Dakota Ceja scored 20 points and Zane Taylor added 15 to lead the Burns boys basketball team to a 47-40 Eastern Oregon League win over Vale on Thursday, Jan. 10, at Burns High School.

The Hilanders controlled the tempo in the opening period as they forged a 19-10 lead.

The Vikings opened up the second quarter on an 8-0 run that cut the lead to 19-18, but the Hilanders settled in once again and led 26-21 at the break.

Burns outscored Vale 9-8 in the third period and led 35-29 going into the final eight minutes.

Vale kept things interesting in the final period, as a 3-pointer by Tanner Hamilton brought them to within 39-37, but the Hilanders made seven of eight free throws down the stretch to get the win.

Rounding out the scoring for Burns were Truston Snapp with four points, Emmett Klus and Cade Tiller three apiece, and DJ Hoke with two.

On Friday, Jan. 11, the Hilanders defeated Umatilla 55-51 to raise their league record to 2-0, 12-4 overall.

Ceja led the Hilanders in scoring with 19 points, Taylor added 14, Tiller 13, Hoke five, and Snapp four.

The Vikings grabbed a 17-11 first-quarter lead, but the Hilanders whittled that advantage down to four, 30-26, by halftime.

Burns came out strong after the break, outscoring Umatilla 14-4 for a 40-36 lead at the end of the third period.

The fourth quater was close, with Umatilla outscoring Burns 17-15, but it wasn’t enough as the Hilanders hung on for the win.