After dropping both games in the High Desert League district tournament, the outlook for state was looking iffy for No. 23 Prairie City/Burnt River boys basketball.
Despite going 9-1 in league play and 17-9 overall, the Panthers found themselves as the No. 23 seed and No. 21 in the final OSAA rankings.
In order to get to the quarterfinals and Baker High School, the Panthers would need to win two road games.
And they did just that in dramatic fashion.
Prairie City/Burnt River started by knocking off No. 10 Pilot Rock 79-78 in overtime thanks to a game-winning bucket from junior Chet Workman.
In the second round, the Panthers made the nearly 7-hour trip to No. 7 Days Creek and found a way to win again after leading by 12 going into the fourth quarter.
Now they’ll continue their journey just an hour and half east in Baker City when they take on No. 2 Country Christian at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 in the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 1A state quarterfinals.
“My head was just kind of messed up like, ‘Where did we go wrong? What’s going on?’” Panthers head coach Levi Voigt said of the losses in the district tournament. “We hit the state playoffs and we know we can compete with anybody in the state, that’s what we’ve been telling these boys all year.
“They just came out and played the way that I’ve been expecting them to play all year. They played loose, played great defense.”
Workman is one of three All-High Desert League players for the Panthers, the other two being junior Noah Kenyon and senior Maison Teel.
Voigt said Kenyon is likely the Panthers’ leading scorer, but the top six in the Panthers rotation have all shared and scored the ball well to bring about success this season.
“When I go through the book, of our top six, every one of them has been the leading scorer in at least one game this year,” Voigt said. “I feel like that kind of plays to our advantage.”
The other three that make up the six-pack are junior Ritter Rookstool, senior Kingdon Mitchell-Kirby and senior Sawyer Quinton.
Rookstool was the standout from the first upset win over Pilot Rock where he had 16 points to go along with 12 rebounds.
Quinton is a senior who missed most of January due to an ankle injury, but has been coming off the bench and has been great as an anchor in the paint.
“(Quinton) was previously a starter and he’s back now coming off the bench for us,” Voigt said. “He’s just a really solid player. He pulls down boards, he hits shots, cleans stuff up around the basket. I know he’s not a flashy player, but he’s a guy you can stick in there and you know what you’re going to get night in and night out.”
As for Teel, he moved to the five spot after Quinton went down with the injury and thrived inside at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds.
That also shifted Mitchell-Kirby to the four spot where he also accepted the role and thrived during the final two months of the season.
Overall, the Panthers have bought in better than Voigt’s seen during his seven years with the program, the last two as head coach.
“Everybody’s playing together,” Voigt said. “We obviously have guys who are leading in individual categories, but for us, more so than I’ve ever had as a coach, it’s 100% focused on the team.”
This will be Prairie City/Burnt River’s first quarterfinals appearance since 2020, and it will look to get its first state tournament win since 2019 when the Panthers were the No. 8 seed and knocked off then No. 1 Sherman.
It’ll be close to that same kind of upset needed as the quarterfinals opponent will be No. 2 Country Christian, who survived a scare from No. 18 Nixyaawii in the second round.
No matter the number next to the Panthers’ name though, Voigt and the team believe they can matchup with anyone when the ball is tipped in Baker City.
“There’s no such thing as an easy game from here on out for anybody, I told these guys every game is going to be decided by a couple possessions,” Voigt said. “I’m confident. I think don’t underestimate momentum, and we’ve obviously got a ton of momentum going right now.
“They kind of feel like they have nothing to lose, and that’s where I want them.”
