Big Sky girls team done in 1A playoffs

Trout Lake (19-5) battled No. 9 seed Echo the entire game, rebounding from a 13-point, third-quarter deficit to take the lead, 43-42, on Kinsley Lanz’s free throw. Lanz had converted a three-point play with 3:37 remaining and was fouled on an overzealous box out by Echo.

Echo regained the lead for good on Jaycee Campbell’s 3-pointer, 48-45. The Cougars scored six of the next seven points to ice the game.

The Mustangs turned the ball over seven times in the first six minutes of the game before Coach Dennis Anderson called a timeout with his team trailing 14-8. Trout Lake responded by scoring the next eight points to take a 16-14 lead. Lanz provided most of the Mustang’s first-half offense with nine points (including 6-for-7 on free throws).

Echo, led by sophomore Jude Royer’s six points, outscored Trout Lake 11-5 in the second period and 13-11 in the third to take a 38-32 lead.

Big Sky player of the year, senior Violette Anderson, who scored 34 points in Trout Lake’s first-round win, had 20 against Echo, Lanz finished with 15, and Emma Patterson added 10.

Trout Lake, which advanced to the second round with a first-round win, 64-42, on Feb. 25 over Chiloquin, beat Echo during the regular season, 38-34. Against Chiloquin (12-11), Trout Lake was led in scoring by Anderson. She scored her team’s first nine points, 15 after one quarter and 27 at halftime. By then, the Mustangs led 40-23.

South Wasco County, the 2025 Big Sky district champion, lost its first-round playoff game, 45-34, to Umpqua Valley Christian (18-9). South Wasco (19-7), the 14th seed in the state playoffs, never could overcome a 13-0 deficit to the visiting Monarchs.

The Redsides had numerous turnovers early against Umpqua Valley’s man-to-man defense. Part of the defense strategy was to front South Wasco’s all-league post Hailee Pechanec, who finished with seven points. Bailey Udey led the Redsides with 10 and Jayden Chiccino added eight.