By Jim Whalley

Staff writer

PENDLETON Entering the Columbia Basin Conference district tournament at the Pendleton Convention Center this past weekend, many observers believed a Umatilla County showdown between the Umatilla Vikings and the Stanfield Tigers, would determine the CBC second seed in the OSAA/US Bank Class 2A Tournament.

The only thing standing between the Vikings, the Tigers and a meeting in the CBC district finals, was the first round opposition.

Umatilla had compiled an impressive 11-3 record in the CBC regular season, including two easy wins over their first round opponents, the Culver Bulldogs. The Bulldogs would not roll over for the Vikings though, and Culver pulled off the upset of the weekend with a 59-46 win over the defending CBC champions.

Stanfield entered the tournament with an underachieving 9-5 record in the CBC regular season, but had won five of their last six games, including a home win over their first round opponent, the Weston-McEwen TigerScots.

In a physical, defensive battle, the TigerScots outscored the Tigers 8-2 in overtime to advance to the finals.

Culver 59, Umatilla 46

During their last two meetings, the Vikings had handled the Bulldogs with ease, winning in Culver by 30 points, then at home by 16.

With all of the pressure on Culver to make the adjustments that could help them win the game, the Bulldogs responded in a big way.

After firing up six early 3-pointers without connecting, the Bulldogs abandoned that game plan in favor of a slower more patient pace. If the opportunity to run showed itself, the Bulldogs would take it, otherwise they would set up in the half-court offense and depend on quality shots over quantity of shots.

Down 11-10 through the first quarter, Umatilla took a 14-13 lead with 5:40 remaining in the half, when Chris Wyland connected on a five foot jumper.

Culver responded with a 14-2 run to end the half, as the Bulldogs held a 27-16 lead at the break.

Umatilla sharpshooter Damian Wolfgram would connect from beyond the arc to pull the Vikings within three points of the Bulldogs midway through the third quarter.

A step quicker than the Vikings through most of the second half, the Bulldogs ended the third frame on a 6-0 run and took a nine point lead into the final quarter.

Culvers Nate Lewis scored five unanswered points with under 3:00 to play in the game as the Bulldogs took their biggest lead of the contest 56-38.

The Vikings would score eight of the games final 11 points, but it was too little, too late for the defending champs.

In his final game as a Viking, Wolfgram was disappointed to end his high school career with such a lackluster team performance.

We didnt come to play for the the biggest game of the season. said the Willamette University bound senior. They outran us, they outplayed us, and we showed no intensity at all.

All nine of Wolfgrams points came from beyond the 3-point line, as he was hounded constantly by a well prepared Bulldog defense. Teammate Brian Littrell led the Vikings from the post with a team high 10 points.

The Vikings finish the season with a 11-4 record in the CBC, and 16-9 overall.

Culver 11 16 12 20 59

Umatilla 10 6 14 16 46

Culver (59) Chris Dix 9, Brennan Whitaker 17, Nate Lewis 15, Jeff Cloud 5, Dustin Herman 13. Totals 25 6-10 59.

Umatilla (46) Tony Villanueva 8, Bruno Ybarra 5, Chris Wyland 4, Damian Wolfgram 9, Brian Littrell 10, Joe Dyer 1, Daniel Adams 2, Mikey Campos 2, Jesse Womelsdorf 1, Brandon Fig 4. Totals 19 5-12 46.

Three-point goals Culver 3 (Whitaker 2, Dix); Umatilla 3 (Wolfgram 3). Fouled out None. Technical fouls none.