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Wednesday, February 3, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Boys basketball splits two on the hardwood
By Rongi yost
Correspondent
The Outlaws split their
games on the hardwood this
past week, to give them a
2-3 record in the Sky-Em
League. On Tuesday, January
26, Sisters lost 45-33 at
Junction City (JC), but three
days later bounced back to
record a 57-49 win at home
against Elmira.
Sisters played in a very
hard game against the Tigers
on Tuesday. JC returned three
first-team all-league players,
which all hurt the Outlaws at
some point in the game.
The Outlaws defended
very well in the first half of
the contest, but just could not
get the ball to fall through
the hoop. They missed
many great looks at the bas-
ket, and struggled on their
execution.
The Outlaws were held
to just five points in the first
half, and as teams headed
to the locker room Junction
City held the lead with a 15-5
advantage.
In the second half, the
Outlaws did much better
offensively, but were still
outscored 31-28.
Sisters kept the Tigers’
Hayden Martinez in check
the first half, but Martinez
scored 15 of his 17 points in
the second half.
Keegan Greaney and
Steen Johnson led the
Outlaws’ scoring effort
with eight points each, and
rebounds were split evenly
throughout the team.
“We were disappointed in
our performance, although
there were some good things
late in the game,” said Coach
Rand Runco. “Junction City
played very well, and they
are a very hard team to catch
up with.
“In the first half, we
played well defensively, and
really struggled getting shots
to fall, and at the same time
we were plagued by turn-
overs, which cut down our
opportunities. We improved
offensively in the second
half, but defensively we gave
up a lot of good looks. The
story of the game was really
the turnovers, which came
in bunches. We need to play
a complete game to have a
shot with the top teams in our
league.”
We improved offensively
in the second half, but
defensively we gave up
a lot of good looks. the
story of the game was
really the turnovers,
which came in bunches.
— Coach Rand Runco
In Friday’s action, the
Outlaws came out on top
against the Falcons.
Sisters went down early
and struggled to keep Elmira,
a very aggressive rebounding
and offensive team, under
control. At the end of the first
quarter, the Outlaws trailed
the Falcons 17-8.
The Outlaws fought back
and closed the gap as teams
approached the end of the
second quarter. Elmira hit a
late three-point shot at the
buzzer that sent the Outlaws
into the half down by six,
24-18.
Sisters kept up the battle
in the third period and again
narrowed the Falcon lead.
Elmira dropped in a shot at
the end of the third to take a
five-point lead with a score
of 35-30.
The Outlaws kept at it
and caught the Falcons in
the final quarter. Ben Saba
hit two big shots to give the
Outlaws a one-point lead
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steen Johnson goes up for two against elmira.
terrific game for the Outlaws
with 19 points, four assists,
and four steals. Steen
Johnson had 11 points, six
assists, and four boards,
and also contributed mul-
tiple big plays and rebounds
just when the Outlaws
needed it.
Keegan Greaney recorded
eight points and four steals,
and Scott Waddell finished
with 10 points. Ben Saba
played great minutes off the
bench and had the two big
free throws that gave the
Outlaws the lead.
Sisters was scheduled
to have a bye on Tuesday,
February 2. On Friday,
February 5, the Outlaws will
play at Sutherlin.
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with little time remaining on
the clock.
With just a few seconds
left in the game, Sisters
fouled. The Falcons hit their
first shot, but missed their
second, which tied the game.
Greaney quickly brought
the ball up the court, but the
Outlaws were unable to get
a good look, and the game
went into overtime.
“We really had to dig in,”
said Runco. “Steen Johnson
really stepped up as a leader,
and inspired the team in a
final huddle to get a good
start to overtime.”
Sisters jumped on the
Falcons in overtime and beat
them 14-6. The Outlaws were
10-for-13 in overtime from
the line, and 13-for16 from
the line in the final two quar-
ters of the game.
“The kids really handled
adversity well,” said Runco.
“Our guards really stepped
up in this game and took it at
them. I am excited about this,
because it is what we have
been waiting for. I think they
really took the game away
from Elmira.
“It was a really good team
effort, and the kids were men-
tally tough down the stretch.
We are proud of them. Our
league is very tough and we
are learning to play a com-
plete game on both ends of
the court. On most nights, our
defense gives us a chance to
win, but tonight our offense
really stepped up and hit the
shots we needed to be in the
position to win.”
Hayes Moore had a
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