SUTHERLIN — The Sutherlin girls had the game plan they wanted. They planned to press Cottage Grove, force the Lions into turnovers, and shots from the outside. It worked for three quarters, but then the turnover bug hit the Bulldogs and their shots quit falling.

The Lions (11-8, 7-1 Sky-Em) started getting the ball in deep to the basket for easy shots by 6-foot-2 senior Keara Murphy and 6-foot-1 freshman Marty Ladd, who towered over Sutherlin’s front line. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs outside shooting went cold and the threes were not connecting. Murphy and Ladd each finished with 12 for the Lions.

The Bulldogs (10-12, 5-3 Sky-Em) led 32-27 after three quarters, but went cold in the fourth. They managed just one field goal in the final period and were outscored 14-5 by the Lions who remain tied for first with Junction City in the Sky-Em League standings.

The Bulldogs were led by Kiersten Haines with 11 and Megan Carillo with 10. Each player had a pair of threes.  Senior guard Kiersten Porter was a disruptive force for the Bulldogs, causing numerous turnovers and running down offensive rebounds.

Sutherlin will host Junction City Tuesday night and then finish the league season at Sisters next Friday.