Posted Saturday January 10, 2009

HERMISTON - The Hermiston Bulldogs defeated the Bend Lava Bears 51-37 Friday night January 9, 2009.

It was a slow starting game with the Dawgs leading 4-2 for the first six minutes of play. That's when Hannah Whitsett hit a three to give Hermiston seven. Bend's Erica Cardwell then hit two freethrows to give Bend six. The score at the end of the first period had Hermiston leading 7-6.

Hermiston came alive in the second period outscoring Bend 20 to 10. Hermiston went to the line regularly in the period with Mary Shae Hays, Mary Teresa Barnett, Marie Pedro, and Hannah Whitsett all hitting freethrows. Whitsett also made two three pointers in the second half of the period. Hermiston held Bend to just four points for the first five minutes of the period taking a 21-10 lead with three minutes to go in the half. Hermiston had a 27-16 lead at halftime.

Scoring for both teams slowed in the third period. Hermiston continued to dominate the play. Hermiston's Kathryn Barnitz had a good period scoring on a layup and an inbound pass. The score at the end of the third was Hermiston 35, Bend 23.

The fourth period got a little wilder when Bend's Lanee Danforth received a technical. Hannah Whitsett had just hit two freethrows a minute earlier and went to the line to make the technicals and one of two freethrows. Then just moments later the Bend bench received a technical. That sent Whitsett to the line again where she made both technicals. In about one minute Whitsett had made seven points all from the freethrow line. Whitsett's accuracy gave Hermiston the 48-35 lead. Bend was unable to score and Barnitz hit a freethrow in the final thirty seconds to give Hermiston the 51-37 win.

Photos by Terry Aichele