Girls basketball drops league opener

The Lady Outlaws opened league play with a 57-50 loss at Cottage Grove on Friday, January 16.

The Lady Lions jumped out quickly and tallied 12 points in the first three minutes of play. Sisters had to play catch-up and scored 11 points in the last four minutes of the quarter, while holding the Lions to three to finish the quarter trailing 15-11.

Sisters allowed Borrigio, the Lions' big post, 10 of her 20 points in the first four minutes of the game. The Outlaws rallied, gathered their composure and contained the big post from then on.

The Outlaws ran the floor well in the second quarter, but could not get easy shots to fall. Olivia Stewart hit a long three at the end of the period to cut the Lions' lead to nine, with the score at 29-20.

Sisters out-scored the Lions 12-9 in the third and entered the fourth quarter down 38-32. With five minutes left in the game, the Outlaws had cut the Lions' lead to two. Sisters got into foul trouble and sent the Lions to the line. Cottage Grove hit their shots to secure the win.

Cottage Grove went 7-for-10 from the line in the final quarter and Sisters was 0-for 3.

Bethany Bachmeier rejoined her team for the first time since a full ACL repair and six months of recovery. Bachmeier did a great job for the Outlaws and scored nine of Sisters' 18 fourth-quarter points.

"Bethany did a great job pushing the ball up the floor and taking shots," said Coach Julianne Horner. "We knew she would be a game-changer and bring a force that would be a huge help. We look forward to getting her back on the floor full time."

Bachmeier paced the Outlaws with 14 points, and Boston Moore tallied 12 points, including two three-pointers. Nina Horner recorded six points and Stewart added five.

Cierra Mann played great defense against Borrigio, one of the best posts in the state. Mann was a force on the boards and grabbed 13 rebounds in the game. Dallas Knoop had six rebounds, and Ashley Smith and Haylie Hudson each grabbed four.

"I was very happy with how Cierra played and took Borrigio out of her game for three quarters," stated Horner. "She made her work for every basket she took."

Horner said, "We knew in the second half we would have to battle. We just got into foul trouble, and that hurt us in the fourth."

The Outlaws were to play at home against Sweet Home on Tuesday, January 20. Sisters will play at home against the Junction City Tigers on Friday, January 23.