Struggling with shooting and committing too many turnovers, the Philomath High girls basketball team was in unfamiliar territory at halftime of Tuesday night’s Oregon West Conference tilt at Cascade.
The Warriors (13-3 overall, 2-1 Oregon West) were down 27-12 following a half that included a 1-for-10 performance from the field in the second quarter and 21.1% shooting overall for the first half.
In the third quarter, Philomath shaved a couple of points off the deficit before things got interesting in the fourth. Down by 13, the Warriors ended the game by outscoring the home team 19-8 over the final eight minutes.
In the final seconds, Philomath cut the deficit to two points and had to foul. Cascade sank two foul shots to put the game away with a two-possession lead. The Warriors scored at the buzzer to account for the final margin.
Junior Shaylee May, sophomore Reagan Heiken and senior Mica Boynton combined for 31 of the team’s 44 points.
May finished with 11 on four field goals — two of those 3-pointers — and a free throw. May was the top scorer in the fourth with seven points. Heiken scored eight of her 10 points in the second half. Boynton also hit for 10 points, a performance that included a pair of second-half 3-pointers.
Philomath shot 52% in the second half, including an astounding 72.7% in the fourth quarter.
Junior Olivia Bennett led the Cougars with 13 points, including key free throws late. Cascade (11-4, 2-1) buried five 3-pointers in the game and had the advantage at the foul line — 73.3% (11 of 15) to Philomath’s 44.4% (9 of 16).
The Warriors will need to regroup in time for a showdown Friday against Stayton. The tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the PHs gym.
