Bend High says goodbye to historic gym with final game

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- It was a night to remember at Bend High School Tuesday as students, staff and alumni packed the gym for one final game before construction begins this summer on a new facility.

The Lava Bears hosted crosstown rival Mountain View in the Civil War matchup, marking the last contest ever played in the historic gym — a building that has stood for generations of Bend athletes and fans.

“Basketball’s been played at Bend Senior High for more than a hundred years, and 70 of that has been in this gym, on this exact floor right here,” said Athletic Director Ricky Rodriguez. “We love this place, and we’re going to try to send it out in style.”

Former KTVZ Chief Meteorologist Bob Shaw, who called games there for more than two decades, reminisced on the role the old gym has played in the community’s sports legacy. "I called basketball games here for 22 years," said Shaw.

Principal Christopher Reese said the updates are part of a needed modernization project. “We’re due for a new facility,” he said. “This gymnasium is tired, but it holds a lot of memories.”

For the Bend High seniors, the evening was about more than just the scoreboard. “I feel pretty honored,” said senior basketball player Spencer Dildine. “We were supposed to represent more than just our class — the classes that came before us.”

The Lava Bears closed out the gym in winning fashion, defeating the Cougars 59–50.

Construction on the new gym is set to begin this summer, with an upgraded facility expected to open in time for the 2028 school year. A piece of nostalgia will carry over — the iconic bear claw from the center of the old hardwood will be installed in the new arena’s floor, preserving decades of Bend High tradition.