The Huskies defeated 6A McNary High School’s JV squad 61-48 in a boys basketball tournament Thursday through Saturday at Stayton before losing to Central 69-54 and Madras 58-44.
“We played pretty well,” said Coach Tim Porter of the McNary game. “Grant (Kauffman) played a good game. He got 26 points.
“The first quarter was somewhat close, and then we just kind of pulled away steadily after that.”
McNary went on to lose to by about three to Seaside.
Sweet Home led 20-17 after a quarter and 29-23 at halftime. The Huskies pulled away 20-13, to lead 49-36 in the third quarter.
They met Central Friday, keeping up with the Panthers early on and trailing just 13-12 at the end of the first quarter. By halftime, Central led 36-25; and after three quarters, Central led 55-46, still within reach.
“We were missing Hunter (Jutte) for that game,” Porter said. “We still played pretty well.”
Kauffman scored 19, and Bryce Daniels added 18.
Porter called it a well-contested game.
Madras topped the Huskies Saturday, taking a 22-14 first-quarter lead. The Huskies closed the gap by halftime, trailing 29-24. But Madras poured it on the third to lead 46-32.
Daniels and Jutte were both absent for the game, Porter said. “Without two starters, it was a little rough.”
The Huskies ran with just seven players, Porter said. “You could tell the kids were tired.”
On Dec. 21, the Huskies lost 50-36 at Central.
Central jumped out to an early lead 18-7. The Huskies trailed 25-16 at halftime and 40-29 at the end of the third quarter.
Central,which is headed to the 5A, was undefeated this year until the Stayton tournament when it lost by four in the championship game.
Overall, last week, “I thought we made some positive strides,” Porter said. “I felt we were headed in a positive direction (getting ready for league).”
Sweet Home 20 9 20 12 – 61
McNary JV 17 6 13 12 – 48
Sweet Home: Grant Kauffman 26, Hunter Jutte 12, Bryce Daniels 11, Kobe Galster 5, Ryan Adams 5, Kyle Rose 2, Tyler Funk, Justin Tow, Tucker Porter, Chace Hutchins.
McNary JV: Wyatt G. 15, Matt I. 8, Lacugiv H. 8, Austin B. 6, Richy M. 4, Matt K. 3, Ryan S. 3, Jason S. 1,Tanner G., Hayden S., Antoine.
Sweet Home 12 13 21 8 – 54
Central 13 23 19 14 – 69
Sweet Home: Kauffman 19, Daniels 18, Rose 10, Adams 4, Galster 2, Porter, Funk, Tow.
Central: C. Bal 23, H. Bal 18, Lindley 14, Fleming 7, Landers 5, Prescott 2, Finnegan, Hobgood, Nash, Parker, Harlow, Maroney, Magill.
Sweet Home 14 10 8 12 – 44
Madras 22 7 17 12 – 58
Sweet Home: Kauffman 18, Rose 11, Galster 9, Funk 4, Adams 2, Hutchins, Porter.
Madras: Jered Pichette 30, Wolfe 8, Sullivan 7, Rauschenburg 5, Bryant 3, Rehwinkel 3, Leriche 2, Rodriguez, Estrada, Holliday.
Sweet Home 7 9 13 7 – 36
Central 18 7 15 10 – 50
Sweet Home: Rose 9, Kauffman 9, Adams 5, Jutte 5, Hutchins 4, Funk 3, Galster 1, Tow, Tyler Plebuch.
Central: C. Bal 15, Lindley15, Fleming 9, Cruickshank 4, Finnegan 4, Prescott 2, Kantola 1, Nash, Maroney, Stepp, Larcho, Harlow.