Six Eastern Oregon teams earn 2nd place in OSAA basketball championships, while 19 players make all-tournament list

By on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

EASTERN OREGON – The OSAA 2026 high school basketball championships have wrapped up, and spring sports are rolling out. While no Eastern Oregon teams took home the championships this year, don’t be fooled, local athletes still put in an incredible showing, both leading up to and during the championship games. Numerous teams still made it to the championship bracket (including four teams coming in 2nd place) while 15 local players were named in the all-tournament team list. 

As previously reported, La Grande boys came in 2nd place at state for 4A, narrowly losing out to Marist Catholic in a 57-55 game on March 14. Also, for Boys 4A, Baker and Pendleton boys made it to the championship bracket but were beat out in the 1st round by Molalla and Madras respectively.

For 4A girls, the Baker girls made it to the semifinals on March 13, losing out to St. Helenes in a 46-39 game. Baker ultimately took 5th place in a consolation game against fellow semifinalist team Henley in a 67-51 match. La Grande and Pendleton girls also competed in the championship but fell in the first round to Cascade and Seaside respectively.

Moving down to 3A, the Vale girls had a similar showing to La Grande boys, coming in 2nd place for the state championship against Amity in a close 47-44 game on March 7. Burns girls made it to the tournament too, though fell to Jefferson in the 1st round.

For 3A Boys, Riverside Came in 2nd in state this year, falling to Valley Catholic in a 77-61 game on March 7th. Further down the bracket, Burns boys made it state but fell to Blanchet Catholic in their second round.

In 2A, several Eastern Oregon teams made it to state. Stanfield Girls came in 2nd in state, making it to the finals but loosing out to Regis in a 55-35 game on March 7.

For 2A boys, Stanfield once again made it state, with the team initially reaching the quarterfinals on March 5, though falling to Oakland, and finally loosing out to 8 East Linn Christian in a consolation game on March 6.

Several other 2A boys teams made it state though fell in round 1. For these other state competitors, Grant Union, Enterprise, and Heppner lost out to Oakland, East Linn Christian, and Regis respectively. The Heppner team was also Eastern Oregon’s sole 2A girls’ representative, falling to Crosshill Christian in round 1.  

Finally, in 1A, Eastern Oregon’s smaller teams still gave it their all. For the girls, Imbler came in 2nd place in state, losing out to North Clackamas Christian in a 60-48 game on March 7. Just down the bracket, Echo and Crane, both semifinalists, faced off against one another, coming in 5th and 3rd respectively in a 54-49 game. Union made it to the quarterfinals but was initially beat out by North Clackamas and then Country Christian in a 54-44 consolation game.

Further down the 1A girls list, Pilot Rock, Joseph, Adrian, Elgin, Powder Valley, and Prairie City/Burnt River made it to state. Pilot Rock, Joseph, Adrian and Prairie City/Burnt River fell in Round 1 to Harper Charter, Jordan Valley, Country Christian and North Clackamas Christian respectively, while in round 2, Elgin and Powder Valley fell to Country Christian and North Clackamas Christian respectively. 

Finally, in 1A boys, Union also came in 2nd place at the state championships in a 60-48 game against Country Christian on March 7. Further down, Prairie City/Burnt River boys made it to the Consolation game on March 5, losing out to South Wasco Country in a 65-58 match. 

In the lower brackets, Powder Valley, Joseph, Adrian, Pilot rock and Nixyaawi, made it on the bracket, with Powder Valley falling to Umpqua Valley Christian in Round 1 and Joseph, Adrian, and Nixyaawi and falling to South Wasco Country, Open Door Christian and Country Christain respectively in round 2.  

Beyond the final bracket placements, plenty of Eastern Oregon basketball players also made the all-tournament team list, while La Grande received a unique award. All Tournament players and team awards (specifically for Eastern Oregon) are as follows: 

4A Boys: 

First Team

  • Beckett Hutchins, 11, La Grande
  • Landon Hood, 12, La Grande

Second Team 

  • Blake Hildebrandt, 12, La Grande

Sportsmanship Trophy: La Grande

4A Girls:

First Team

  • Molly Rasmussen, 10, Baker (Unanimous)

Second Team

  • Jaxyn Ramos, 11, Baker

3A Boys:

  • Landen Melvin, 12, Pleasant Hill (Unanimous)
  • Cooper Cemore, 11, Riverside (Unanimous)

3A Girls:

First Team

  • Kelsey Stepleton, 11, Vale (Unanimous)
  • Elli Jacobs, 12, Vale

Second Team

  • Bailey Blake, 12, Vale

2A Girls

First Team

  • Kayla Monkus, 11, Stanfield

Second Team

  • Taylor Sperr, 11, Stanfield

1A Boys:

First Team

  • KJ Klebaum, 12, Union (unanimous)
  • Landon Fratzke, 11, Union

1A Girls:

First Team

  • Whitney Haddock, 10, Imbler
  • Olivia Haddock, 10, Imbler
  • Jaycee Campbell, 11, Echo

Second Team

  • Lilah Miller, 10, Echo
  • Kenzie Hendrix, 12, Echo

Congratulations to all Eastern Oregon teams and athletes for their hard work this season.

Elkhorn Media Group