The Sweet Home boys basketball team wrapped up their season on Tuesday, Feb. 25, with a loss to No. 1 Cascade.
Despite a strong first half against the Cougars, the Huskies couldn’t keep pace after halftime, falling 69-32.
“Cascade is the No. 1 team in the state. They are tough and very skilled,” Coach Drew Emmert said. “We played well for the first half, and then they made a huge run to start the third.”
The Huskies showed resilience early, competing with the Cougars and keeping the game within reach. However, Cascade’s depth and experience became evident as they pulled away in the second half.
While the season ended with a difficult matchup, Emmert took a moment to recognize the contributions of his senior leaders.
“I was proud of our seniors and the resilience they showed throughout the year and their high school careers,” Emmert said. “Being as young as we were, we knew it would be an uphill battle to get wins. Seniors Josh Aker, Jason Funk, and Conner Pace did a great job leading these guys. They are all three hard workers and great kids. It was a pleasure to coach them.”
Behind those four on this year’s roster were one junior, Trenton Templin, six sophomores and one freshman.
After the final buzzer, the Huskies and Cougars came together at center court in a moment of unity, closing out the season in prayer. The gesture was a reminder that, beyond the wins and losses, the game is about more than just a win – it’s about sportsmanship, camaraderie, and respect for each other and the game of basketball.
Looking ahead, Sweet Home will return a core group of young players with varsity experience next season, something Emmert hopes will provide a strong foundation for growth.
“The future looks bright, but it won’t just happen,” he said. “We have to make it happen by working hard in the offseason and being in the gym as much as possible.”