Basketball team faces tough competition

The boys basketball team took on some tough competition at the Cottage Grove Tournament on Friday and Saturday, December 9-10. Sisters lost to Sutherlin 64-53 on Friday night and then lost 56-53 to North Bend on Saturday.

Sisters had a tough game against Sutherlin, one of the top five teams in the state, on Friday night. Sutherlin has one of the top players in the state in Justin Parnell, who averages about 30 points per night.

Andy Burke and Jeff Sampson had the responsibility of defending Parnell and according to Coach Rand Ranco they both did an outstanding job. However, the Outlaws lost the game by 11 points.

“I think we just ran out of gas,” said Runco. “We shot poorly in the second half and only scored 15 points. I really feel it’s our conditioning. We held our own at the start of the game and then just ran out of gas.”

Guy Mount led the Outlaws with 11 points and the remainder of the scoring was spread among eight different players.

Andy Burke and James Mohl each pulled down six rebounds.

“We played a good game,” said Runco. “We just got beat. They were the better team tonight, but they won’t be in a few weeks.”

On Saturday the Outlaws lost 56-53 to North Bend, which started three very good players who stand at 6'4', 6'5' and 6'6'.

Sisters didn’t get off to a good start and North Bend jumped out to take an early lead. In the second quarter the Outlaws were down by 15 points when they hit a two and then Nate Jackson hit a half-court three to bring the Outlaws to within 10.

With three and a half minutes to go in the game the Outlaws tied it up 53-53. North Bend was able to come down the court and score and won the game by three.

Runco said, “Guy (Mount) was very tenacious throughout the game and helped us battle back, Andy (Burke) kept us on the boards and Brian Knotts did an excellent job defending against the 6-foot-6-inch player and on the boards. Brian was just superb. He’s a senior this year and it’s the first time he’s played with us and he’s just doing great and improving each day.”

With only six practices and three games in with all of his players together, Runco is very encouraged and pleased with their progress.

“I think it’s just incredible what we’re doing against these tough teams,” said Runco. “We have a very tough pre-season schedule but we just don’t have our basketball legs or our shooting touch yet. Guy (Mount) is keeping us alive in the shooting area right now and all the guys have such incredible heart it’s just amazing.”

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, December 6, the Outlaws came from behind to earn a 47-43 win over the Creswell Bulldogs in their first pre-season game of the year.

Coach Runco said, “It was quite a battle. It wasn’t pretty, but we got the job done. Our half-court defense really cranked up the second half giving up only 15 points which allowed us to catch up after a first half full of turnovers and missed opportunities.”

Nine different players scored in the game and were led by Guy Mount who racked up 17 points. Andy Burke pulled down seven rebounds.

“I felt it was a great comeback effort for the new Outlaws,” said Runco.

Sisters will take on top ranked Valley Catholic at home on Friday, December 16.