Girls drop one-point nail-biter to Newport

Aaliyah Brown goes over the top as she looks to score against Newport. Photo by Kristine Banker

The Sweet Home girls basketball team had a tough week, losing 49-22 at North Marion on Tuesday and then coming up on the short end of a nail-biter loss 34-33 to Newport at home on Friday.

Coach Erika Evans emphasized how the team started off strong in the first half against North Marion, but the Huskies couldn’t maintain their momentum and energy in the second.

“We came out doing everything we needed to do to win in the first half; I really think we surprised them,” Evans said.

Sweet Home’s players put up some tough defense and showed their ability to score early on. “Our defense was locked in; we were hitting shots,” Evans said. “We just didn’t string four quarters together.”

Friday’s game against Newport was a nail-biter, with the Huskies fighting hard through all four quarters.

Sweet Home showed determination, especially in the final moments.

“We executed our scout on Newport well and came back in the last few minutes to have the opportunity to win,” said Evans.

The Huskies had a couple missed shots and free throws in the closing seconds of the game, which allowed the Cubs to escape with the one-point win.

“We showed that we were going to win the hustle game, and we had all the right looks to win it,” Evans said. “If a few more shots – and free throws – had fallen, it could have been a different outcome.

Looking ahead, Evans said the Huskies will focus on improving shooting efficiency, which will be a key focus for the team moving forward.

“We have been getting all of the looks we’ve wanted in our games this season, but there seems to be a lid on the basket at times,” she said.

The girls play at Cascade, which was ranked No. 4 going into this week, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, to finish out the first half of their Oregon West Conference campaign. They will have a bye Friday, Feb. 7, before going on the road to face Philomath, ranked No. 1 this week, on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

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