It was a scene fit for a movie. With just 20 seconds left in the game, the Sweet Home needed a bucket to tie visiting North Eugene Thursday night, Dec. 19, and force overtime – or a three-point shot to win it.
The Huskies the ball into play, but they had nothing inside and kicked it out to Chace Hutchins on the left baseline. He sent the ball sailing through the net for three to take a one-point lead with nine seconds left.
But the happy-ending story line broke North Eugene’s way.
In that nine seconds, North Eugene, a 5A school, put the ball into the hoop to go ahead by one, drawing a foul with 3.2 seconds left. Sinking the free throw, the Highlanders held off the Huskies, 50-48, for the win Thursday, night in Sweet Home.
Coach Tim Porter’s plan was to get the ball inside and try to get the two, and if there wasn’t a shot, to kick it out to the perimeter.
“It ended up in Chace’s hands, and he had the shot,” Porter said. Unfortunately for the Huskies, there were still nine seconds left when Hutchins hit the bucket.
Sweet Home tried a play to get the ball down the court in 3.2 seconds, but North Eugene deflected the in-bounds pass.
The Highlanders held a 12-10 advantage after one quarter. The Huskies were ahead 25-22 at halftime. North Eugene led 34-30 at the end of the third quarter.
“We’d never seen them before,” Porter said. “I think we matched up pretty well with them.
“I guess I have fairly high expectations for this team. It’s nice (to play such a competitive game), but I think we were fully capable of winning that game.
“The kids played hard. The kids played well. I think we needed to do a little better job rebounding.”
The Huskies also lost 58-49 to 5A Lebanon on Dec. 17. Sweet Home led 19-18 at halftime in a close game that opened up for Lebanon in the third quarter on a pair of back-to-back threes.
“For whatever reason, our defense wasn’t up to what we except it to be in the third quarter,” Porter said.
Overall, it was a tough week, and he’s disappointed the Huskies didn’t come away from it with a win, Porter said.
North Eugene 12 10 12 16 – 50
Sweet Home 10 15 5 18 – 48
North Eugene: Ferrenburg 15, Wright 13, Friesen 10, Dawson 9, Sand 2, Snyder 1, Fisher, Larson, Cohen, Hill Gilliam.
Sweet Home: Hunter Jutte 18, Grant Kauffman 9, Bryce Daniels 6, Kyle Rose 6, Ryan R. Adams 3, Kobe Galster, Tyler Funk
Sweet Home’s tough preseason road continued at Central Saturday afternoon, where the Huskies fell 50-36 to the undefeated Panthers.
Game details were not available at press time.