Lady Outlaws defeat Elmira to make playoffs

The Lady Outlaws basketball team defeated Elmira 36-26 at home in the 4A state play-in game on Friday, February 22. A week earlier Sisters beat Elmira to clinch the third-place spot in the Sky-Em League.

Both teams got off to a slow start and neither team scored for the first two minutes of play. Taylor Nieri hit the first bucket of the game to get the Outlaws started. With three-and-a-half minutes left in the quarter, the Falcons finally scored and tied it up 2-2. Elmira quickly knocked down another bucket and took a 4-2 lead. Cassidy Edwards went 2/2 from the line to tie it up 4-4. With three seconds left on the clock, Edwards stole the ball, drove the floor and quickly dished the ball off to Savannah Spear who got the lay-up and put the Outlaws back on top 6-4 as the buzzer sounded.

At the start of the second period, Edwards grabbed an offensive rebound and got the put-back to extend the Outlaws lead to 8-4. Sisters got one point from the free-throw line and from there neither team scored until midway through the quarter. Sisters picked it up offensively from there and scored six more points. Harley Rowe knocked down a three at the buzzer to push Sisters to an 18-11 advantage at the half.

It was an even scoring effort in the third with both teams posting six points each. The third quarter ended with Sisters still in the lead at 24-17.

Sisters fans were on their feet cheering and shouting to kick off the start of the final period. The Falcons immediately hit a three to close the gap to four points at 24-20. Two minutes later, Nieri stole the ball at half court and sailed down the floor for the lay-up. On the Falcon's next possession, Jacobie Petterson picked up a loose ball and dished it off to Spear for the score, and Sisters went up 28-20.

The Outlaws pushed to a 30-20 advantage, but Elmira didn't give up the battle. The Falcons scored six consecutive points and cut the Outlaws lead to 30-26. With 40 seconds left on the clock, Edwards and Spear teamed up and stole the ball. The duo passed it back and forth down the court and Savannah finished with a lay-up to put Sisters up by six. Harley Rowe went 2/2 from the line with 15 seconds left in the game and Spear went 2/2 from the line with three seconds remaining to seal the win in a final score of 36-26.

Nieri, Edwards and Spear each tallied eight points for the Outlaws. Cassidy pulled down nine boards, Taylor recorded eight and Savannah added four rebounds in the contest. Harley Rowe contributed five points in the scoring effort.

Coach Julianne Horner said, "We knew Elmira would bring everything they could against us, and I was proud of how the girls played with composure and team effort. The team played well with even scoring by those who played, making every player a threat on the floor. That is what we need going into the state round. I'm continually impressed with how this team is growing and getting better each time on the floor."

Horner noted Savannah Spear and Harley Rowe for their fine performances.

"Savannah did a great job leading the team," stated Horner. "As our point guard, she made reads of Elmira's defense and then made the adjustments. Harley had her best game of the year and her senior leadership came forward. She helped our team attack their defense and helped lead our team offensively and helped us find the holes."

Sisters will travel to Mazama on Friday, March 1, for the first round of state playoffs. The Outlaws played Mazama at a tournament early in the season and Horner told The Nugget that her team is confident they will play well.