Sweet Home’s girls basketball team lost to Junction City 53-32 on the road Friday night and 59-25 to Cottage Grove on Jan. 27.
In both games, the Huskies showed improvement and turned the ball over substantially less than their average, but it wasn’t enough to win a game.
They had been averaging about 30 turnovers per game, said Coach Steve Brown.
On Friday, the Huskies turned the ball over 23 times, Brown said. Against Cottage Grove, they turned the ball over 18 times.
“Most of them are unforced,” Brown said. “That’s the killer.”
The Huskies often break their opponents’ press, he said, and then they turn the ball over.
“It can be a little frustrating,” Brown said.
Against Junction City, the Swet Home held its own through the first quarter, trailing just 16-12 at the end of it. Junction City expanded its lead to 25-16 in the second quarter and 40-21 by the end of the third.
“We just fell apart,” Brown said. The team scored four points in the second and five in the third. “We can’t put four quarters of double digits together.”
That was with a 15-point performance from Jordan Miller and eight points from Jessica Stockman, who had a tough time finding her shot. She started scoring in the second half.
Cottage Grove built a commanding 20-8 lead by the end of the first quarter and 33-11 by halftime. The Lions led 53-19 by the end of the third quarter.
“Their coach commented on great post play,” Brown said. India Porter did a really good job defensively, but she got into foul trouble, so he had to move Jordan Miller into the slot. She did a good job too, but it just wasn’t enoug.
The Huskies face their toughest foes at Sutherlin on Friday, Brown said. “I would like us to just play well and improve on how we played last time. They’re just a more established program than we are.”
Could the Huskies win a game like that? It’s possible, he said, but he’s focused on playing better defensively.
The Huskies didn’t score in the first quarter the last time they saw Sutherlin, which won the game 67-25.
Sweet Home 12 4 5 11 – 32
Junction City 16 9 15 13 – 53
Sweet Home scoring: Jordan Miller 15, Jessica Stock 8, Ally Tow 4, India Porter 2, Brittany Brownell 2, Kaitlynn Autry 1.
Junction City scoring: Sierra Graton 14, N. Thompson 12, K. Thompson 5, Straube 5, Hansen 4, Hanson 4, E. Devorak 3, A. Devorak 2, Eba 2, Tedrick.
Cottage Grove 20 13 20 16 – 59
Sweet Home 8 3 8 6 – 25
Cottage Grove scoring: Conner Borigo 30, Arnold 6, Sayles 6, Thielman 5, Neely 4, Nichols-Ferguson 4, Gardner 2, Albrecht 2.
Sweet Home scoring: Tow 8, Porter 7, Stockman 6, Miller 2, Brownell 2, Autry, Sarita Zanona.