Baker High faces Vale, prepares to open league play at Pendleton

Baker High School entered a pivotal week with both boys and girls basketball teams facing Vale on Tuesday, Jan. 13, then traveling to Pendleton to open Greater Oregon League play on Thursday, Jan. 15. The boys came into the Vale game with a 5–7 record and extra motivation after a 75–69 loss to Vale on Dec. 11, while the girls looked to build momentum ahead of league play.

The boys’ 5–7 mark through early January underlines a program balancing the weight of expectations and the reality of a grueling schedule. Baker arrives at Pendleton seeking consistency; giving up 75 points in the previous meeting with Vale highlighted defensive lapses that must be corrected if the team is to defend its reputation as the two-time defending Class 4A state champion and make a return to the state playoff field. The Dec. 11 score is a clear data point for coaches and players to target in practice sessions this week.

For the girls, the immediate calendar is similarly consequential. Tipoff at Pendleton is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, with the boys to follow at 7:30 p.m. Those league openers will set early pecking order signals in the Greater Oregon League and influence travel and preparation for the midseason stretch. Home-and-away dynamics matter in this part of the state, where long road trips can tilt tightly contested league races.

Beyond Baker, area programs including Powder Valley, Pine Eagle and Huntington are navigating their own schedules and will factor into playoff equations for the region. Local results in the next month will clarify which programs are genuine contenders and which will be fighting for a late-season surge.

The local stakes extend beyond wins and losses. High school basketball nights bring business to restaurants and gas stations in Baker County, and strong home crowds can swing momentum in close games. For players, maintaining health and avoiding costly turnovers will be as important as scoring in tight league contests.

The takeaway? Baker’s pedigree as back-to-back Class 4A champions gives the program latitude, but the Dec. 11 loss and a 5–7 record show there is work to do. Fans should pay attention to defense and ball security in Pendleton; those fundamentals will tell whether Baker is on track for another postseason run. Our two cents? Head to the gym this week, support the teams, and expect every possession to count.