After a 10-year drought, the girls basketball team delivered its first league victory last week, beating Sisters 57-39 on the road Tuesday, Jan. 28.
The win also elevated the Huskies’ overall record to 7-10, its highest win total in at least 13 years. Records prior to that were not readily available at press time.
The last time the girls won a league game, they won three, all against Taft in the 2009-10 season. Their last league win was on Feb. 19, 2010. In the past five years, the girls have won six games total.
“I’m so proud of them,” said Coach Michelle Knight. “I’m proud of how they never give up. They’ll play hard until the end, and they’re determined.”
The Huskies met their goal for the season, to win a league game.
“We feel really relieved actually,” Knight said. “The pressure is off. That was our goal. Now we’re setting a new goal – four more wins.”
Getting there was a little close to start.
Sisters led 11-10 after the first quarter and then 21-17 at halftime.
“We switched to man-to-man defense in the second half, and they just went off,” Knight said. “They started sinking shots. They played good on defense. They played as a team.”
The Huskies tacked on another 19 points, while Sisters put just two buckets on the scoreboard. Sweet Home led 36-25 going into the fourth quarter.
Sweet Home piled on another 21 points in the final quarter, while Sisters added just 14.
“Katie Miller had 19,” Knight said. “She just had an amazing game.”
Becky Belcher added another 16 and Brooke Burke, 12. Adaira Burger pulled down 10 rebounds. Belcher added eight, and Burke had six, while Natalie Rodgers recorded five assists.
The Huskies controlled the ball, turning the ball over just 12 times on the game, Knight said.
Sisters had 13 turnovers.
Sweet Home was scheduled to face Woodburn on the road Tuesday. The Huskies will host top-ranked and undefeated Philomath at 7 p.m. on Friday. They will host 11th-ranked Stayton, 4-2 in league and 12-5 overall, at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11.
The Huskies are sixth in league with a 1-5 record. Philomath leads the Oregon West Conference with six wins and no losses. Casacade, 5-1, is in second. Stayton, 4-2, is in third. Newport, 2-4, is in fifth. Sisters, 0-6, is in seventh.
Sweet Home 10 7 19 21 – 57
Sisters 11 10 4 14 – 39
Sweet Home scoring: Katie Miller 19, Becky Belcher 16, Brooke Burke 12, Kirsten Watkins 5, Adaira Burger 2, Natalie Rodgers 2, Hannah Powell 1, Mercedes Burks, Kassidy Vandehei, Katie Robeck.
Sisters scoring: E. Rush 12, Petterson 11, Patton 8, Schwartz 6, Morgan 3, Mayes, Schar, Moffat, Aylor.
The Huskies lost to Newport 67-35 at home Friday evening.
Newport got ahead 19-3 in the first quarter and led 35-14 at halftime. Newport was ahead 52-23 at the end of the third quarter.
“They’re still learning how to win, and that’s (the mental game),” Knight said. “We have great athletes in this program, and they’re learning to play as a team.”
They haven’t played together as long as the girls on other teams, she said.
Newport 19 16 17 15 – 67
Sweet Home 3 11 9 12 – 35
Newport scoring: Michaela Wagner 17, Wolf 15, Dickason 10, Murray 8, Barber 5, Driebergen 3, Green 2, Thompson 2, Martinson, Rundell, Smith, Trommlitz.
Sweet Home scoring: Burger 8, Belcher 7, Burke 6, Miller 4, Powell 4, Rodgers 3, Watkins 2, Chloe Fairchild, Burks, Vandehei, Robeck.