The No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in not only the Oregon West Conference but in all of Class 4A boys basketball will take place on Thursday night when Philomath visits Cascade.
The two schools won their games on Tuesday to set up the showdown between two teams that remain unbeaten in league play. No. 1 Philomath (15-1 overall, 4-0 Oregon West) took care of Stayton, 52-42, while No. 2 Cascade (14-2, 4-0) won at Newport, 74-46.
The Warriors had business to tend to in Tuesday’s matchup, however, with a close one into the fourth quarter. Philomath led 39-37 at the end of the third before putting away the Eagles (12-5, 1-3) with a strong defensive effort over the final eight minutes.
“Overall it was a good win on the road to a quality team,” PHS coach Blake Ecker said. “Our defense was pretty suspect in the first half but it improved as the game went on. I thought Cole Beardsley did a really good job on one of their players in not allowing him a basket.”
Philomath depended on 3-pointers early with Beardsley, Ty May and Brody Bushnell all hitting from beyond the arc in the opening quarter. In the second, Beardsley hit another 3 while Chad Russell and May started to move things around inside. Preston Kramer contributed as well with Philomath leading 27-26 at halftime.
Jacob Peters and Kramer each hit two baskets in the third with May and Beardsley also scoring. And in the fourth, Russell scored two more field goals, May hit a shot and the team made 7 of 9 free throws. Peters alone went 4 for 4 at the foul line.
Beardsley ended up with 12 points, Russell scored 11, May finished with 10 and both Kramer and Peters had eight in another display of balanced scoring for the Warriors.
Garrett Callsen scored a game-high 19 points for No. 7 Stayton.
