SUTHERLIN – The Sutherlin girls seemed to be in complete control after jumping out to a 10 point lead over Brookings after a quarter, as Taylor Stricklin scored eight of her game  high 18 points.

But the Bruins kept hanging around, and nearly pulled off a big comeback.

The Bruins came back to within two points at halftime, 22-20.

The Bulldogs were up 29-20 when Eliza Sorenson scored with 3:33 to go, but they didn’t score again.

 Then a wave of Sutherlin mistakes got the Bruins back in it. Abby Farmer hit a pair of baskets  an Malia Leddy hit a 3 to bring Brookings within a point at 29-28. After yet another Sutherlin turnover, with just over two seconds left on the clock, the Bruins got the ball to 5’11” senior Siena Worthey, whose shot from close range rolled off the rim as time expired and the Bulldogs hung on for a 29-28 win.

Sutherlin made only three of 11 free throws including two front-ends of one-and-ones in the fourth quarter, that almost cost the game.

Farmer led Brookings with 11 and Worthy had 8.

Sutherlin improved to 9-3 with the win, Brookings dropped to 7-4. The Bulldogs will host Stanton Tuesday night as the second game of the doubleheader about 7:30 at Sutherlin High School.