By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

STAYTON, Ore.–  You just knew if North Marion could just piece one of these games together, they’ll have a chance there at the end to contend for a victory.

Three games into the season the flashes were there for the Huskies Girls Basketball program, but the little things added up.  But on this Thursday night at Stayton, things just clicked.

“We’ve worked hard these last three games.  We’ve had really good practices and we had a goal to win this game and we did it,” the Huskies Laura Cabrero said.

North Marion wanted to be the aggressor in this one.  They were.  Defense was relentless as much as the Eagles defense was in return. 

It paid off as by the end of the first quarter of the Huskies 53-45 victory over Stayton, North Marion led 19-10.  Executing their gameplan of playing aggressive basketball.

“It was basically our game plan to come out aggressive and we did it, I’m really happy,” smiled Ally Coulombe. 

Coulombe and Cabrero led the offensive charge Thursday, Coulombe with 17 points and Cabrero 11 points.  Mallory Patzer, who played aggressively in the post, also added 11 points too with Stayton being caught off-guard early on.

“We came out thinking that we got this.  But anyone can do anything on any night, so we got to come out with strong team effort in the first place.  Holding us to the same standards as we always do,” the Eagles Miley Mitchell said.

Stayton made several attempts at the lead throughout the remainder of the game.  Mitchell led the Eagles with 12 points, Kaylee Tyler contributed another 11 and Maddy Mitzel added another six for Stayton.

The home team Eagles would cut the deficit down to size on several occasions over the course of the final three quarters.  But every time they’ll catch North Marion in a jam the Huskies find a way to slip out of it to push their lead back out.

“It was really big for us because the last three games, it really kind of beat us down.  We weren’t too pumped for this game because Stayton’s pretty good, but I’m proud of us,” Coulombe said.  “It’s definitely going to build some momentum and it’s really encouraging for the tournament.”

North Marion heads to Oregon Episcopal to play in the OES Tournament Friday where they’ll open up play against Riverdale at 3pm.

For the Eagles, they’ll have to wait a week before they’ll have another game when they host St. Helens December 17.  But the hope is there that they can move past this game and not let it weigh on them negatively.

“Well, we got a whole week of practice so I hope we come back together and let this one in the past.  Just move forward from here,” said Mitchell.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald