Jaden Anders and La Grande will host Ontario in the opening round of the 4A Greater Oregon League playoffs on Feb. 13, 2024.

a repeat is in order. They are also thankful for small print in the Greater Oregon League rules.

The Tigers will host Ontario on Tuesday, Feb. 13, in the opening round of the 4A Greater Oregon League tournament. Tipoff is 6 p.m. in the La Grande gym.

After these two teams split their previous two meetings this season, La Grande obtains the home game based on the RPI ranking, not the OSAA ranking used by other leagues around the state. While the OSAA ranks Ontario 27th in the 4A and La Grande 29th among the state’s teams, the RPI ranking has La Grande at No. 28 and Ontario at No. 30. A few years ago, the Greater Oregon League voted to use the RPI, not the OSAA ranking, in cases of ties in the league standings.

La Grande plays host to Ontario after the two teams met in La Grande on Feb. 8, with the La Grande securing a 60-33 win.

An earlier season meeting on Jan. 19 saw Ontario win 40-30 on its home floor.

Both teams ended the season with identical 1-5 4A Greater Oregon League records, with La Grande going 5-17 overall, while Ontario put together a 6-16 overall record.

La Grande shows more offensively as the team finished the year with 990 points but also sees the opposition score more often, allowing 1,301 points. Ontario has had problems finding the bottom of the net all season, scoring the fifth fewest points among 4A teams, ending with 853 points for the year. Ontario’s defense allowed 1,290 points, 11points fewer than La Grande.

La Grande did find two wins consecutively in the season, beating both Imbler and Nyssa. Ontario could never find a two-game run in the win column.

The Feb. 13 winner advances to face Pendleton on Feb. 15.