Sweet Home beat Scio 71-15 to open the boys basketball season Friday night on the road.
The Huskies quickly dominated the game, leading 27-5 after the first quarter, 37-6 at halftime and 60-11 by the end of the third quarter.
“We just wanted to go out and play hard and work on what we do, pressing and speeding the game up,” said Coach Drew Emmert. “It was a good first game for us, some of our guys getting their first varsity minutes or first minutes in their new roles. They did a good job.”
Sweet Home was concerned about Scio center Garrett Workinger going into the game, Emmert said. He single-handedly kept Scio in a game last year, which the Huskies won by 12 points.
The Huskies had to go out and take the ball away from him, Emmert said, and they managed to hold him to just five points.
Sweet Home shot 53 percent, Emmert said. They forced a lot of turnovers, which led to high-percentage layups, in turn leading to more pressing; and they did a good job taking it back to the hoop.
The Huskies turned the ball over just eight times, while Scio had 29 turnovers.
“It was just great to us play hard and play together,” Emmert said. While Sweet Home scored 71, they shared the ball a lot, with no player scoring more than 14.
Zach Zanona and Cole Baxter each hit two three-pointers, Emmert said, and the Huskies shot 33 percent from the three-point line, a good high school percentage. The Huskies also shot well from the mid-range.
The Huskies are better shooters this year, Emmert said, and it showed in this game.
Hunter Coulter led at the hoop, scoring 14 points. Aiden Tyler added another 13. Workinger led Scio scoring.
Sweet Home was scheduled to visit North Marion Tuesday night. North Marion was ranked sixth in pre-season polling, Emmert said, and he expects it to be a tougher game.
The Huskies will move on to face 2A Toledo at a three-day tournament beginning Thursday, Dec. 12, in Harrisburg. Toledo lost just two games last year and finished third in the state 2A tournament.
Sweet Home will travel to Tillamook on Dec. 17.
JV1 beat Scio 59-19 on the road, and JV2 beat East Linn Christian Academy 44-21 at home.
Sweet Home 27 10 23 11 – 71
Scio 5 1 5 4 – 15
Sweet Home scoring: Hunter Coulter 14, Aiden Tyler 13, Zach Luttmer 11, Casey Tow 9, Zach Zanona 6, Cole Baxter 6, Kai Bryson 6, Tye Moore 4, Eddie Martinez 2, Russ Holly, Jasper Korn.
Scio scoring: Garrett Workinger 5, Aguilar 3, Ellis 2, Henson 2, White 2, Harper 1, Young, Primm, Mask.