Panther boys drop trio, fall to 3-9The Prairie City/Burnt River boys basketball team continues to struggle, dropping three straight games on consecutive days last week.

The Panthers made their way to Baker High School for a rematch with a Cove that had defeated them five days earlier in the team’s first action at the East Oregon Holiday Crossover on Wednesday, Dec. 27. The Panthers would ultimately come up short in the rematch as well, falling to the Leopards 62-47.

The very next day, the Panthers welcomed Sherman to Prairie City looking to snap a six-game skid in front of their home crowd. This time, instead of a convincing defeat, the Panthers suffered a heartbreaking 49-47 loss.

The Panthers’ final game on Friday, Dec. 29, involved another trip to Baker for a second go in the East Oregon Holiday Crossover, where the Enterprise Outlaws awaited them. The Panthers fared no better in their third game in three days, falling to the Outlaws 70-41.

The slate of games leaves the Panther Boys at 3-9 on the year. The Panthers have lost eight straight after starting the season 3-1.

They’ll look to get back on track on Friday, Jan. 5, when they visit Adrian. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Mountain time.

Lady Panther basketball closes out 2023 with sweepThe Prairie City/Burnt River Lady Panther basketball team put together a trio of wins in consecutive days to finish 2023 on a four-game wining streak and push their record to .500.

The Lady Panthers traveled to Powder Valley for the East Oregon Holiday Crossover, playing Cove on Wednesday, Dec. 27. The Lady Panthers were dominant, mauling the Lady Leopards en route to a 64-31 win.

The next day, the Lady Panthers hosted Sherman, looking for their first three-game wining streak of the season. Prairie City/Burnt River continued their dominant play in front of their home crowd, defeating the Lady Huskies 47-31.

On Friday, Dec. 29, the Lady Panthers headed back to Powder Valley High School for the East Oregon Holiday Classic and a showdown with the Enterprise Lady Outlaws. The Lady Panthers’ final game of 2023 was a nail-biter, with the squad just eking out a 36-35 win over the Lady Outlaws for their fourth in a row and third over the span of just three days.

The wins put the Lady Panthers dead even on the season at 6-6. The Lady Panthers will be in action next on the road against Adrian on Friday, Jan. 5.

Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Mountain time.

Mountaineers lose pair at Holiday CrossoverThe Long Creek Mountaineer basketball team made their way to Baker City for the Eastern Oregon Holiday Crossover on Wednesday, Dec. 27, and Friday, Dec. 29, going 1-1 in those games while avenging a previous loss.

The Mountaineers played Pilot Rock in their opening game of the tournament. Long Creek would suffer a thorough defeat at the hands of the Rockets, falling 81-39.

Friday, Dec. 29, saw the Mountaineers travel back to Baker for their second game against Four Rivers in a week. Unlike the last meeting, it would be the Mountaineers who would emerge victorious, defeating the Falcons 51-44.

The wins put Long Creek at 3-5 on the season. The Mountaineers will look for their second win in a row at Griswold on Friday, Jan. 5.

Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Dayville/Monument boys drop pairThe Dayville/Monument boys basketball team played games on Thursday, Dec. 28, and Friday, Dec. 29, dropping both to stay winless on the year.

The Tigers headed to Ione High School on Thursday, Dec. 28, to play Ione/Arlington. The Tigers matched their second-highest scoring output of the season in the game against the Cardinals, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 66-35.

The next day, the Tigers hosted South Wasco County, still looking for their first win. The Tigers would suffer their second-slimmest margin of defeat against the Redsides, falling 50-45 to remain winless on the year.

On Saturday, Dec. 30, the Tigers played their annual alumni game, they were victorious over the alumni 76-70.

The Tigers will be in action next at Crane on Friday, Jan. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Lady Tigers lose twoThe Dayville/Monument Lady Tiger basketball team played two games in two days over Thursday, Dec. 28, and Friday, Dec. 29, losing both to fall into a three-game skid.

The Lady Tigers made their way to Ione High School on Thursday, Dec. 28, for a game against Ione/Arlington, falling 39-16. The next day, the Lady Tigers hosted South Wasco County and fared no better, falling 43-11.

Like the boys, the Lady Tigers also played their alumni game on Saturday, Dec. 30. The Lady Tigers were victorious, 40-27.

The Dayville/Monument girls are 2-8 on the season and will hit the court next at Crane on Friday, Jan 5. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Prospector boys, girls wrestle in BurnsThe Grant Union/Prairie City boys and girls wrestling team traveled to Burns to participate in the Woodfin-Robinson-Johnson Memorial on Friday, Dec. 29, with both the boys and girls team leaving Burns with third place finishes in the tournament.

The Grant Union boys had seven placers in Burns, led by heavyweight Rolando Moreno’s lone first place finish. The Pros had a pair of wrestlers finish as runners-up in Taylor Parsons at 132 pounds and Zack Ostberg at heavyweight.

Mason Benge and Taylor Thomas each picked up third place finishes for the Pros at 165 pounds and 215 pounds, respectively. Bryan Camacho was the Pros’ lone fourth place finisher at 165 pounds.

As a team the boys finished with 122 team points, good enough for third place. Hosts Burns was the overall winner of the boys tournament with 254 points, with Nyssa finishing second with 201 team points.

The Grant Union girls placed three wrestlers inside the top four, led by Zoey Beam and Mallory Lusco’s first place finishes at 110 pounds and 190-215 pounds. The Lady Pros’ other top four finisher was Jaydkia Anderson, who finished second in the 190-215 lb. weight class.

As a team, the Lady Pro wrestlers finished with 52 team points, just ahead of fourth place Sisters, which finished with 43 team points. Eventual champion Vale finished with 116 team points, and second place Nyssa scored an even 100 team points.