Boys quarterfinals, Wednesday, March 4, Baker HS
No. 9 Crosspoint Christian (22-7) vs. No. 1 Union (26-2), 1:30 p.m.: Union is back at the state tournament after missing last season but making it in 2024 and 2023. The Bobcats are looking for their first quarterfinals win since 1949 when they won the Class B boys basketball state title, the program’s lone state title. Senior KJ Klebaum, the Old Oregon League Player of the Year, is averaging 20.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2 steals per game. Junior Landon Fratzke (16 points, 7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks per game) was named to the Old Oregon first-team, and senior Joey McCraw and sophomore Jace McCraw were named to the second-team. Head coach Odin Miller is in his seventh year leading Union, as a player he led Union to the 2000 state tournament, the Bobcats first appearance there in 50 years. Union’s two losses this year came to 2A Enterprise and to 1A No. 11 Adrian. … Crosspoint Christian is making its first quarterfinals appearance under the current name. The school became Crosspoint Christian in 2020 when Hosanna Christian and Triad School merged. Triad won the 2020 1A boys basketball state title. Seniors Brock Throne and Davis Hartwell were named first-team All-Mountain Valley League after the two averaged 14.6 and 14.8 points per game, respectively. Throne also averages 10.9 rebounds a night while Hartwell adds in 2.6 steals. Junior Caden Mortiz was named to the league’s second-team and averages 14 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Crosspoint took out league foe Chiloquin in the second round after losing to the Panthers three times in the regular season (once due to a forfeit). Junior Trey Johnston was a league honorable mention. Throne is pursuing a college football opportunity while Hartwell is an Oregon State golf commit and two-time individual state champion in 3A/2A/1A boys golf.
No. 5 Valor Christian/Tualatin Academy (22-2) vs. No. 4 North Clackamas Christian (20-7), 3:15 p.m.: Valor Christian is making its first quarterfinals appearance in program history after the school opened in 2016 in Beaverton. The Knights don’t have an official home gym and played most home games at Forest Hills Lutheran this season. Valor Christian landed three kids on the All-Valley 10 League second-team in junior Jason Wu, senior Isaac Sady and senior Austin Renner. Wu was also named to the all-defensive squad and is the leading scorer with 14.5 points per game. The guard has 80 steals this season and also leads the team in assists with 85 this season. Sady and Renner are bigs down low where Sady averages 10.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while Renner is at 10.1 points and 7.2 rebounds. Junior Brady Brown is the sharpshooter with 36 made 3-pointers on the year while sophomore Fletcher McGuire is another playmaker with 73 assists this season. The Knights took third in the Valley 10 regular season before knocking off No. 2 Country Christian in the district tournament semifinals and No. 6 Open Door for the tournament title. … North Clackamas Christian returns to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2008 and is seeking its first quarterfinals win since 2004 when the Saints won the last of their four state championships. Sophomore Brandon Lee was named to the Valley 10 first-team thanks to averaging 22.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, along with leading the team in assists with 110 this season. Junior Ethan Hiebenthal was an honorable mention and is second on the team in scoring with 13.4 points per game and was first on the team with 81 steals. Sophomore Sam Fulcher chips in 7.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and has the most blocks on the team with 49. Five of the Saints’ seven losses this season came to 1A quarterfinals opponents while they did beat No. 2 Country Christian 60-50 in the district third place game to close the regular season. The league foes met only once during the season, which was a 51-44 home win for the Saints who took third in the Valley 10 district tournament after finishing in fourth in the regular season.
No. 6 Open Door Christian Academy (21-5) vs. No. 3 South Wasco County (27-2), 6:30 p.m.: Open Door returns to Baker after making the quarterfinals in 2023 where the Huskies also made the semifinals. Leading the way is junior Ben Buzhduga, a Valley 10 League first-teamer, who averages 19 points, 3 assists and 2.7 steals per game while hitting 86% of his free throws. Another big junior is Ethan Zelenivskiy, another first-teamer and the Valley 10’s Defensive Player of the Year. The junior averages 17 points, 11 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1 block per game. Juniors Zach Thibodeaux and Brendan Tischler were all-league honorable mentions with 8 and 7.3 points per game, respectively. Four of the Huskies’ five losses this season came to 1A quarterfinals opponents while they also have three wins against those same foes. … South Wasco County starts with senior Jason Hull, son of head coach Jim Hull. Jason Hull is averaging 34.7 points per game this year and has a total of 1,006, leaving him 29 points shy of the all-time, single-season scoring record set by Lincoln’s Swede Halbrook in 1952. The senior brings it on defense as well, averaging four steals per game and he was easily named the Big Sky Player of the Year. Senior Rowen Huff is a Big Sky first-teamer averaging 12 points and 12 rebounds per game, along with a staggering 4 blocks a night. Freshman Ryker Thompson is an all-league honorable mention with 13 points per game. The Redsides only lost twice this year, once to 2A Crosshill Christian and the other to No. 10 Pilot Rock. South Wasco County is also 2-0 against quarterfinals opponents, which includes a 56-48 win over Open Door on Dec. 13 at the John Howey Memorial Tournament in Maupin.
