Lady Outlaws put the bite on the Huskies

The Lady Outlaws suffered a hard 44-19 loss at home against Stayton on Wednesday, February 13, but bounced back two days later with a huge 43-23 victory at home over the Sweet Home Huskies.

Prior to tip-off on Friday night against the Huskies, the Lady Outlaws honored their five senior players: Alexa Stewart, Sophia Bianchi, Meaghan Greaney, Isabelle Spitler, and Sydney Head.

Coach Brittaney Niebergall-Brown said, "Our seniors improved immensely over the course of the year, and their leadership has been greatly appreciated by their teammates, coaches, and the fans. Prior to the game, in the team room, a card was given to each of the girls from their teammates and coaches, as well as a collage of their childhood memories. It was an emotional and rewarding experience from the beginning of the night to the end for the girls. They've really come together as a unit and have created lifelong memories throughout the season."

In addition to senior night, it was also Pink Out Night, or Breast Cancer Awareness Night. The girls were decked out in their pink and white uniforms, and all the gate proceeds from both the girls and boys games were donated to the St. Charles Cancer Center.

At the start of the game, the Huskies jumped out early and took a 4-0 lead, but Lexie Stewart answered with a three-ball to close the gap to one. The score stayed close, and at the end of the period the Outlaws were down by two, 8-10.

The Outlaws went on a 6-0 run at the start of the second, and kept up their defensive pressure. Sisters held the Huskies to just four points in the quarter, and at the half were on top 22-15.

Stewart hit another three-pointer to start the third quarter, the Outlaws went on a 7-0 run, and held the Huskies scoreless for the first six minutes of the quarter. Payden Petterson downed a shot from behind the arc at the buzzer to give the Outlaws a commanding 32-18 lead.

Sisters limited the Huskies to five points in the final period, and walked off the court with a win.

Petterson led the Outlaws scoring effort with 10 points, five rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Stewart hit three big threes for nine points, and also had three boards and one steal. Bianchi tallied seven points, three rebounds and four assists, Spitler recorded six points, and RylieReece Morgan added five. Meaghan Greaney had three rebounds and three assists in the contest.

"Winning on Senior Night on our home court was our main mission," said Niebergall-Brown. "Our defensive pressure as a whole really paid dividends for us in the third quarter when we increased our lead to 14. In the second half, the girls shared the ball well and converted off of steals that our defense forced."

Two days earlier, the Outlaws had a very rough time against a tough Stayton squad.

At the half, the Eagles had doubled up on the Outlaws with a 20-10 lead. Stayton held Sisters to just nine points in the second half and beat them by 25 points.

Morgan, Bianchi, and Spitler scored three points each for the Outlaws. Greaney pulled down seven boards, and Bianchi had four steals.

Niebergall-Brown said, "I thought we competed well against a very good team. Scoring was an issue for us, even though we are continuing to work on that phase of our game daily. I do think we are getting better as a team and working better together as one unit."

The Outlaws are currently 5-6 in league and 7-16 overall. The Outlaws were to play at Philomath on Monday, February 18, in a make-up game that had to be re-scheduled due to inclement weather conditions.