One bad quarter cost the Sweet Home girls basketball squad the whole thing on Jan. 22 at home against the Central Panthers and left the Huskies still looking for their first win of the season.
The Huskies lost 64-42 after a tough first period.
“We came out the first half, and it was ugly,” Coach Dave Goetz said. The girls got good looks at the basket, but the shots just wouldn’t fall.
Central built a 21-2 lead in the first quarter before things evened out. The Panthers outscored the Huskies by only four points in the second quarter to build a 39-16 lead at halftime. The third quarter, Central built 57-36 lead, but the Huskies closed the gap in the fourth, outscoring Central 16-7.
The Huskies won the second half overall by one point, Goetz said. Get rid of the first quarter, and the loss was only by three points.
“We were a completely different team in the second half,” Goetz said. They had good shots again, and they started falling. The team also talked at halftime about turning up their intensity and coming out of the slump they were in.”
Typically, the girls seem to get two or three good quarters with a single quarter that causes them problems, Goetz said.
Ashley Danielson led Husky scoring with 12 points. Jenny Hamn added 10; Alex Thompson, eight; Hillary McCartin, five; Nicole Fagan, four; and Rylee Cole, three.
Paige Niemi played but was not feeling well, Goetz said. She worked hard, but her shots just didn’t fall. Heather Polley also played but did not score.
Cole, a freshman, “ended up being player of the game,” Goetz said. She has gotten good at running the offense, and she’s starting to understand good passing and ball handling.
Amanda McLean led Central scoring with 14 points.
“We didn’t have an answer for her ability to penetrate,” Goetz said. In the second half, the Huskies were able to keep their zone defenses tighter and slow down Central’s inside scoring.
Also scoring for Central were Bre Berg with nine points; Kassaundra Ramirez eight; Jacy Hermens, seven; Kayla Cuellar, four; Cassie Love, three; Julie Hedrick, three; Kalia Riddell, three; Chloe Waddell, three; Desiree Rardin, two; and Alicia Curry, two.
“Again, I just want it to be known that the girls played hard,” Goetz said. “There are girls stepping up and big things are going to happen; and they appreciate all the community support they’ve been getting.”
The girls, 0-4 in league, are scheduled to host Newport Wednesday night.