Prairie City boys host Round 1 state game Tuesday

Published 5:21 pm Friday, February 17, 2017

The 1A-8 High Desert District Basketball Tournament delivered excitement to the fans as six teams competed Thursday through Saturday at the Grant Union Junior-Senior High School gym in John Day.

In Saturday evening’s boys championship game, the Jordan Valley Mustangs won the championship 71-59 over the Prairie City Panthers.

Prairie City won second in the tournament and will host a Round One state playoff game at the Panther gym, hosting the Echo Cougars. The game starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Cost of admission is $6 for adults and $4 students.

Echo, of the Old Oregon League, has a 7-7 league record, 10-16 overall, and is ranked No. 36.

Prairie City has a 12-2 league record, 15-7 overall, and is ranked No. 18.

On Saturday, playing for third place to advance to state, the Adrian Antelope boys defeated the Monument/Dayville Tigers 43-34.

In girls action on Saturday, Crane beat Adrian 56-51 in the district championship game.

The Jordan Valley girls beat the Prairie City Lady Panthers 54-47 for third place.

Prairie City boys vs. Jordan Valley

Although Jordan Valley claimed the win, Prairie City battled hard to the end.

In the first quarter the teams tied the scored several times, and Jordan Valley pulled ahead to lead the first 17-12.

At the half, the Mustangs led 37-28.

Prairie City came within four points of the Mustangs in the third quarter, but scoring was even, 12-12, and Jordan Valley held onto their lead.

In the final eight minutes, Prairie City continued strong.

Panther players Levi Burke and Dorran Wilson each scored eight points in the fourth, each with a score off a steal, and Devin Packard added four.

Wilson was high-point scorer for the Panthers with 29, followed by Burke with 17.

For the Mustangs, Zeke Quintero had a game high 31 points.

Prairie City head coach Jonathan Gill had a positive outlook after the game.

“I want to say congratulations to the Jordan Valley coach and program, they won and they won with class,” he said. “If you’ve got to lose, that’s a heck of a program to lose to.”

He said he was proud of his team.

“They did everything I asked them to, and they’ve improved all year,” he said. “They played as a team and lost as a team, and they fought to the very end – they fought for four quarters, so nothing to hang their head about.”

He said he had some words for this team, after the game.

“You don’t always win in life,” he said. “You lose sometimes, but what defines a character as a man is what you do when you go through those adverse moments. I think that’s a great group of men, and I know they respond well.”

Prairie City stats vs. Jordan Valley:

Dorran Wilson: 29 points (one three-pointer)

Levi Burke: 17 (three three-pointers)

Wyatt Williams: 5 (one three-pointer)

Devin Packard: 4

Danner Davis: 2

Syd Holman: 2 (2-2 free-throws)

There will be more on the tournament in next week’s Blue Mountain Eagle.