players should learn from the experience and improve so they can help our varsity team in games throughout the season.

Grant Union hosts Weston-McEwen on Friday, the girls starting at 6 p.m., and boys about 7:30 p.m., and Saturday the teams travel to Irrigon.

Both are strong teams, Speth said.

Irrigon is expected to win the state title this year, returning most of their team from last season when they lost in the title game.

Speth expects Weston-McEwen to be tough contenders this year as well, as theyve added key Pilot Rock players to their roster of returners.

The girls also had a tough contest with Burns on Thursday, falling 34-53.

Head coach Mark Mosley said the Hilanders were young, but very athletic.

Our girls actually played really good defensively in the first half, then Burns came with a little full-court pressure in the second half that threw us off a little bit, he said.

Our team played hard to the end, he added. We just couldnt fully recover.

In Fridays game against Jordan Valley, the Prospectors, with a size advantage, hit the court, and the hoops, with more intensity.

We were able to get a few turnovers down the stretch that helped us maintain our lead, Mosley said.

He said he expects this weeks games to be tough, noting that Weston-McEwen is one of the favorites to win the league.

Theyre tough, he said.

To prepare for those games, Mosley said theyll work on stepping up their defensive intensity and breaking the press.

The stats

Boys Basketball

GU vs. Burns

Player / Points / Rebounds /Assists / Steals

Kody Nelson, 6/2/3/1

Dalton Reimers, 15/8/1/1

Rayce Houser, 2/7/6/4

Mitchell Moulton, 10/4/2/1

Trace Gill, 4/2/-/1

Wyatt Weaver, -/2/-/-

Colton Madden, 3/5/-/-

Nathan Gehley, -/1/1/-

Boys vs. Jordan Valley stats:

Kody Nelson, 18/4/4/3

Dalton Reimers, -/8/-/2

Rayce Houser, 2/1/2/1

Mitchell Moulton, 21/5/5/3

Trace Gill, 9/6/1/1

Wyatt Weaver, 4/1/-/-

Colton Madden, 4/8/1/1

Levi Coalwell, -/-/-/2

Ricky Weickum, 2/-/1/1

Girls Basketball

GU vs. Burns

Points scored: Mariah Meyerholz, Mikeala Donohue, Heather Mosley, 6 each; Samantha Brock, 5; Emily Mosley, 4; Preslie Thompson, 3; Rayne Houser, Rheanna Cartner, 2 each.

Top rebounds: Donohue, Mosley with 5 each.

Girls vs. Jordan Valley stats,

Points scored: Sarah Wright, 10; Houser, Donohue, 6 each; Emily Mosley, Meyerholz, Brock, Heather Mosley, Riley Sharp, 4 each.

Top rebounds: Wright, Donohue, 6 each; Emily Mosley and Heather Mosley, 5 each.