Woodburn Hangs On To Defeat Sweet Home 42-38

By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

STAYTON, Ore.—This could be a fun Oregon West Conference series between Woodburn and Sweet Home Girls basketball this year.

After a quick adjustment to the SCTC Holiday Tournament to make it more of a Round Robin approach due to weather and teams not being able to make it, setting up the two league oppositions on the first day of the event.

And though both teams had their runs against one another, neither could make that one big momentum run that leaned momentum into their favor entirely, it was the Bulldogs who would edge their OWC-opponent 42-39 in the non-league matchup.

“It was just harder because we went four-days without practicing because of the snow and the Christmas break, so coming back here was a slow start but it’s just getting back together and finding a rhythm for the season,” Aria Kent said.

Kent paced Woodburn in the opening half with ten points as the senior finished with those ten with Sweet Home challenging her more in the second half. The Bulldogs led 28-20 at the halftime break over the Huskies.

Both Sweet Home and Woodburn were knocking off the rust from the time off the past few days as the two squads kicked off the SCTC Holiday Classic Tuesday (Picture By Jeremy McDonald)

But as both teams were knocking off the rust from the recent holiday break, Sweet Home managed to hang around the Bulldogs in the second half. Adjusting to the press burst Woodburn threw their way and found themselves down 40-38 midway through the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs went back to their press. Forcing a few scrambles, got a three-second call go their way and had a Briana Cruz basket fall as an insurance basket to help lock up their seventh-win of the young season.

“It was really big because it really showed us that we’re ready for league and possibly the postseason. I mean we’re working really hard and seeing what we can do,” Kent said.

Isabella Synder scored eight of her 14 points in the second half to lead Woodburn in scoring. Nayeli Zepeda contributed another nine as Brooke Burke led Sweet Home and the game with 22 points.

Woodburn plays Cottage Grove Wednesday afternoon at 1:30pm at Stayton High School.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald