Lady Outlaws look forward to successful basketball season

The Lady Outlaws will return 10 players to their varsity squad this season, including six experienced, veteran seniors.

Seniors include Haleigh Froelich, Ellie Mayes, Delaney McAfee, Ashlynn Moffat, Josie Patton, and Hadley Schar.

Froelich was a Second-Team, All-Conference pick last year, and will play at post again this year. She runs the court well, is a strong finisher around the basket, and a good rebounder, especially on the offensive boards.

Mayes will play at both the guard and wing positions. Mayes is a fiery competitor and can shoot the long ball as well as anyone on the team. She is also able to drive to the basket and finish.

McAfee is a solid all-around player. She’s a hustler, has a great attitude and work ethic, and can hit the open shot. She also contributes on the defensive end with a few steals every game.

Moffat is a shooting guard and one of the team’s better three-point shooters. She has worked hard to improve her game, and is seen as a team leader.

Patton plays as a power forward, and is also a leader on the team. She’s tall, strong, and athletic, and plays hard all over the court. She’s also a good passer, and can score in the paint as well as knock down the outside shot.

Schar’s season was cut short last year due to a shoulder injury, but she’s back this year, and will play as a guard. She’s a pesky defender and makes a lot of hustle plays on the court. She’s a good ball handler, and can hit three-point shots, mid-range pull-ups, and she can score on drives to the basket.

Juniors Maggie Lutz and Ila Reid, and sophomores Emma Sahlberg and Shae Wyland, are also back for another year on varsity.

Lutz will handle the duties as the Outlaws’ point guard. Maggie is a tenacious on-ball defender, a good ball handler and passer, and she can knock down the three-pointer. Lutz is nursing a knee injury from soccer but hopes are she’ll be recovered and ready to go by the start of the season.

Reid is a small forward, and is a hard-worker and strong competitor. She can hit from mid-range, and drive the ball to the basket. She’s an active defender and a good communicator on the court.

Sahlberg plays at post. She plays hard, loves the game, and gets better every day. Wyland is a tall, athletic forward, and runs the court well. She can score on the fast break and rebound the ball for put-backs. She’s also a great defender and shot blocker.

New to the team this year are juniors Savannah Davisson and Jenna Lake, and freshman Norah Thorsett.

Davisson will play at the wing position. She’s a scrappy player and a hustler. She has a desire to improve and will bring a quality of toughness to the team.

Lake is a transfer from Willamette High School and will play at guard. She’s a dedicated basketball player and works year-round to improve her game. She’s an excellent three-point shooter and a tough competitor.

Thorsett rounds out the roster and will see time at point guard. She will be an offensive threat from the outside and when she drives to the basket. She plays hard on both ends of the court.

Coach Paul Patton returns for his second year as head coach, after two years as the assistant coach. Jordan Wilkins joins the coaching staff and will coach the JV team as well as serving as the assistant varsity coach. Wilkins has coached a variety of sports, coached football this season, and worked with youth in camp settings. Haylie Hudson will also be an assistant coach. Haylie graduated from Sisters, is a former player, and has a good rapport with the athletes.

“We have a strong senior group with a lot of varsity experience,” Coach Patton said. “Our entire roster is capable of playing big minutes and making strong contributions. This will be our first year in a new league at the 3A level and we’re not sure what to expect, which can be a good thing because anything is possible.

“We are working on being an up-tempo team that puts pressure on the opposing team’s defense by racing the ball up court,” Patton added. “We also want to be an aggressive defensive team that forces the other team into uncomfortable situations. We’re a tall and athletic bunch,+ and that should help us win the rebounding battle if we commit to doing our job when the ball is in the air.”

The team has yet to set team goals, but they have set standards of behavior: exhibit sportsmanship; be dedicated to putting in the time and effort; be responsible for our own actions; no one ever has to clean up after the Outlaws; always be positive in communication — no gossiping or complaining.

Patton told The Nugget that the team has committed to remind each other of these standards, encourage each other to live up to them, and to hold each other accountable.

The girls basketball program is still hoping more girls will join the program so they will be able to have a JV team. Regardless of the size of their roster they expect to have a successful season.

Sisters will kick off their preseason at home on Wednesday, November 30, with a game against the Burns Highlanders.