In a showdown Tuesday evening between two top-5 teams in the OSAA boys basketball rankings, No. 3 Philomath dominated No. 5 North Marion on the Huskies’ own court, 81-53.
The Warriors have defeated North Marion six straight times, a stretch that dates back to 2017 and includes a two-game sweep last season and a playoff victory in 2022.
Senior Preston Kramer went off for 32 points in the Philomath win on 10 field goals and 10 of 14 on free throws. Among Kramer’s baskets were a pair of 3-pointers in the first half. Senior Connor Harms broke out with 15 points — all in the second half — with six buckets and 3 of 4 on foul shots.
Philomath had two other players hit double-digit scoring as well with senior Owen Heiken and senior Jacob Peters each throwing in 10.
The Warriors rolled from the start with leads of 21-11 after the first quarter and 36-22 at halftime.
North Marion junior Cole Hammack, last season’s Oregon West Conference Player of the Year, was limited to six field goals — four through the first three quarters. With a 3-pointer, 7-of-8 performance at the free-throw line and a strong finish when the game was out of reach, Hammack ended up with 20 points.
Philomath (12-3 overall, 2-0 Oregon West) will next head to Sweet Home (3-12, 0-2) for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off on Friday. The Huskies (11-5, 1-1) will face another stiff test Friday with a visit from Cascade (10-2, 2-0).
