Playing in the intense atmosphere of the Cougar Den, the Philomath High boys basketball team took a 20-19 lead into the locker room at halftime Tuesday night over No. 2 Cascade in a key matchup in the Oregon West Conference.
But in the second half, the Cougars made the necessary adjustments and played at a much-higher level to post a 61-33 victory. The Warriors were unable to slow down the Cascade offensive attack and could not find answers around the hoop with just 13 points in the second half.
Cascade (12-3 overall, 3-0 Oregon West) drilled seven 3-pointers in the second half, including four in the third quarter when the home team outscored the Warriors, 25-7. Seniors Kaiden Ford and Landon Knox scored 20 and 19 points, respectively.
Philomath trailed by just two points through the first quarter but took the one-point lead at the break in part because of 3-pointers from seniors Logan Matthews and Grant Niemann.
The Warriors were limited to six field goals and 0 for 2 from the free-throw line in the second half.
Senior Caleb Russell and Matthews each scored seven points to lead the team in that category. Sophomore Jamin Peters had six and sophomore Esias Sapp came off the bench to add five.
Philomath (8-8, 2-1) will come home Friday night to face Stayton. The Eagles (10-6, 1-2) had a similar result as the Warriors Tuesday night with a 61-34 loss at Newport.
