The Philomath High School boys basketball team took a major victory on the road Thursday evening with a 52-48 victory over Newport. The win gave the Warriors a 4-1 record in their first run through the Oregon West Conference.
The Warriors (10-8 overall, 4-1 Oregon West) trailed 38-37 going into the fourth quarter but had the upper hand through the final eight minutes. Seniors Caleb Russell and Grant Niemann sank 3-pointers and junior Josiah Peters made a couple of hoops and hit a free throw to lead the late charge. Senior Logan Matthews also buried two free throws as Philomath won for the sixth time in its last seven games.
Senior post Zack Powers had another productive game inside for the Warriors, finishing with a team-high 14 points. Powers was especially potent during the second quarter when the Warriors outscored the Cubs, 16-5, to take a 30-25 lead into halftime. Newport had jumped out to a 15-2 lead early on.
Sophomore Jamin Peters was also a factor in the scoring column for PHS with 11 points on five field goals and a free throw.
The two teams came into the game with top-10 rankings in Class 4A — Newport was No. 8 and Philomath No. 10 in the OSAA rankings. In the most-recent OSAAtoday coaches poll, the Cubs were tied for No. 6 and the Warriors were No. 8.
Junior Aaidyn Bokuro led Newport (12-6, 3-2) with 20 points. Senior Rory Barber added 14.
The Warriors will come home to face Sweet Home at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Philomath defeated the Huskies, 48-29, in the first meeting between the two schools on Jan. 21.