No. 23 Prairie City/Burnt River (19-9) vs. No. 2 Country Christian (22-6), 8:15 p.m.: Read more up top for Prairie City/Burnt River. … Country Christian returns to Baker High School after making the semifinals last season. The Cougars are seeking their second state title in program history, the first and only coming in 2015. Junior Ryan Gordon, listed at 6-foot-6, has led the Cougars in scoring so far this postseason with 13 points in a round-one win over Alsea and then 18 more in a 57-53 comeback win over Nixyaawii in the second round. Senior Tyson Smith knocked down three 3-pointers in the win over Nixyaawii and senior Andrew Ives had 10 in the win over Alsea. Country Christian was the regular season champion in the Valley 10 with its lone loss coming to Open Door. However, the Cougars were 2-3 overall against league opponents in the quarterfinals after falling to Valor Christian and North Clackamas Christian in the Valley 10 district tournament.
Girls quarterfinals, Thursday, March 5, Baker High School
No. 8 Powers (22-7) vs. No. 1 Imbler (25-4), 1:30 p.m.: Powers is back in the 1A quarterfinals for the first time in 30 years when the Cruisers made it in the 1995-1996 season. Powers went on to take second place that season after winning its first and only state title the year prior in 1995. The seven player squad is led by Skyline League Player of the Year in junior Danika Bushnell and has another first-team pick in senior KaiLey Jo Swenson. Junior Kendra Bushnell was named to the second team, sophomore EmiLia Swenson was named to the third team, juniors Brooke Mowe and Starlena Pina were honorable mentions and junior Jadelin Warner was named to the all-defensive team. Head coach KamBria Swenson was named the coach of the year. The Cruisers are 0-2 against quarterfinals opponents, dropping a close 45-42 final at North Clackamas Christian on Dec. 16 and falling 58-32 at Country Christian on Dec. 29. … Imbler is back in Baker City after making the semifinals a year ago. The Panthers have won two titles in program history, the last coming in 2010. Head coach Darci Sweet said the team is very balanced and thrives on team defense. Sophomore Whitney Haddock provides the first headache for opposing teams as she averages 7.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists per game, leading her to be named the Player of the Year in the Old Oregon League. Another sophomore in Olivia Haddock was named first-team All-Old Oregon with 8.5 points, 4 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.5 assists per game. Junior Jeytt Cant is the last first-teamer with 6 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals per game and is who Sweet says is the best defender on the team. Sophomore London Kunz is another starter who averages 9 points per game and senior Paige Braseth rounds out the starting five with her strong leadership. Junior Madi Burright came off the bench and was named to the league’s second-team with 6.5 points and 5 rebounds per game. Imbler is 6-3 in games played against quarterfinals opponents, including a 2-1 mark against No. 6 Echo and 1-1 record against No. 4 Jordan Valley.
No. 12 Crane (20-8) vs. No. 4 Jordan Valley (21-4), 3:15 p.m.: The two-time defending champions in Crane are back and looking for its third consecutive crown and sixth overall. The Mustangs have been in the title game the past five state tournaments. Senior Ava Bowen and junior Kamryn Dunten were named to the All-High Desert League first-team and led the Mustangs in scoring with 15.5 points per game for Dunten and 12.5 points for Bowen. They’re both the leading rebounders and stealers with 6.3 boards and 3.4 steals a night for Dunten and 6.6 rebounds 3.6 for Bowen. Junior Emily Clark is a second-teamer who averages 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.3 steals per game. Juniors Kendal Nichols and Anita Peila were all-league honorable mentions. Crane is 0-5 against fellow quarterfinals teams this year and played No. 10 Union the closest, dropping a 61-56 final back on Dec. 12. … Jordan Valley is another semifinalist from last year back for more in 2026. Also the Mustangs, this group is looking for the program’s third state title and first since winning it all in 1992. Senior Jalee Maestrejuan was named the Co-Player of the Year in the High Desert League after averaging 16.1 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Sophomore Mesa Mackenzie was named the Defensive Player of the Year and she averaged 1.3 steals with 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Freshman Ryann Skinner was the last first-teamer with 10.6 points, 7.1 assists and 4 steals per game. Freshman Deni Maestrejuan was named to the second-team with 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore Whitlee Burch was an honorable mention and freshmen Reese Greenfield and Hayden Greenfield fill out the 7-player squad. Jordan Valley is 2-2 against quarterfinals teams, including splitting two games against top-seeded Imbler, which includes a 34-30 in their last meeting on Jan. 10. Jordan Valley also played Crane once this year in league play with Jordan Valley taking the 62-32 win on Jan. 9.
