Wins put Lady Outlaws in third place

The Lady Outlaws earned a 57-25 victory at home over the visiting Pleasant Hill Billies on Tuesday, February 9. On Friday the team traveled to Junction City and beat the Tigers 46-33, which at the moment puts them in third place in league standings.

It was an easy victory for Sisters on Tuesday, and the Outlaws second unit saw lots of court time. Marin and Danelle Allen both hit threes at the start of the first quarter to get the Outlaws off to a quick start and at the close of the quarter Sisters held a commanding 17-0 advantage. At the half Sisters had created a 27-6 lead.

Sisters came out flat in the third period and only scored two points the first six-and-a-half minutes. The Billies were able to hit some shots and narrowed the Outlaws lead to eight at 29-21. In the final minute-and-a-half, Marin Allen drilled a three and Danelle Allen and Taylor Walker made a bucket to extend Sisters lead by 13.

Sisters came on strong in the fourth, regained control of the game and went on to secure the win.

Coach Kevin Cotner noted he was pleased with the intensity that Brittany Birkeland brought to the game, and said he felt the team was successful when they applied pressure in their full court press.

Senior Danelle Allen said, "We've come a long way since the beginning of the season. We're working more as a family rather than five separate individuals on the court. We're getting better every game and we're discovering how good we can really be."

The Outlaws recorded a big win at Junction City three days later.

Cotner told The Nugget that JC is a major rival of the Outlaws.

"We are matched pretty evenly, and we have had some great battles the last couple of years," he said. "This was a huge game with a lot at stake. I told the girls before the game that this was a defining moment for Sisters girls basketball. Could we put together a great game when there was a lot on the line?"

Sisters got off to a very slow start, and with less than one-and-a-half minutes left in the first quarter trailed Junction City 6-1. Taylor Nieri gave Sisters a spark when she scored a three on an inbounds play and narrowed the Tigers lead to 6-4. JC answered back and extended their lead to 9-4 at the close of the period.

Sisters came to within one point of the Tigers with less than two minutes left in the first half, and Sisters got the momentum boost that changed the game. Senior Danelle Allen hit a three-point shot and the Outlaws put on full court pressure which resulted in a forced turnover. The second Sisters got the ball in the Tigers backcourt they pulled out the ball for a last shot.

With approximately 15 seconds left in the half, the Outlaws began a set play against JC zone which was to go to Susan Ruettgers in the paint. Ruettgers realized she was being doubled and wisely kicked the ball back out to Danelle Allen in the corner. Allen buried the three-point shot with four seconds left on the clock and Sisters entered the half with an 18-13 lead.

The entire third quarter was tight. Sisters held onto a slim lead the majority of the period and were up by three at 26-23 at the end of the third.

Sisters led the entire fourth quarter and blew the game open in the final minutes of play. Chelsie McConville drained four shots at the line to push the Outlaws to a 37-27 advantage. The Tigers were forced to foul, and the Outlaws put up nine more points at the line to claim the 46-33 victory.

"What a great game," said Cotner. "I thought that the girls battled through some adversity tonight. We had a horrid first quarter which included a number of turnovers and missed layups but we shook off the rust about midway through the second quarter... We are definitely not done and have some bigger games to come, but I think we are starting to play some pretty good basketball at just the right time."

Chelsie McConville and Taylor Nieri led the Outlaws with 11 points each. Danelle Allen contributed 10 points and Ruettgers added eight. The Outlaws were 21/33 from the line.

McConville was thrilled with the Outlaws win.

"It was super exciting!" she said. "We worked really hard to get to this point, and it wouldn't have been possible without everybody selling out and giving everything we have for the team."

The Lady Outlaws are currently 7-4 in league and 11-12 overall. Sisters had a bye on Tuesday, February 16, and will travel to Cottage Grove on Friday to face the Lady Lions, who are both the No. 1 team in the league and the No. 1 team in the state.