Sisters squeaks by Redmond for basketball win

Sisters battled hard in their road game against Redmond on Friday, January 8, and through toughness and team chemistry were able to walk off the court with a 51-50 victory.

The Outlaws played a terrific game against the athletic and great-shooting Panthers. Sisters railed the Panthers early, and missed some shots against their zone. Sisters was down by six at the half, at 26-20.

In the third, the Outlaws trailed by 13, but turned it around and started to lock down defensively. Redmond missed some shots, and the Outlaws got back in the game.

Coach Rand Runco said, "The closer we got, the more hurried they became."

After battling hard for four quarters, the Outlaws scored on five straight possessions and finally took their first lead with approximately three minutes to go in the contest.

Sisters lost their lead with 55 seconds left on the clock, when Derek Brown hit a long three-pointer. The Outlaws were patient with their offense, and Steen Johnson was able to find Scott Waddell, who hit an open jumper and gave the Outlaws a one-point lead with eight seconds left in the game.

The Panthers shot from behind mid-court, rebounded the ball, and got off a hurried put-back that hit the bottom of the rim, and gave the Outlaws a great comeback victory.

"It was a great team effort," said Runco. "Everyone contributed against really tough match-ups. The key to the victory was the unselfish play. We have to be a complete team. Each player is so important and different guys step up each night."

Scott Waddell finished the night with 18 points, Keegan Greaney scored 11 points, Tyler Head recorded eight, and Hayes Moore added five.

Johnson, Greaney, and Moore combined for 11 assists, and Head pulled down 11 boards.

Three days earlier, the Outlaws lost by four to No. 4-ranked North Marion. The Huskies lost in the state final last year, and are playing tough again this season. The match-ups in this game were tough, as all five North Marion players were able to play on the perimeter and shoot the three very well.

The Huskies' key players were Tanner Scanion, and 6-foot-4-inch Hunter Martin - both great shooters and drivers.

Sisters started off well in the first quarter and held a 12-11 lead to close out the period.

Sisters' defense did a good job, except for allowing Martin to get open for both two- and three-point shots, and then Steen Johnson really clamped down in that match-up.

"Steen is really turning into an excellent defender," said Runco. "Scanion did not score on him, and only scored five in the game."

The Outlaws worked very hard, and at the half held a six-point lead, with the score at 22-16.

Sisters had a tough third quarter. They forced plays, and were plagued by a few turnovers and fouls.

The game slipped away in the fourth when the Outlaws were unable to stop the dribble penetration from the Huskies' role players.

Sisters did hold North Marion's top two offensive players to a combined 14 points, but gave up points to their other players.

Runco said, "It was a good game, but one we felt we could have played better. We fought back after we trailed, but it was a little too late."

Greaney and Moore led the team with nine points each, and Johnson and Waddell each added six. Johnson and Moore both finished the game with five assists each.

The Outlaws were to play at home against Douglas on Tuesday, January 12. The Outlaws will kick off league play at home against Sutherlin on Friday, January 15.