Vale’s Nathan Kimball prepares to pin a Burns wrestler during a dual meet last week at Vale High School. (The Enterprise/Pat CALDWELL)
UMATILLA – The Vale boys varsity basketball team emerged from weekend play with two more wins to improve to 8-0 as it enters into the final week of league action.
Vale defeated Riverside 49-21 Friday and beat Umatilla 52-44 victory Eastern Oregon League play Saturday.
“We didn’t have any injuries and we got a couple wins which is obviously very difficult when you travel that far to play a couple of basketball games,” said Vale coach Colby Shira.
Diesel Johnson paced the Viking attack against Riverside with 13 points and five rebounds while John Wolfe chipped in 12.
Saturday against Umatilla, the Vikings did not gain control of the game until the fourth quarter and parlayed a solid night of rebounding to post the victory.
“Defensively we were very consistent and held their shooters in check,” said Shira.
Wolfe led Vale with 13 points against Umatilla while Johnson scored 10 and Kade Kurata chipped in nine. Johnson also pulled down 11 rebounds.
“We knew going on the road it wasn’t going to be an easy task but our kids stepped up,” said Shira.
Shira said he is pleased with where the Vikings sit in league standings but again cautioned there are still games to play before the season ends.
The Vikings played Nyssa Tuesday night and then face Baker in a non-league game at Baker City Wednesday. Then Vale travels to Burns.
“Burns is one of the toughest gyms to get a win in in Oregon. It is extremely difficult to get a win there no matter what the records are,” said Shira.
In girls prep action, the Lady Viks beat Riverside 28-24 Friday and defeated Umatilla 45-19 Saturday to improve to 7-1 in league play.
In prep wrestling action last weekend, Toby Clow of Adrian clinched first place in the 220-pound weight classification at the Bank of Eastern Oregon Invitational Saturday in Heppner. Baker/Powder Valley won the tournament with 245 team points while Culver was second (191 points) and Pine Eagle was third (107 points) in team standings. Adrian placed 14th.
Three local girls placed high in their respective weight classes at the Oregon School Activities Association Special District 3 tournament Saturday in Redmond.
Adrian’s Virginia Tolman placed fourth in the 105-pound weight class while Nyssa’s Hailie Ballou was fourth at 135 pounds. Vale’s Ava Collins claimed first place at 140 pounds while Jessica Williams placed third at 140 pounds for the Vikings.
In other prep basketball action:
Friday, Feb. 4
Boys basketball
Adrian 72, Prairie City 55
Crane 59, Jordan Valley 29
Vale 49, Riverside 21
Umatilla 74, Nyssa 41
Girls basketball
Crane 50, Jordan Valley 35
Prairie City 39, Adrian 33
Nyssa 46, Umatilla 21
Vale 28, Riverside 24
La Grande 54, Ontario 14
Saturday, Feb. 5
Boys basketball
Adrian 95, Long Creek/Ukiah 18
Four Rivers 51, Jordan Valley 45
Vale 52, Umatilla 44
Irrigon 47, Nyssa 44
Girls Basketball
Jordan Valley 64, Four Rivers 27
Nyssa 55, Irrigon 22
Vale 45, Umatilla 19
News tip? Contact reporter Pat Caldwell at [email protected].
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