Boys basketball drops two on the hardwood

The Outlaws dropped both their league games this past week: a 32-49 loss at home against Sweet Home on Tuesday, January 28, and a 52-63 loss at home against Newport on Thursday in a make-up game that was rescheduled from earlier in the season due to inclement weather.

In Tuesday’s loss, Sweet Home jumped out early and capitalized on 15 first-half turnovers to enter the half up 24-10. The Huskies pressure got to the Outlaws, which resulted in unforced turnovers. Sisters came back strong in the third and cut the lead from 14 to six, but ran out of gas. Sweet Home scored 10 unanswered points to push the lead back to 15 at the close of the third. The Huskies held onto the lead and posted the win.

Sam Nicklous scored nine points after a scoreless first quarter, and Nate Weber finished with nine. Brogan Petterson scored five and was three-for-five from the free-throw line.

On Thursday, the Outlaws played a great first half against Newport. In the first quarter, Weber rattled down three three-pointers to keep Sisters within two at 12-14. The Outlaws were patient on offense and got the ball inside to both Brogan Petterson and Joe Scholl for the buckets.

In the second period, the score went back-and-forth the first four minutes and was tied twice. In the final two minutes the Cubs pulled ahead, and at the half the Outlaws trailed 25-29.

The Outlaws didn’t execute in the third quarter like they did in the first half. Pressure in the back-court by the Cubs caused the Outlaws to make errors and turn the ball over. At the close of the third, Sisters was down 33-43.

In the final quarter, the Outlaws were able to cut the Cubs’ lead to six, but down the stretch Newport spread the court and stalled. Sisters was forced to foul, and the Cubs hit their shots and recorded the win.

Weber led the Outlaws with 18 points, Nicklous tallied 11, Petterson and Scholl each dropped in eight, and Max Palanuk added five.

“Overall, the offensive end was fine,” said Coach Rob Jensen. “We just need to play better defense and limit turnovers.”

Sisters was scheduled to play at Newport on Tuesday, February 4. They will face the Cascade Cougars at home on Friday.