MURPHY, OR — Sutherlin’s defense continued to be stingy in the Evergreen Federal Winter Classic at Hidden Valley High School in Murphy.

The Bulldogs held the host Hidden Valley Mustangs to single digits in each of the first three quarters on the way to a 48-31 win over the Mustangs on Thursday, to advance to the championship game of the tournament Friday.

The Bulldogs have held their two opponents in the thirties in each of the two games, and that’s allowed the offense to build a lead early.

The Bulldogs got eight points from senior Bowen Briggs in the first quarter, including a pair of threes on the way to a 15-8 lead after one period, and Hidden Valley never got any closer.

Freshman Mason Gill came up big with 20 points. Nine of those came in the fourth quarter when Sutherlin put it out of reach.

Briggs finished with 16 and Marshal Warmouth  had 11.

It was another gutty defensive performance and Coach Willis New was pleased with the way they defended in both games.

“It seems like that’s one thing that we can depend on is that we’re going to come out and defend a little bit, but we’re just trying to get over that hump to do some offensive things a little better,” said New.

Sutherlin improved to 9-2 counting the win over the Australian team in early December and Hidden Valley dropped to 4-6.

The Bulldogs meet 5-A Crater (5-3) for the championship of the tournament at 3:45 p.m. Friday at Hidden Valley High School.

SUTHERLIN (48)  Mason Gill 20, Briggs 16, Warmouth 11, Christianson 2, Davison, Shepherd, Rethwill.  21  3-9   48

HIDDEN VALLEY (31) Ethan Hill 11, Vischer 6,  Copeland 5, Fisher 4, Blanton 2, Milburn 2, McNair 1, Lawson, Wright. Totals 11 5-8 31

Sutherlin 15; 8; 12; 13 – 48
H.Valley 8; 5; 8; 10 – 31

3-pt FG: Suth. 3 (Briggs 2, Warmuth 1) HV 4 (Hill 3, Vischer 1)
Total Fouls: Sutherlin 11, H.Valley 14
Fouled out: None