Girls' hoops team loses close battle

The Lady Outlaws basketball team lost 42-45 at La Pine on Friday, February 2.

Lindsay Reeve scored six points in the first quarter to keep Sisters in the game. At the close of the first quarter, La Pine held a 14-10 lead over the Outlaws.

The Outlaws suffered an agonizing second quarter and were only able to put two points on the scoreboard. The lone bucket came from Reeves within the first 30 seconds of the period, and then the Outlaws were held scoreless until the half. At halftime Sisters trailed La Pine 12-23.

Sisters clawed their way back into the game in the third quarter and outscored the Hawks 17-13. Katie Hughes hit three 'threes,' and at the end of the third Sisters had pulled to within seven points of La Pine at 29-36.

Brandi Palmer scored eight consecutive points, including going four-for-four at the line and got the Outlaws to within one point of the Lady Hawks at 42-43. However, there was under one minute left on the clock, and Sisters was forced to foul. The Hawks made both their shots from the line, went up 45-42 and time on the clock ran out.

Katie Hughes led the Outlaws with 14 points, including four 'threes.' Hughes also had three steals. Lindsay Reeve contributed 12 points and pulled down eight boards. Brandi Palmers added eight points, five rebounds and three assists.

The Outlaws turned the ball over 20 times and only grabbed five rebounds in the first half of the game. Sisters finished the night with a total of 17 rebounds.

Coach Kevin Cotner said, "We continue to struggle with consistency in our game. I was told by a veteran coach that there is a ladder to basketball success. He said that in order to become a good team, great team and championship team, you must first become a TEAM. This has been an area that we have battled with throughout the season. We still have a shot at doing some things in this league, but in order for that to happen, we as a team need to have a gut check and find out what we are all about."