Sophomore Nathan Aiker scored 28 points in Sweet Home’s 65-47 loss at Newport (9-13) Friday, Feb. 18, recording the best single-game offensive performance by a Huskies player this year.
It was also a Sweet Home sophomore’s most-prolific scoring game since Gavin Kauffman’s 36-point effort in 2008.
Aiker went 10-for-17 from the field, 3-for-7 from three-point line, and 5-for-7 in free throws. He also pulled down a team-leading 10 rebounds.
“He just played with a lot more confidence than he’s had,” Head Coach Drew Emmert said. “Being a sophomore, it’s hard to have a lot of confidence night in and night out. It was a breakthrough game, but it was something we knew he was capable of. It was cool for him and cool for the team to see him do that.”
Junior guard Evan Towry scored nine points, shooting 3-for-9 from the field.
Sweet Home (2-21, No. 32 in 4A play) out-rebounded Newport 35 to 30, despite having a team that was “way bigger than us,” Emmert said. “It was a good, hard-fought game. We did well playing on the road, and competed better than last time.”
Overall, Newport outshot the Huskies 48.2% to 34%.
Sweet Home hosted Cascade (17-3, No. 1) in its season finale at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.