By Keeghan Gittins
For The New Era
The Sweet Home girls basketball team is off to its best start in years, heading into league play with a winning record secured regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s game.
Sweet Home lost at home to Sisters, 33-27, last week, but the Huskies currently boast the best defensive unit in the Oregon West Conference and the second-best defense in all of Class 4A – and a 6-4 record coming into this week.
The only team allowing fewer points statewide is their upcoming opponent, No. 9 St. Helens, who were scheduled to visit on Tuesday, Jan. 9, after The New Era went to press. The Lions, whose record was 6–3 coming into this week – The Lions have two players above six foot, one of them 6-2. Sweet Home will have to figure out how to overcome such odds in order to compete.
Despite a canceled home game Friday against Madras, Sweet Home has continued to make a statement on both ends of the floor, allowing fewer points than No. 1-ranked Stayton, while also ranking fourth offensively in the Oregon West Conference.
As league play begins, the Huskies have positioned themselves as a legitimate contender built on disciplined defense and balanced scoring.
Sweet Home will travel open Oregon West Conference play Tuesday, Jan. 20, at No. 4 Philomath Jan 20, and will host No. 1 Stayton Friday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m.
