LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. — It’s the competition that draws the Skyview girls basketball team to the Nike Interstate Shootout every year.
The Storm always believe they can make a run to the state tournament by the end of the season, so they like to start the winter with a challenge.
That challenge can be frustrating, though.
For the second day in a row, the Storm struggled in the first half, played better in the second half, but still came up on the wrong end of the scoreboard.
Jaylene Montano hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left in the game — just seconds after Skyview’s Riley Friauf hit a 3-pointer to put the Storm ahead — giving McNary of Keizer, Ore., a 57-56 victory.
Skyview missed two free throws with 1.3 seconds left in the game, just adding to the Storm’s woes. Skyview finished 5 for 15 from the line.
The Storm (5-3) tried to stay positive after their second loss in a row. Skyview will play its Shootout finale at 1 p.m. Wednesday against South Medford.
“It’s pushing us to get better,” said Skyview guard Hanna Van Nortwick, who had 13 points against McNary. “It gives us a look for what state is going to be like so we can be prepared and ready for it when it comes.”
The coaching staff will use the last two games as learning tools. Too many turnovers in the first half against McNary put the team in a hole. Too many missed free throws have cost the team at least two victories this season.
“We have to play at our pace,” Skyview coach Jennifer Buscher said. “A Skyview pace.”
McNary scored 22 points in the second quarter, taking advantage of a series of poor Skyview passes, to grab the halftime lead. Skyview limited the miscues in the second half, though, creating quite the finish.
A 10-0 Skyview run gave the Storm a three-point lead early in the fourth. Then three turnovers in a row allowed McNary to hang around. There were five lead changes in the final 2 minutes, 15 seconds.
Riley Friauf’s 3-pointer with 27 seconds left gave the Storm a 56-54 advantage, but McNary’s Montano found herself open to answer with her 3-pointer for what turned into the game-winner.
Still, the Storm had to feel good about the second-half effort.
“Pausing for poise,” Van Nortwick said. “Slow it down. Focus on executing our plays.
“We did a lot better. We got good shots. We fought hard.”
Van Nortwick had four second-half assists to Ashlee Comastro, who finishd with 12 points. Sydney Friauf tied Van Nortwick for team honors with 13 points. Riley Friauf scored 11.
Kailey Doutt led McNary with 20 points. Montano’s game-winner was her only basket of the game.
McNARY 57, SKYVIEW 56
SKYVIEW (5-3) — Riley Friauf 11, Sydney Friauf 13, Hanna Van Nortwick 13, Ashlee Comastro 12, Maddie Lord 7, Kirsten Johnson 0, Remi Riley 0. Totals 24 (3) 5-15 56.
McNARY — Kailey Doutt 20, Madi Hingtson 12, Sydney Hunter 11, Kaelie Fores 3, Reina Strand 2, Page Downer 6, Jaylene Montano 3. Totals 24 (6) 3-6 57.
