LA GRANDE — La Grande saw its 4A Greater Oregon League opener go the way of the visiting Baker Bulldogs, 48-39 on Tuesday, Jan. 9 in the Tiger gym.

Out-rebounded by the Bulldogs, 43-25, in the game and picking up 28 team fouls compared to only 10 for visiting Baker was the game, according to La Grande head coach Brian Wright.

“Those two stats tell the story,” he said. “They shot 34 free throws. We shot 10. In two of the quarters, Baker only had one foul called on them.”

Even with the problems, the Tigers stayed close after Baker held a 14-point halftime lead. La Grande cut the lead to two points in the third before the Bulldogs placed the first 11 points on the board to start the fourth quarter. La Grande outscored Baker, 18-6, in the third quarter to close the score to within two points at the end of the quarter, 36-34.

Individual statistics were unavailable for the game.

La Grande (10-7 overall, 0-1 4A Greater Oregon League) takes a two-game skid on the road on Jan. 13 to Fruitland, Idaho, to take on the Grizzlies in nonleague play. The Tigers downed Fruitland, 52-38, on Dec. 7 earlier in the season.