The Baker boys basketball regained much that had been missing.

Their leading scorer, senior Isaiah Jones.

The stifling defense that has thwarted so many opponents over the past few years.

A sense of the panache that has marked the Bulldogs’ ascendence to the top of the Class 4A ranks.

And of course, most important, a win.

Playing a top Class 5A team at Redmond, and in front of a raucous Redmond home crowd, the Bulldogs again looked like the defending Class 4A state champions, leading from the start on Friday night, Jan. 10.

The 54-39 win ended Baker’s six-game losing streak.

Jones, the defending Class 4A player of the year, returned after missing the previous five games due to an appendectomy and then an illness.

He scored the game’s first two points, on his trademark pull-up jumper from near the free throw line, and the Bulldogs were off.

After ties at 2 and 4, Jaxon Logsdon made the first of his trio of 3-pointers in the first quarter, and the Bulldogs never trailed again.

Jones had 18 points in his return. Logsdon led the Bulldogs with 22 points.

Baker held Redmond to a season low in points. The Panthers’ previous low was 44 in a 48-44 loss to Class 6A McNary on Dec. 28.

Redmond, which dropped to 9-4, had scored 87 points in its most recent game, one night earlier against Mazama.

But the Panthers never mustered any offensive momentum against Baker’s tenacious defense.

When Redmond did get an open shot they usually missed, and Baker’s defensive rebounding denied the Panthers many second chances until late in the game.

The game was heated at times, with two technical fouls in the second half, the first on a Redmond player in the third quarter, and the second on Baker coach Jebron Jones in the fourth quarter when he argued that a Redmond player should have been called for a technical foul for knocking Eli Long to the floor.

First quarter

Logsdon’s second 3-pointer gave Baker a 12-4 lead with three minutes left in the quarter, prompting a Redmond timeout.

Baker dominated the quarter, denying Redmond second chance opportunities and running an efficient offense.

Logsdon capped the quarter with a third 3-pointer and Baker led 17-7.

Second quarter

Baker maintained its defensive intensity, allowing Redmond, which scored 87 points in its last game, just two field goals. The Panthers couldn’t take advantage at the free throw line, either, despite Baker being called for its fifth foul of the quarter with 2:51 left. Redmond missed two of its six free throws after that.

Isaiah Jones had three more baskets, including a play where he drove through the lane and beat three defenders to the basket for a left-handed layin.

Baker led 28-17 at halftime. Isaiah Jones led Baker with 10 points, and Logsdon added nine on his trio of 3-pointers.

Third quarter

The Panthers got within 10, at 33-23, but Baker closed the quarter with a 7-1 run, including four out of eight free throws, to lead 40-24.

Baker’s defense continued to stymie and, at times, frustrate the Panthers.

Fourth quarter

Redmond scored the first four points to get within 40-28, but Baker quickly ended any potential for a comeback as Long drove the lane for a basket and Logsdon followed with a 3-pointer to push the lead to 45-28.

Baker and Redmond have two common opponents this season in Mazama and Crook County.

Both teams beat Mazama handily. Baker won 84-29 in its season opener Dec. 5, while Redmond beat Mazama 87-69 in its most recent game, Thursday, Jan. 9.

Baker and Redmond have both played Crook County twice.

Redmond beat Crook County both times, 58-48 on Dec. 19 and 73-42 on Dec. 29.

Redmond, 9-4, was ranked second in Class 5A.

The Panthers’ losses are to Class 5A Ashland, 67-54 on Dec. 7, to Class 6A McNary, 48-44 on Dec. 28, and to Class 6A Jesuit, 80-50 on Jan. 3.

BAKER (54)

Gambleton 0 1-2 1, Churchfield 0 0-0 0, Clark 0 0-0 0, R. Jones 2 3-4 7, Heriza 0 0-0 0, Wellman 0 0-0 0, I. Jones 6 6-8 18, Long 2 2-4 6, Logsdon 7 4-7 22, Holden 0 0-0 0, Joseph 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 16-25 54.

REDMOND (39)

Thynes 0 0-0 0, Pearson 0 3-4 3, Aeschliman 2 0-0 5, Losoya 0 0-0 0, Zampko 1 0-0 3, Horner 4 5-6 14, Snyder 1 2-2 4, Messman 0 0-0 0, Monson 0 1-2 1, Cummings 0 0-2 0, Eveland 4 2-4 10. Totals 12 13-20 39.

Baker        17  11  12   14 — 54

Redmond    7  10   7    15 — 39

In other games on Friday, Jan. 10:

Girls

Powder Valley 47, Prairie City 35

Huntington 41, Harper 39

Boys

Harper 56, Huntington 17

Powder Valley 59, Prairie City 47