Stanfield head coach Rylie Smith watches action on the floor near the end of the Blue Mountain Conference championship game against Grant Union on Feb. 17, 2024, at the Pendleton Convention Center.

PENDLETON — Stanfield has been untouchable in the Blue Mountain Conference this season, and that streak extended to the district tournament, where the Tigers beat Grant Union 65-56 in the championship game Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Pendleton Convention Center.

“Grant Union is very well coached and played hard the whole game,” said Stanfield coach Rylie Smith, whose team won the title for the second year in a row. “We got off to a hot start and just never let go of it. I was impressed with how locked in we were defensively and just flat-out played for each other.”

Both teams advanced to the 2A state playoffs.

The Prospectors will travel to Willamina to face the 21-6 Bulldogs on Friday, Feb. 23, at a time to be determined.

Stanfield is at home against Kennedy at 6 p.m. Friday.

“One of our goals is checked off, but we still have more work to do,” Smith said.

The Tigers (17-6) opened the game with a 20-10 lead in the first quarter, then went on a 15-6 run in the second quarter for a 35-16 lead at the half.

The Prospectors (16-9) went on a 40-30 run in the second half, but could not catch the Tigers.

Landon Bailey led Stanfield with 17 points and seven steals, while Michael Odell added 13 points and five rebounds, and Jame Patterson had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Talon Van Cleave led Grant Union with 19 points and six rebounds, while Lukas Blood had 11 points and three assists.

Making the finalsPENDLETON — Grant Union got off to a hot start and the Prospectors handed Heppner a 67-52 loss at the Blue Mountain Conference district tournament Friday, Feb. 16, at the Pendleton Convention Center.

Grant Union (16-8) will play Stanfield for the district title at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, while Heppner (13-11) will be fighting for a return trip to the state playoffs when it meets Weston-McEwen at 2:45 p.m. in the third-place game.

The Prospectors raced out to a 29-8 lead in the first quarter, and led 45-19 at the half.

The Mustangs were able to right the ship in the second half, outscoring GU 33-22, but it would not be enough.

Mason Orem led the Mustangs with 14 points and five rebounds, while Landon Mitchell had 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists, Cameron Proudfoot had nine points, and Caden George chipped in seven points and six rebounds.

Sheldon Lenz led GU with 21 points and three steals, with Lukas Blood adding 13 points and Talon Van Cleave 12 points.

Irrigon ends Lady Pros’ season

The Irrigon Lady Knights kept their season alive with a Blue Mountain Conference district tournament play-in win over the Grant Union Lady Prospectors on Monday at Pilot Rock High School.

Irrigon (4-19) was scheduled to play Heppner on Friday, Feb. 16, in the BMC district tournament at the Pendleton Convention Center.

Irrigon led 25-19 at the half, then used a 26-21 run in the second half to pull away for the win.

Lizett Sanchez led the Knights with 22 points, while Kaydence Emery added 14 rebounds and 11 points.

Rillie Mitchell led Grant Union with 25 points.