Girls' basketball team hosts tourney

Top teams from around the state, including Junction City, North Marion and 3A defending state champion Burns, gathered in Sisters for the Annual Holiday Tournament which was held Wednesday through Friday, December 27-29. Burns finished at the top to take first place honors. North Marion was runner up and La Pine placed third.

Sisters kicked off the tournament on Wednesday, December 27, against the La Pine Hawks. Sisters was up by five with six minutes to go in the game and ended up losing the contest by 12 points.

Sophomore Lindsay Reeve led the Outlaws with 11 points, and Kali Ulmer added seven.

On Thursday, the lady Outlaws lost 29-51 to the Junction City (JC) Tigers, who are ranked one of the top 10 teams in the state.

It was a brutal game for the Outlaws who just couldn't get across the half court. At the half Sisters trailed the Tigers 8-26. JC took their press off in the second half, and Sisters was able to get some points on the scoreboard, but lost the contest 29-51.

The Outlaws committed 35 turnovers in the game.

"We weren't smart with the ball," said Coach Kevin Cotner. "It's hard to compete when you spot the other team 35 extra possessions."

Katie Hughes led the Outlaws with 12 points. Brandi Palmer contributed seven points, and Kali Ulmer added six.

On Friday, Sisters defeated LaSalle 49-39.

Sisters' looked and played like a different team than in the previous two games, and Coach Cotner was pleased with what he saw.

"I'm proud of the girls. They played with poise and passion both defensively and offensively. They took the next step in becoming a good team. They learned how to finish and learned how to win."

Sisters held a 27-18 lead at the half. At the start of the third quarter, LaSalle came out very intense defensively and closed the Outlaw lead to four. It took Sisters several minutes to adjust and get back on track. Sisters came back and outscored LaSalle 18-13 in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

"The team's defensive intensity was the best it's been all year," said Cotner, "and offensively five to six girls stepped up and looked to score, which hasn't been the case in previous games. Kelsey (Neilson) stepped up and was high scorer and Cammy (Jacobson) was clutch at the line in the fourth quarter."

Neilson finished the game with 12 points. Katie Hughes and Cammy Jacobson each had nine points. Six of Jacobson's nine points came in the fourth quarter and were made at the line. Jennifer Friend contributed seven points, and Kali Ulmer had six.

Brandi Palmer had seven rebounds, and Hughes had five.

The Outlaws cut down their turnovers drastically compared to the previous game and in the fourth quarter turned the ball over only twice. Neilson and Ulmer both fouled out in the fourth quarter.

The Outlaws travel to Elmira on Wednesday, January 3 and host Burns at home on Friday, January 5.