Ken Roberts
For The New Era
Sweet Home opened the league season with two losses on the road, first to Central, 42-21, and then to Philomath, 52-39.
Central dominated the Huskies out of the gate with a stifling defense that grew stronger as the game progressed through the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Sweet Home outscored the Panthers 9-4 before they inserted JV players in the last two minutes.
Jenny Hamn was the most effective Husky offensive player with four points and seven rebounds. Emili Riggs led the defensive effort with three steals, three forced turnovers, and a blocked shot.
In the Philomath game, the Warriors used extended double team pressure on the point guards and wings to take an early 9-0 lead. The Huskies fought back and reduced the margin to just six points at the end of the first quarter. Hamn and Rylee Cole helped the Huskies maintain that figure with Hamn scoring five points, four of those on assists from Cole, who also had 3 points.
Midway into the third quarter, Sweet Home used hustling, suffocating defensive pressure to score 11 straight points, eight of those by Megan Rubidoux, to establish a four point lead. However, turnovers and fouls allowed Philomath to recapture the lead, 33-29, at the end of the third quarter.
Philomath stepped up their defense some more in the fourth quarter, which turned into a 19 point quarter, including the last six points of the game. Cassandra Noble, limited in the first half to just five points because of foul problems, came back to lead the Warriors with 19 points, followed by Tegan Grunwald’s 12.
Rubidoux finished with 11 points and Hamn added 9 points with her team leading 10 rebounds. Riggs added 7 rebounds, five of which were offensive boards. Paige Niemi had four steals while Hamn and Devyn Makin each had three.
“We never quit all night,” said coach John Barnes, who was pleased with the defensive effort despite the fourth quarter.
“The kids are starting to get into the continuity of the defense,” stated Barnes. “They trust each other and where their teammates are going to be.”
Sweet Home 6 4 2 9 €“ 21
Central 12 13 8 9 €“ 42
Sweet Home: Hamn 4, Cole 4, Riggs 4, Rubidoux 3, Whitfield 2, Makin 2, Niemi 2
Central: Pflaum 9, H.Riddell 6, Waterman 5, Cuellar 5, Rardin 4, Hedrick 4, C.Waddell 3, McLean 2, Berg 2, Franko 2
SH 6 8 15 10 €“ 39
Philomath 12 8 13 19 €“ 52
Sweet Home: Rubidoux 11, Hamn 9, Cole 5, Niemi 5, Riggs 5, Makin 4
Philomath: Noble 19, T.Grunwald 12, George 7, Gunter 3, Houk 3, S.Grunwald 2, Schaudt 2, Marshall 2, Hardin 1, de los Reyes 1