FOREST GROVE — The Baker Bulldogs are knocking at the door of another OSAA 4A girls basketball championship.
They’re one win away from playing for it all again.
Baker’s Molly Rasmussen finished with a game-high 21 points, nine rebounds, and three assists as the No. 11-seeded Bulldogs knocked off the defending champion Henley Hornets 57-48 in Thursday’s quarterfinals of the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union state tournament at Forest Grove High School.
Ashlyn Dalton and Lily Logsdon scored 11 points each, helping lift the Bulldogs (18-9) into Friday’s semifinals against No. 2 Stayton — one of three teams from the Oregon West Conference in the semis.
“I’m really proud of our team,” Rasmussen said. “We’ve been working hard for these past few weeks and I’m just really proud of us. This is an awesome opportunity and I’m just excited for our team.”
Henley led 12-5 at the end of the first quarter and then extended the advantage to 21-13 on a Makayla Schroeder basket with 3:05 to play in the second quarter.
That's also when momentum suddenly swung in Baker’s favor.
Logsdon, the sophomore point guard who spent a good part of the second quarter on the sideline getting treatment for a leg injury, scored three baskets and assisted on another, keying a 10-3 run in the closing 2:36 of the half that cut Henley’s led to 24-23 at the break.
The Hornets led 26-25 early in the third quarter when Baker reeled off three consecutive three-pointers — one by Emylia Myer, one by Dalton, and another by Myer — that put the Bulldogs on top 34-26.
After Henley cut the deficit to 34-30, Baker went on another run led by Dalton and Myer that extended the lead to 41-30 with 1:10 to play in the third quarter.
Baker twice pushed the lead to as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter — the second time when a Rasmussen layup made it 49-37 with 5:26 to play.
Henley’s Kennedi Modin hit a three-pointer that pulled the Hornets within 50-46 with 1:40 remaining, but that was as close as the Skyline Conference champions from Klamath Falls would get.
“Just amazing,” Baker coach Jason Ramos said. “We just kind of built off last week’s performance (a 59-46 win at Marshfield) and we’re just playing really good basketball right now.
“We came out in the third quarter and I think that was the difference — our energy level and execution in the third quarter. We knocked down some shots, we hit some threes, which was helpful.”
The Baker team that won the state title two years ago was led by Ramos’ daughter, Jozie, who put the team on her back and carried the Bulldogs to a state championship.
This team is not that.
“Ashlyn Dalton is the only kiddo who saw meaningful minutes on the '23 team and she's kind of our leader of this group as a senior," Ramos said. "Everybody else, this is kind of a new experience playing in this environment.
"We have a ton of depth. We can go nine deep in our rotation and we do. And it could be anybody’s night on any night. It’s just kind of how we’ve been all season. It’s great to have that kind of balance and that kind of depth."
And here they are, back in the semifinals.
“Love the position we’re in," Ramos said. "I’ve loved our match-ups in the playoffs. And now, moving forward, we’ve played Stayton before, so we’re excited to get another shot at them. It’s a quick turnaround, but we’re excited and happy to be where we’re at.”
Henley’s Senia Campos finsihed with a team-high 12 points and Schroeder added 10 points and eight rebounds.
“In the first half, we got up, but then we got into some foul trouble,” Henley coach Randy Denson said. “We knew Baker was going to be a tough, strong team and we just kind of let it slip away.
“In the third quarter, I switched to a zone defense and they hit two threes. I was trying to figure out a way to stop the bleeding, but I think that move gave them some momentum. Baker plays with a lot of heart and they don’t give up, so you can’t let them get away from you.
“We were trying to play fast, but that also means ultimately we were forcing too much and I think we got a little scrambly. It’s disappointing, but you know that’s also how hard it really is to do this.”
No. 1 Philomath 53, No. 8 Crook County 35: Reagan Heiken finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds — both game highs — leading the Warriors past the Cowgirls of Prineville in the first of Thursday’s four quarterfinal games in the Viking Gym.
Philomath’s Annaleis Brown had nine points and five rebounds to help send the Warriors (22-6) in Friday’s 1:30 p.m. semifinal against Oregon West Conference-rival Cascade in Joe Moran Court.
Crook County’s Emily Henderson scored 11 points and was the only player in double figures for the Cowgirls (16-10), who will face La Grande in Friday’s 9 a.m. consolation match-up.
Philomath took charge of this one early. The Warriors opened a 25-15 halftime lead and then outscored Crook County 18-5 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
No. 5 Cascade 66, No. 4 La Grande 47: Olivia Bennett knocked down four three-pointers and finished with a game-high 26 points, leading the Cougars over the Tigers and into Friday’s semifinal against Philomath.
Cascade’s Rozalyn Schmunk scored 17 points for the Cougars, who used a 20-6 run at the end of the second quarter to open a 32-17 halftime lead. La Grande never cut the deficit to fewer than 15 points in the second half.
No. 2 Stayton 68, No. 7 Seaside 32: Kathryn Samek scored 17 points, Breeci Hampton had 14 points, and Makenzie Schacter had 12, pacing the Eagles to a blowout win over the Seagulls.
Kenzi Hollenbeck finished with six points and a gme-high 12 rebounds, helping lift Stayton (25-1) into the semifinals against No. 11 Baker — the only team not from the Oregon West Conference to reach the final four.
Stayton led 32-26 at halftime and then outscored Seaside 14-4 in the third quarter and 22-2 in the fourth.
Makenna White led Seaside with eight points and five rebounds. Mya Feeney added seven points and Carly Corder and MacKenzie Haag had five points each for the Seagulls (14-10).
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