Correction, February 11, 2026 7:54 am: This story was updated at 7:53 a.m. Wednesday to correct an error about Philomath in the league standings.
The Philomath High School boys basketball team broke open a close game in the third quarter and rolled over Sweet Home on the road Tuesday night, 63-49.
A trio of juniors — Esias Sapp, Jamin Peters and Kaden Howard — combined for 44 points, 22 rebounds and 15 assists in what coach Blake Ecker called “a solid win.”
The Warriors have taken over sole possession of first place in the Oregon West Conference standings at 5-1 after Newport’s surprising 55-45 road loss to North Marion and Stayton’s 49-35 loss to Cascade.
Philomath (11-7 overall) had leads of 10-8 after the first and 28-23 at halftime before unleashing a 20-10 run in the third quarter to take control. Howard and Peters each had six points and Sapp added five over those eight minutes of the contest.
In the fourth, Sweet Home regained some offensive footing but couldn’t catch Philomath.
Sapp scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists. Peters finished with 15 points and six rebounds. Howard had 10 points and a team-high eight assists. Elsewhere on the stat sheet, sophomore Cole Barron was effective on the boards with eight.
Philomath’s next game is Friday against what will likely be a confident North Marion bunch. The game’s tipoff time was moved from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. since there will not be a varsity girls game.
Philomath 63, Sweet Home 49
Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Sweet Home HS
PHILOMATH (63)
Dreyton Nuño 1 1-2 4, Kaden Howard 4 2-4 10, Cole Barron 4 1-1 9, Esias Sapp 7 5-13 19, Jamin Peters 7 1-4 15, Hamish McConnell 2 0-0 4, Ace Gerding 0 0-0 0, Josiah Peters 1 0-0 2, Lucas Lewetag 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 10-24 63.
SWEET HOME (49)
Trent Harvey 0 0-0 0, Bradyn McClure 7 5-8 22, Mason Tyler 3 0-0 8, Sam Barringer 1 1-2 3, Kellen Hartsook 3 0-1 7, Damon Lawrence 1 2-2 4, Kaeson Walker 1 0-0 2, Alex Bachand 1 1-2 3, Trenton Templin 0 0-0 0, Kyler Bondesen 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 9-15 49.
Team 1 2 3 4 F Philomath (11-7, 5-1) 10 18 20 15 63 Sweet Home (7-12, 2-4) 8 15 10 16 49
3-Point Goals—Philomath 1 (Nuño), Sweet Home 6 (McClure 3, Tyler 2, Hartsook). Fouled Out—Howard, McConnell, Harvey, Tyler. Total Fouls—Philomath 21, Sweet Home 22. Technicals—None.