The Huskies lost their league opener 51-39 to Sutherlin in boys basketball Friday evening at home.
The Huskies got into a hole early, said Ryan Graville, assistant coach. “We had runs throughout the course of the game, but playing behind is difficult.”
Sutherlin ran a matchup zone, Graville said. “It’s not something most teams in high school play.”
Sutherlin was patient on offense, waiting for the Huskies to make mistakes before striking, he said.
On offense, the Huskies tried to spread out the Bulldogs defense and run cuts to the basket.
It took a lot to get get the ball open for a shot, he said.
The Huskies trailed 14-10 after one quarter and 28-20 at halftime. The Bulldogs led 42-33 entering the fourth quarter.
“I don’t think we played too badly,” Graville said. Sutherlin was the highest ranked team in the league, 11th statewide, going into the game. “The coach is pretty good.”
The Huskies competed well, Graville said. They buried five three-point shots, with Colton Smith shooting three of them, and Jasper Korn and Nate Virtue shooting the other two.
They shot just 4-14 from the foul line, Graville said. “That’s tough in a game like that.”
The Huskies need to finish more plays at the basket, limit their turnovers and make more free throws, he said.
Smith has been shooting well, Graville said, and he led his team with 15 points. Jake Swanson added another seven points.
Around the league, Junction City beat Elmira 76-43, and Sisters slipped by Cottage Grove, 50-48.
The Huskies were scheduled to travel to Sisters Tuesday and will host Elmira Friday at 5:45 p.m. Friday and Cottage Grove at 5:45 p.m. Jan. 23.
Sutherlin 14 14 14 9 – 51
Sweet Home 10 10 13 6 – 39
Sutherlin scoring: Mason Gill 17, Christianson 16, Carr 8, Westbrook 4, Hope 4, Bailey 2, Daniels. Totals: 21 7-10 51.
Sweet Home scoring: Colton Smith 15, Jake Swanson 7, Casey Tow 4, Nate Virtue 4, Jasper Korn 3, Keegan Holly 3, Hayden Nichol 2, Zach Zanona 1, Trey Lucero, Zach Luttmer, Hunter Coulter, Lance Hanson. Totals: 15 4-14 39.
Three-point goals: Sweet Home: Smith 3, Korn, Virtue. Sutherlin: Carr 2.