The Philomath High School girls basketball team lost in the Oregon West Conference for the first time this season and saw a nine-game winning streak snapped with a 35-32 road loss to Stayton.
The Warriors (18-4 overall, 8-1 OWC) led 24-11 at halftime but struggled on offense in the second half with just four points in each of the last two quarters. The Eagles (16-4, 7-2) secured the win with late free throws.
Philomath remains in first place in the conference with one-game leads over Stayton and Cascade. The Warriors and Cougars will hook up at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on the Turner school’s campus. Those two teams played a competitive game on Feb. 1 with Philomath winning 45-41.
In the first half, Philomath built a double-digit lead over the Eagles with a start that included eight points, including a 3-pointer, from junior Anneka Steen over the first eight minutes. Sophomore Emily Taunisila and junior Mica Boynton buried 3-pointers to highlight the second quarter.
But in the second half, Philomath shot just 21% from the field. Opportunities to score were few in the fourth quarter with eight shot attempts and no trips to the free-throw line.
Stayton, which scored just 15 points in a loss to the Warriors earlier this season, hit four 3-pointers to spark its comeback in the second half. Junior Kenzi Hollenbeck scored six points in the fourth. The Eagles’ top scorer in the game, senior Liv Smart, scored five of her nine over the final eight minutes, including a pair of free throws.
PHS freshman Reagan Heiken led the Warriors with eight points.
