Huskies one win from a Baker City berth

Now the Huskies (13-13 overall, 8-6 league) prepare for one of their toughest games of the season at 6 p.m. Saturday against No. 2-ranked North Douglas (24-3, 11-0), a team that has won 12 games in a row.

“It makes me so proud to see this team go as far as it has and especially the seniors because this is their last year,” said sophomore post player Emily Poirier. “We have gone so far and improved so much it has definitely given us the confidence to show that we can play with any team out there.”

Sherman held North Clackamas scoreless in the opening quarter and in the final two minutes and eight seconds, used baskets by Katie Asher and back-to-back layups by Blaylock to make it an 8-0 tally.

The run continued in the second quarter, as Blaylock and Guzman combined for 10 points to move the Lady Huskies to an 18-1 halftime advantage.

After a 17 minute and 15 second field goal dry spell, the Saints finally were able to get on the board with a running jumper by Maddison Steele to make it a 20-3 score at the 6:45 mark of the third period.

Sherman answered with a 7-4 run in the last five minutes to extend the lead to 27-7.

In the game, the Husky post players accounted for 12 field goals, including six in the second half.

“We definitely tried to look at the post players,” said Orendorff, who scored all of her points in the second half. “They moved away from the screens that they gave us and we were able to make the pass to them. Using that system really helped get us some easy layups.”

Sherman ended the game on a 12-8 run, with freshman point guard Kiersten Casper scoring four points and Emily Hill adding a pair of free throws.

The 15 points allowed by Sherman is the lowest since a 48-12 win over Horizon Christian on Jan. 14, 2014.

The Huskies also forced North Clackamas (13-11, 5-7) into 53 turnovers, 23 in the second half.

Head coach Steve Kaseberg and long-time assistant Steve Bird have been pumping up this roster from the start of camp, saying it had the potential of being a top-caliber squad.

Now they are in the final 16 field.

“When we bring our ‘A’ game and get on the same page, we get a balance inside and outside, take care of the ball and hold teams to one shot, we can play with anybody,” Kaseberg said. “I think now they are starting to realize that they are putting some nice things together. We’re gelling and everybody knows their role, so we are getting a little bit clearer on our roles and direction. I am excited for them.”

This is new territory for a team that finally was able to upend perennial powerhouse Dufur after a six-year drought in the Big Sky district semifinals on Feb. 20 in Hermiston.

It has been 14 years since a Sherman girls’ team last won a state championship, and 11 years since a state finals appearance.

To a player, they believe there is still some magic left in this journey.

“We want to surprise everybody,” Orendorff said. “We know that as long as we work together and play Sherman basketball that we can go anywhere and do anything.”