Outlaws suffer overtime heart-breaker

The Outlaws started their week with a heartbreaking 50-56 loss in overtime at Newport on Tuesday, February 4. At home three days later they fell 27-42 to Cascade.

In Tuesday’s overtime loss, the Outlaws started off strong. Sam Nicklous, Brogan Petterson, Nate Weber, and Connor Linn all hit three-point shots in the second quarter and at the half it was knotted up at 28-28. Both teams scored 14 points in each of the first two quarters.

Newport went on a run in the third and went up 44-37 as teams entered the final quarter. Sisters played solid defense in the fourth and cut the Cubs’ lead to four with a minute left on the clock. In the final minute, Weber hit a couple of free throws and then finished a tough drive to the hoop with six seconds left. Newport got the ball to their best player and he managed to get a shot at the rim that missed at the buzzer and sent the game into overtime.

After two scoreless minutes Newport scored on an offensive rebound. The Outlaws had to foul and after going 0/7 in the fourth from the stripe, the Cubs weren’t going to miss. Sisters lost by six and the Cubs tallied the win.

Nicklous finished with 15 points, Weber recorded 13, and Petterson added 10.

Coach Rob Jensen said, “Overall, we showed some grit to stick with it and get to overtime on a tough road trip. It’s never easy playing a game all the way out at the coast. Our guys aren’t quitting, and despite the result we are improving every day. Their hard work is showing up; we just have to keep tightening down on the little things.”

At home on Friday, the Outlaws had trouble with the Cougar’s defense throughout the contest. The first quarter was the roughest, with Sisters down 6-16. Jensen stated the Outlaws never gave up, but kept after it the entire game. Sisters cut Cascade’s lead to 10 with four minutes left on the clock, but just couldn’t get any further.

Petterson had a good game on both offense and defense and recorded seven points. Jensen noted that Brogan has become a steady force for the Outlaws.

Weber and Nicklous were limited in their looks due to very athletic match-ups. Nate tallied six points and Sam added two. Connor Linn pitched in with five points, and Max Palanuk and Ricky Huffman provided some big minutes off the bench.

The Outlaws were scheduled to play at Woodburn on Tuesday, February 11. They will host Philomath on Friday.