SUTHERLIN – Another long streak has ended for the Sutherlin girls basketball team. The Lady Bulldogs lost a league game for the first time since the 2011 season, a string of 55 games, but they didn’t go quietly.

The Bulldogs trailed 51-46 with 30 seconds left and it looked like they were done. But Eliza Sorenson hit a jumper in the paint to pull within three 51-48.

After Hudson Waybright hit one of two free throws for the Lions to make it a four-point game, Taylor Stricklin nailed a three-pointer to make if 52-51 with 11 seconds left. The Bulldog defense then caused a turnover on the in-bounds pass and got the ball back with 10 seconds left and down by only one.

Cottage Grove fouled three times in a row and it ran the clock down to 4 seconds. On their final chance, the Bulldogs couldn’t get off a good shot, and the Lions got away with a 52-51 victory, stopping the 55-game league winning streak for Sutherlin. With the loss, the Bulldogs dropped into a three-way tie for first place with the Lions and Junction City, all at 3-1.

Taylor Stricklin led Sutherlin with 24 points, including a pair of threes, and freshman Kierstan Haines hit four three-pointers and finished with 14 points.

The game was close all the way. It was tied 10-10 after a quarter. Sutherlin led 26-23 at the half, and still had a three-point lead after three quarters, 36-33. But the Bulldogs could not stop the tall Lions, with 6’1″ freshman Ema Gardner getting 14 points, 6’3″ freshman Reilly Kelty added 12, and 6’2″ junior Keara Murphy scored eight.

The Bulldogs go to Coquille Wednesday night to play the Red Devils who improved to 17-1 with at win over Pleasant Hill Tuesday night. The Red Devils are ranked #3 in the class 3A poll.

Friday night Sutherlin is back in league action visiting Sweet Home (0-16, 0-4) in the final round of the first half of the Sky-Em season.