Outlaws notch three big wins

The boys basketball team had an extraordinary week, posting three wins against tough competitors. On Saturday, January 7, the Outlaws rolled over the 5A Cougars at Mt. View 60-49; a day earlier they had defeated Molalla at home in a final score of 58-47. Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, Sisters tallied a 58-39 road win against Stayton.

Sisters played a great game against highly ranked 5A Mt. View on Saturday.

The first two quarters were a tight battle, and at the half Mt. View held a slim lead at 32-30. Sisters outscored the Cougars 28-17 in the second half and recorded the win.

Jalen Miller was outstanding at point guard, handling the pressure from the Cougar athletes, who possessed extraordinary size and speed. Miller, along with John Erickson and Eli Harrison, took turns bringing the ball up the court. They were able to control the tempo of the game and also execute their offensive game plan.

The Outlaws' team defense was stellar and held the Cougars to a season-low 49 points. Chase Goff did an outstanding job on the glass and had 10 crucial boards for the victory.

"I was concerned that their size and strength was overpowering us on the boards in the first half, but the team did a great job on the defensive boards in the second half to hold off the Cougars," said Coach Rand Runco.

Sisters shot the ball very well from the line in the first half, going 12/14.

Eli Harrison and John Erickson each poured in 21 points for the Outlaws, and Jalen Miller contributed 14.

"The best part of the game was that our toughness improved," said Runco. "This was an incredibly physical game and we had to compete physically at a high level. We handled the physical play of the game and began to wear the Cougars down. I was so proud of our guys for having such composure for four quarters and following the game plan. It was a good win."

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, Sisters earned a win on the road against Stayton.

The Eagles played great defense right from the start, and the Outlaws had a tough time stopping their posts. Sisters improved their play as the game progressed and came out in the second half with an outstanding third quarter. Sisters outscored the Eagles 17-5 and at the close of the third period held a commanding

45-29 lead.

Sisters held Stayton to just 15 points in the second half and won the game by a margin of 19 points.

Friday's game at home against Molalla was a tougher contest. Sisters played strong defense in the first quarter and held the Indians to just two points. The second quarter was marked by numerous fouls by both teams, but the Outlaws came out on top, outscoring Molalla 22-18.

Eli Harrison had a big night for the Outlaws, with 24 points. Tim Hernandez and John Erickson both contributed 13 points each.

Runco noted that Chase Goff played a huge part in the win, with some tremendous rebounds that stopped a Molalla comeback.

"It was a good game," said Runco. "We shot the ball well and went 21/26 from the line. I was impressed with our composure against a physical team, but we need to continue to work on our offensive execution."

The Outlaws will host Sweet Home on Friday, January 13. The game is scheduled to begin at

5:45 p.m.