Country Christian girls basketball's Annie Bafford (15) looks to pass against Nixyaawii during the 1A state tournament quarterfinals March 1, 2023, at Baker High School.
Country Christian girls basketball's Lilly Garfield dribbles up the court against Nixyaawii during the 1A state tournament quarterfinals March 1, 2023, at Baker High School.
Country Christian girls basketball's Cara Mulhern applies some defensive pressure against Nixyaawii during the 1A state tournament quarterfinals March 1, 2023, at Baker High School.
Country Christian girls basketball's Annie Bafford (15) looks to pass against Nixyaawii during the 1A state tournament quarterfinals March 1, 2023, at Baker High School.
Courtesy photo: Lisa Britton/Baker City Herald
Country Christian girls basketball's Lilly Garfield dribbles up the court against Nixyaawii during the 1A state tournament quarterfinals March 1, 2023, at Baker High School.
Courtesy photo: Lisa Britton/Baker City Herald
Country Christian girls basketball's Cara Mulhern applies some defensive pressure against Nixyaawii during the 1A state tournament quarterfinals March 1, 2023, at Baker High School.
Country Christian girls basketball made it to Baker City for the Class 1A state tournament, but weren't able to capture a win at Baker High School.
The No. 5 Cougars fell behind No. 4 Nixyaawii early in their quarterfinals matchup and couldn't quite stop the bleeding despite tying the second quarter at eight points a piece. Country Christian still trailed 25-16 at halftime.
From there it was all Nixyaawii in the second half as Mersayus Hart scored 20 points and Kyella Picard and Sophie Bronson each chipped in 12 points. Picard also had 10 rebounds in the 58-35 win for Nixyaawii.
For the Cougars, Lilly Garfield tried her best to keep her team in it with 12 points and seven rebounds while Annie Bafford had five points and 11 rebounds.Â
The loss sent Country Christian to the consolation semifinals to play No. 8 Jordan Valley, which was a much more competitive game for the Cougars.
Jordan Valley took a two-point lead at the break up, 31-29, but Country Christian outscored the Mustangs by seven in the third to take a 47-42 lead into the fourth.
However, Jordan Valley was able to rally and outscore the Cougars 19-9 in the fourth to take home the 61-56 win and earn a spot in the fourth place game.Â
Jordan Valley's trio of Jill Gammett, Kenzie Tuttle and Jalee Maestrejuan were the issues for the Cougars. Gammett scored 19 points, Tuttle scored 15 and Maestrejuan had eight points and 12 rebounds.
Bafford played well again for Country Christian, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Peyton Craven went with her as well, scoring 12 points to help bolster the Cougars.
The duo couldn't quite get it done in the end as Jordan Valley opened the fourth frame on an 8-2 run to take the lead. It went back and forth for a little bit until Jordan Valley went up three and then kept the Cougars at bay.
Part of the issue too was losing Garfield to an ankle injury in the third quarter, Country Christian's second leading scorer and an all-league first-team player.Â
"With her I think we win that game," Country Christian coach Russell Halvorsen said, talking about the loss to Jordan Valley.
Despite the loss, it was another standout season for the Cougars, led by their lone senior in Bafford, who was also named the Valley 10 player of the year averaging 22 points and 16 rebounds this season.Â
As a team, the Cougars finish with a 21-9 overall record and will return everyone but Bafford, so there's plenty more still to come for Country Christian.
I'm Pamplin Media Group's managing sports editor, overseeing our sports sections across our entire network. On top of that, I help the Portland Tribune by covering the Portland Trail Blazers and local high school sports. From Colorado, I enjoy the lack of snow in Portland and enjoy a night out perusing the next big food truck.
