La Grande’s Rowan Evans (15) converts a fastbreak lay-in as Nyssa’s Morgan Johns looks on during the Tigers' 42-40 loss on Jan. 30, 2024, in Nyssa.

NYSSA — A three-game winning streak came to an end as La Grande dropped a 42-40 nonleague decision to 3A Nyssa on Tuesday, Jan. 30, in Nyssa.

The Tigers took their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter as Olivia Pennington sank a long 3-pointer with 7:08 showing on the game clock. This was the beginning of a 7-0 run for the Tigers. Nyssa responded with its own 7-0 run to again see the score tied, this time at 40-all with 1:29 left in the game.

La Grande could not convert on free throws in the closing minute of the game while the Bulldogs sank free throws at critical times. With 18 seconds left in the game, La Grande head coach Brian Wright called for the timeout and a plan for the final play. A shot that failed to hit the mark aided by two rebounds and shots under the basket that also failed to drop through the net proved the end for the Tigers on the road.

The Tigers got 10 points from Maezie Wilcox and Pennington chipped in with nine points, all long-range 3s. Carlee Strand ended the game with eight points.

La Grande had a slow start to the game, scoring only four points in the first quarter. Both teams settled down and started to find the basket in the second quarter. Even with a 13-point second quarter, Nyssa took a 25-17 lead into halftime.

The Tigers made a push coming out of the locker room at the half, knotting up the score at 33-all by the end of the third quarter after placing 16 points on the board, while the defense held the Bulldogs to just eight points.

La Grande (13-8 overall, 3-1 4A Greater Oregon League) remains on the road but returns to league action on Feb. 2 with a game in Pendleton (9-9 overall, 2-1 4A Greater Oregon League). The Tigers currently remain at the top of the league standings and downed Pendleton, 50-36, on Jan. 16 in the previous meeting of the two teams.