Outlaws score first victory of the season

The Sisters Outlaws basketball team notched its first victory of the season on Tuesday, December 14, in a thrilling 76-75 overtime win against the LaPine Hawks.

It was the Outlaws' first home game of the season. Football players Dusty Macauley and Jered Coffield returned to the lineup which added a spark for Sisters.

Evan Owens scored 17 points for Sisters and Coffield had 15. For the Hawks, Mike O'Brien had 29 points and Garret Smith threw in 19.

In the second half the Outlaws defense was lackadaisical and Sisters players did not communicate with each other.

Coach Rand Runco emphasized communication between players and urged his players to step up their pressure on their half-court defense.

In the fourth quarter the teams traded the lead a point or two; neither team could pull away. In the final seconds of regulation Jered Coffield knocked down one of his two free throws to send the game into overtime.

The same scenario evolved during overtime with seconds remaining Coffield was able to get one of his two free throws to drop.

Sisters traveled to Wilsonville on Friday, December 17. The Outlaws couldn't hold on down the stretch and Wilsonville put them away with a 54-63 loss. Josh Reznick scored 16 points and Owens had 14 in a losing cause. Sisters defense is still improving but it has not yet reached its full potential. Towards the end of the game Sisters was within two but missed opportunities and free throws halted which Sisters' charge.