After breaking into the playoffs last winter, the Sweet Home boys basketball team showed signs of turning the corner after several seasons in which the Huskies struggled.
If this summer has been any indication, Sweet Home is on its way to a brighter future.
The Huskies have played in five tournaments, the largest a 90-team tournament at the University of Oregon Saturday and Sunday.
“We ended up 5-2 at the tournament this weekend,” Coach Tim Little said. Sisters was among the defeated along with schools from California and Washington.
The Huskies lost to Vacaville, Calif., Sunday morning, Little said. He wasn’t at the game the Huskies lost on Friday, so he wasn’t sure which team it was.
“For being that big a tournament, and the schedule we had, to finish 5-2, we’re very pleased,” Little said. The losses came from simple mistakes, and like the season no loss was very large.
In 11 losses, Little said, seven were by five points or less.
At home on Tuesday, the Huskies lost 52-54 to Val-Co rivals the Philomath Warriors.
They defeated Cottage Grove 59-48 in the second game of the night.
The team finished the summer with a 23-11 record.
“It’s been a very good summer for us,” said Little. “We’re pleased. We’re definitely looking forward to next year.”
The Huskies made it to the final four of the 16-team Pendleton Tournament June 23-24, in which they played against schools from Boise, Hermiston, Pendleton and Washington, most with student bodies of 1,000 to 1,300 students, Little said.
“All of them were bigger schools than we were,” he said. “To make it to the semifinals was a good accomplishment for us.”
On the weekend of June 16-17, the Huskies won the inaugural eight-team Happy Rock Tournament in Gladstone, beating Regis in the finals. All the other teams in that tournament were 4A schools, Little said.
In the Central Tournament, June 7-8, Sweet Home played with a depleted roster, due to some injuries, and finished 3-2.
“We didn’t play as well as I wished we would have,” Little said.
The three all-league returnees, Gabe Kauffman, Colton Emmert and Ryan Graville, have “played real well,” Little said, and provided leadership for the team on the court. He said some pleasant surprises have been Josh Riggs at the post and incoming senior Jaerod Olsen, who has returned to the team after taking last year off.
“He’s been a big surprise for us,” Little said. “He’s doing the little things, playing defense. He’s real intense and fits in real well.
“It’s hard to isolate five guys because everyone’s played well this summer,” he added.
Little, who will be starting his third year as head coach and 11th overall at Sweet Home, said this has been the Huskies’ best summer so far while he’s been at the helm.
“Last year was definitely a turning point,” he said. “I honestly believe things are just going to go up from what happened last year.”