Sweet Home 65, La Pine 53
After losing every ranked game this season until two weeks ago in boys basketball, the Huskies defeated La Pine 65-53 Monday night on the road to end the regular season and vault from last place to third place in the Sky-Em League and earn a playoff spot, edging out Elmira.
The Huskies had won just a single game this season, against the 6A McNary JV in a tournament. After the six-game winning streak, the Huskies are 6-4 in league and 7-13 overall. Their ranked record is 6-13. They were in danger of tying at third if Elmira beat Sisters Monday and they lost to La Pine.
“We did really well running our offense, got easy looks, played good defense and finished out the second half,” said Coach Tim Porter.
The Huskies led 19-13 after the first quarter. They extended their lead to 40-25 at halftime and 50-35 at the end of the third.
Grant Kauffman led Huskies scoring with 20 points. Bryce Daniels added 16; Tyler Funk, 10; Ryan Adams, 6; Hunter Jutte, 6; Kyle Rose, 4; and Chace Hutchins, 3.
Jutte, who has been leading scoring, was sick Monday night and played just six or seven minutes, Porter said.
In the first round of state, the play-in round, the second- and third-place teams are ranked in each league, Porter said. The highest-ranked second-place team will be matched up against the lowest-ranked third-place team, which will probably be the Huskies.
The Huskies were ranked at 36th in the state Monday prior to playing La Pine.
“It’s probably going to be a tough match,” Porter said. “But we’ve been playing very well.”
Last week, The Huskies defeated Elmira at home 51-48 after handing Cottage Grove its first loss in league 56-53 at home on Feb. 18.
After losing their first four games in league, the wins lifted the Huskies from last place to third place in league. Where they finish depends on how they fared against La Pine on the road Monday evening. If Elmira defeated Sisters and the Huskies lost to La Pine, it would result in a tie for third. Elmira and the Huskies would each have a 5-5 record and would play off at Junction City on Tuesday night. (Results were unavailable at press time.)
“Cottage Grove was undefeated in league,” Porter said. “We’re feeling pretty good. We’re on a five-game win streak.”
Defense was the key to both games, Porter said. The Huskies gave up only 17 points in the first half against Cottage Grove.
Against Cottage Grove, the Huskies 18-11 after the first quarter and 27-17 at halftime. Cottage Grove mounted a 24-point assault in the third but the Huskies held onto a 44-41 lead by the end of the quarter.
Against Elmira, the Huskies trailed 12-7 after a quarter and 24-21 at halftime. They pulled ahead toward the end of the third, leading 39-34.
“It came down to defense,” Porter said. “We needed to get some stops.”
The Huskies played well to get those stops and keep the lead, he said. “They kids kept it together and came out on top to get the win.”
Like the first part of the season, losing several games by close margins, the Huskies have now won three of five games by just there points, Porter said.
Elmira 12 12 10 14 – 48
Sweet Home 7 14 18 12 – 51
Elmira scoring: Griffin Meyer 13, Devin Curtis 13, Bryant 11, Finder 6, Highburger 3, Langner 2, McDowell, Wilson, Sawyer.
Sweet Home scoring: Jutte 15, Daniels 10, Kauffman 8, Adams 8, Hutchins 6, Funk 4, Rose.
Cottage Grove 11 6 24 12 – 53
Sweet Home 18 9 17 12 – 56
Cottage Grove scoring: Mason Mueller 19, King 11, Tucker 10, Gipson 8, Boyce 3, Parent 2, Campbell.
Sweet Home scoring: Jutte 26, Kauffman 12, Daniels 10, Funk 6, Rose 2, Hutchins, Adams.
KYLE ROSE takes a shot. Garrett Bryant of Elmira tries to block him.
GRANT KAUFFMAN shoots a hoop over Devin Curtis.