Sweet Home 48, Newport 37
Behind intense defensive pressure, the Husky girls basketball team defeated Newport 48-37 at home on Jan. 10.
“We came out and played well early on,” Coach Jason Gorham said. That build team confidence early as the Huskies pressured the Newport offense forcing turnovers and creating a transition game that led to easy baskets.
Hannah Swanson, Breanne Messmer and Tabby Trahan each had five steals as a result of heavy defense, Gorham said. The Huskies held onto their leaed and never looked back.
They opened with a 13-6 first quarter and led 23-17 at halftime. They built up the lead in the third quarter, 35-24.
“I think a lot of it was our defensive pressure,” Gorham said. The Huskies came into the game knowing they would have to pressure the ball and play the passing lanes to spark the transition game they want to be the key to their offense.
That transition game “comes and goes,” Gorham said. “We pushed the ball better than we had been. We played solid for four quarters. Once we got the lead, we held onto it. I think getting the lead early on helped our confidence.”
Swanson led scoring with 18 points. Messmer added nine, with 10 rebounds; Sara Brocard, seven; Nicki Aerni, five; Trahan, four; Erika Snow, two; Michelle Aerni, two; and Makenzie Marchbanks, one.
Banks 50, Sweet Home 28
Things started badly for the Huskies when Swanson got into early foul trouble, hampering Sweet Home’s defensive potential on the road against Banks on Friday, Gorham said.
“They’ve been playing well the last couple of weeks,” Gorham said of Banks, although Banks had struggled earlier in the season.
Banks took an 11-4 lead after one quarter and led 26-14 at halftime. The hosts led 40-20 after three quarters.
Nicki Aerni stepped into Swanson’s role at point guard, leading the team with 11 points, Gorham said. She did a nice job of scoring for the Huskies.
Swanson did not foul out, but her performance was limited with her unable to hit the basket and pressure the ball. She scored two on the other end of the court.
Trahan and Messmer each scored four; Marchbanks, three; Olivia Lake, two; and Brocard, two.
League play starts this week. The Huskies are playing Molalla on the road Tuesday, and host Stayton on Friday. The girls’ game begins at 5:30 p.m.