Jordan Valley’s Chase Fillmore goes up for the basket during play at the 1A state tournament at Baker High School. (Photo courtesy of Clint Fillmore)
BAKER – As state basketball tournaments wrapped up action in Baker and Coos Bay last weekend, the best finish in the county belongs to the Jordan Valley boys.
The Mustangs returned home as the third best team in the state 1A ranks.
Entering quarterfinal action in Baker on Thursday, Jordan Valley was ranked 11th and faced No. 14 Joseph.
The Mustangs started slow, not scoring until half way through the first period but found their stride.
Leading 34-24 at the half, the Mustangs defense took over in the third quarter, holding the Eagles to 5 points.
Jordan Valley dominated inside the paint, putting in 28 points and picked up 13 points off Joseph turnovers.
Chase Fillmore led all scorers in the game with 19 points while grabbing 8 rebounds. Zeke Quintero added 17 points and Wade Stanford had 11.
Advancing to the semifinals, Jordan Valley saw some familiar faces. After falling to Prairie City twice in the season, the Mustangs took on the Panthers again at the state tournament.
Struggling against the Panther defense and only shooting 15 percent on 3-point shooting, Jordan Valley fell to Prairie City 61-53.
The Mustangs were within four points at the end of the third quarter but a 21-point final quarter by the Panthers closed out the game.
Kirk Eiguren, with 16 points, was named player of the game for the Mustangs.
Fillmore had 14 points and Quintero 11, and Stanford 10.
Jordan Valley never had the lead.
“Every time we play Prairie City, they just shoot the lights out against us,” said Jordan Valley Coach Clint Fillmore. “We should have got them.”
On Saturday, Jordan Valley met the Triad Timberwolves.
Using defense in the second and third quarters, the Mustangs claimed the third-place trophy with a 54-39 victory.
After a close first quarter, Jordan Valley held Triad to only 6 points in the second quarter and 9 points in the third quarter. The Timberwolves led only once in the game, early in the first quarter.
Eiguren again picked up player of the game for the Mustangs with his 20 points and 15 rebounds. Fillmore added 13 points and Quintero ended with 11.
Jordan Valley picked up 17 points off Triad turnovers and dominated the inside play with 36 points.
For the tournament, Quintero picked up first team honors with Fillmore and Eiguren receiving second-team honors.
Jordan Valley finishes the year 24-5.
“It was an outstanding group of kids this year,” Fillmore said.
Looking at next year, the Mustangs will lose TJ Davis, Fillmore, Eiguren and Stanford to graduation.
“We will definitely be looking at a rebuilding year next season,” said Fillmore. “We will be okay, but there are some shoes to fill.”