Union-Bulletin

IRRIGON, Ore - With heavy hearts, the Mac-Hi girls basketball team gave Grant Union all they could handle here Friday before dropping a 56-52 decision in overtime.

Assistant coach McKenzie Carter's father, Rob, was killed Friday morning before the team departed for Irrigon.

"The team played as a tribute to McKenzie," Pioneers' head coach, and longtime friend of McKenzie, Nicole Christian said. "The girls played awesome."

The Pioneers went to the fourth period down 30-26. The Pioneers trailed by as many as nine before closing in a rush.

Kaitlin Erm drained her fourth trey of the night with one second left to get the Pioneers even at 50-50 and send the game to overtime.

Mac-Hi lost Makia Carlson to fouls in the overtime, and the Prospectors, who were led by the 26-point performance of Elle Rawlings, who drained six triples on the night, bounced back to score six in overtime and pullout the 56-52 win.

The Pioneers, who played without Christian and Carter, both of whom stayed home due to the tragedy, were led by the 13 points of Jolene Brannan. Erm chipped in 12, and Carlson added nine for the Pioneers.

"It was a great game," Christian reported from her coaches at the game. "The girls played with a lot of heart."

Mac-Hi hosts Riverside Tuesday.

Grant Union 56, Mac-Hi 52

GRANT UNION (56) - Smith 1, Rawlings 26, Wright 9, Mosley 2, Donohue 4, Cittish 6, NA 8.

MAC-HI (52) - Fite 5, Kessler 7, Erm 12, Brannan 13, Wells 4, Carlson 9, Ureno 2.

Grant Union 8 13 9 20 6 - 56

Mac-Hi 7 7 12 24 2 - 52

3-point goals - GU 7 (Rawlings 6, Wright), Mac-Hi 6 (Fite, Erm 4, Brannan). Fouled out - Mac-Hi (Carlson).