Outlaws handle the Highlanders

The Outlaws walked off the basketball court at Burns on December 20 with a 50-31 victory over the Highlanders.

Max Palanuk got the Outlaws going in the first quarter with eight points. Sisters was patient and effective on offense, and scored 10 of their 16 first-quarter points in the paint. The Outlaws closed out the quarter with a seven-point advantage, 16-9.

The Highlanders made a run in the second period and closed the Outlaws’ lead to three, 19-16, with five minutes left in the quarter. Sisters was able to withstand the run, went on a 9-0 run of their own, and wrapped up the first half with a 12-point lead, 28-16.

Before the Highlanders could score a point in the third period, Sisters made another 9-0 run and pushed their lead to 37-16. The Outlaws used multiple defenses in the quarter to keep the Highlanders off-balance and hold them to just three points in the quarter.

Teams traded baskets in the final period, and both teams finished with 12 points each. The Outlaws were able to maintain their lead and level of play to close out the game with a win.

Coach Chad Rush said, “This was the most complete game the Outlaws have played this season. We were able to gain a lead and then maintain, and actually build upon, that lead throughout the game.”

“I was very proud of how the team played. We were able to outplay the home Highlanders in every facet of the game, and that is a mentality that we need to learn how to duplicate as we move forward,” Rush added.

Palanuk led the Outlaws’ scoring effort with 15 points, followed by Ricky Huffman who scored 10. Jesse Murillo and Adam Maddox-Castle scored eight points each, Jamen Schwartz recorded six, and Mehkye Froehlich added three.