No. 6 Echo (24-4) vs. No. 3 Country Christian (25-4), 6:30 p.m.: Echo returns to Baker City after making it last year and is looking to pick up its first quarterfinals win since 1995 when it took second. The Cougars have one state title in program history, coming back in 1981. Sophomore Lilah Miller and senior Kenzie Hendrix made All-Old Oregon League first-team with Miller averaging 9.2 points and 5 rebounds per game with 79 steals on the year. Hendrix led the team in steals with 82 while averaging 8.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. She also led the team in assists with 88 on the year. Junior Jaycee Campbell is a second-teamer and the Cougars leading scorer with 11.8 points per game. She also averages 5.8 rebounds per game and has 55 steals on the year. Junior Jude Royer is another second-teamer and she puts up 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and has 65 steals and 43 assists this season. Echo is 2-1 against quarterfinals opponents this season, splitting two games with top-seeded Imbler, which includes a 55-45 win back on Jan. 8. … Country Christian returns to the quarterfinals after falling in this round a season ago. The Cougars are looking for their first quarterfinals win since 2022 along with their third state title in program history, the last coming 2018. The Cougars won in the first round 64-29 over Adrian behind 15 points from senior Emma Seubert who also had seven boards and seven assists. Senior Cara Mulhern and freshman Adelynn Smith each chipped in 12. The second round wasn’t as easy as No. 19 Elgin pushed the Cougars, who eventually held on 47-43 to make it to Baker City. The Cougars won the Valley 10 regular season title before falling to North Clackamas Christian 36-35 in the district tournament. Country Christian is 4-2 against quarterfinals opponents with wins over Jordan Valley, Powers, Crane and North Clackamas Christian, along with losses to Imbler and NCCS.
No. 10 Union (20-6) vs. No. 2 North Clackamas Christian (25-3), 8:15 p.m.: Union finished runnerup to Crane last year and is looking to get back to the title game. The Bobcats have one state title to their name coming in 2A in 2022. Junior Taylor Browning gets the Bobcats going as the Old Oregon League Co-Player of the Year. She averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals during the regular season to earn the title. Junior Sawyer Shoemaker is another first-teamer after averaging 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 assists per game. And another junior is on the all-league list for the second-team in Millie Miller who had 10 points and 5 rebounds a night. Senior Camilla Blackburn and sophomore Jersey Davenport round out the starting five. Union survived a close call in round two, going on the road to beat No. 7 Dufur 50-47. The Bobcats are 1-2 against the quarterfinals field with a win over Crane and a loss to Imbler and this same North Clackamas Christian team 66-41 back on Dec. 27. … Making it seven out of the eight teams from last year’s field returning to Baker City is North Clackamas Christian, who lost to Imbler last year. The Saints are looking for quarterfinals win No. 1 as they’ve never made it past the final eight. This could be the year to do it after the Saints beat Prairie City/Burnt River in round one behind 21 points, 7 assists and 7 steals from junior Keslynn Turner. Junior Kaylee Turner turned in 10 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists. Keslynn Turner did it again in a 67-33 win over Powder Valley in round two with another 19 points and freshman Melia Turner chipped in 17. NCCS is 4-1 against quarterfinals opponents, the lone loss being to Country Christian 44-35 on Jan. 13 while the four wins are against Powers, Union, Imbler and Country Christian.
austinw@osaa.org
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