Outlaws fall to North Marion on the hardwood

The Outlaws got back on the hardwood at home on Saturday, December 28, against the North Marion (NM) Huskies. They made a valiant comeback in the second half but in the end lost by six, 68-74.

The teams stayed within two points of each other until the 4:30 mark in the first quarter. From there the Huskies went on a 2-10 run and the Outlaws went down 9-19. Sisters responded with an 8-0 run of their own and cut the lead back to two at 17-19. Landen Scott hit his second three-pointer of the period with 40 seconds left in the quarter, however the Huskies made a turn-around fade-away shot with just seconds left and took a four-point lead, 20-24, to close out the first quarter. Scott put up 18 of the Outlaws 20 points.

NM struck first to open the second quarter and extended their lead to seven, and a short time later went on a 10-0 run to increase their lead to 14. Sisters only scored nine points in the period and at the half trailed 29-48. The Outlaws committed nine turnovers in the quarter and the Huskies scored 14 points off those turnovers.

Sisters regrouped at the half and ramped up their defensive execution and intensity and started the third quarter with a 14-7 run in the first four minutes to cut the Huskies lead to 12 points. During the run the Outlaws scored on four consecutive possessions, a Will McDonnell three-pointer, a Garrett Sager transition layup, a Scott transition offensive rebound and put-back, and another McDonnell three-pointer.

In the final quarter the Outlaws came out and scored 15 points, while they held the Huskies to just five points in five and a half minutes, and made it a five-point game at 60-65. Later, Kale Gardner connected on a floater in the middle of the key which cut the Huskies lead to three points, 68-71, with 27 seconds left in the game, the closest the Outlaws had been since being down 7-9 in the opening quarter.

Sisters was forced to foul to try and stop the clock. The Huskies converted three of their four attempts at the line and posted the six-point victory.

Scott was the top scorer and broke the school record with 39 points on the night. Kieren Labhart scored nine points and pulled down seven rebounds, and McDonnell followed with eight points and five rebounds. Bodie Schar scored five points and had five boards, and Gardner added four points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Coach Chad Rush said, “We knew this game was going to be a tough match-up for us. We were down two players due to injury and vacation, and several others were recovering from sickness. North Marion is a very good program that has done very well in the past and was playing well this season.

“Our defensive intensity and pride was missing for much of the first half, which dug us a big hole at the half,” Rush added. “I was very proud of the team for the way they took our halftime talk about not giving up, showing grit, and grinding back into the game from the defensive end to heart, and were able to get back in the game. Despite the loss, this is the type of game that will prepare us for where we want to be as a team and what our goals are for this season. I’m excited to get back in the gym and prepare for our next set of games against more quality opponents during our Sisters Tournament.”

Just before the holiday break on Friday, December 20, and following a game on the road the previous night, the Outlaws defeated the Gervais Cougars on the road in a final score of 74-42.

The Cougars scored the first basket of the contest and that would be their only lead. Sisters took control and went on a 10-0 run. Gardner started the scoring with a driving layup, followed by a score from Labhart on an out-of-bounds play. Scott scored Sisters next six points. Later, the Cougars closed the gap to two, but Gardner hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to extend the Outlaws’ lead to 19-14 to close out the first quarter.

Oliver Bernhardt scored the first four points of the second period, and Sisters went on to take a commanding lead. Sisters outscored the Cougars 16-3 in the first four minutes and was capped by a Labhart three-pointer that took the Outlaws to a 38-19 advantage. McDonnell scored six of the final eight points in the quarter and at the half Sisters was on top 44-24.

In the final period the Outlaws went on a 13-2 run that stretched their lead to 31 points, and included two long balls from Scott, and another from Bernhardt.

Scott scored 18 points, and had three steals and three assists. McDonnell scored 14 and had eight rebounds. Bernhardt also scored 14 points. Gardner tallied 13 points, five assists, and three steals, and Labhart added seven points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. 

Rush said, “Back-to-back games are always difficult especially when the second game is on the road. I was proud of the way the team came out and took control of the game early and never looked back. Everyone played their role and contributed to the victory. I am looking forward to our games over the Christmas break as we play some very tough opponents that will give us a true sense of where we stand heading into league play.”

The Outlaws hosted their annual Sisters Tournament Thursday through Saturday, January 2-4.