Philomath High School’s boys and girls basketball programs each have two players included on the all-Oregon West Conference’s first team, the league announced this week.
Junior Anneka Steen and freshman Reagan Heiken were selected to the first team for the girls while seniors Preston Kramer and Jacob Peters were included on the first team for the boys.
Steen and Heiken helped the Warriors to records of 8-2 in the conference and 19-5 overall with the No. 3 ranking heading into the Class 4A playoffs.
Steen, named to the team as a guard, averaged 9.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 3.1 steals per game in the Oregon West. Heiken, forward, had averages in league play of 13.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
In addition to Steen and Heiken, junior guard-forward Zoee Howard and sophomore guard Emily Taunisila were named to the second team and junior guard Aspen Russell earned recognition on the honorable mention list. Howard averaged 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game in the Oregon West. Taunisila had averages of 7.4 points, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals and Russell averaged 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals and had the fewest turnover average among the starters.
Cascade senior guard Maddie Dustin was named the Oregon West Player of the Year. Stayton’s Tal Wold earned the Coach of the Year honor.
In all, Philomath, Cascade and Stayton each had five players recognized, followed by North Marion (three), Newport (three) and Sweet Home (one).
Philomath’s girls will play in the first round of the 4A playoffs at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at home against Baker.
For the boys, Kramer’s 20.4 points-per-game average in the conference helped him earn a first-team spot at guard. Kramer in league play shot 53% from the field — 65% on two-point attempts — and averaged 6.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 steals.
Peters, named to the all-league team as a forward, averaged 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game in the conference, plus finished with a 52% success rate on shooting.
Two other PHS players were named as honorable mention selections — seniors Connor Harms (forward) and Kaden Muir (guard). In league play, Harms averaged 4.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while Muir had averages of 5.9 points and 1.5 assists.
Conference champion Cascade swept the top honors with Player of the Year going to junior Landon Knox and Coach of the Year going to Justin Amaya. The Cougars also had two other players on the first team with juniors Anthony Best and Kaiden Ford. North Marion junior Cole Hammack was also on the first team.
Cascade led with five all-conference selections with Philomath, North Marion and Newport all coming in with four, followed by Sweet Home (three) and Stayton (two).
The Warriors finished the season with records of 18-6 overall and 7-3 in the conference. The team enters the Class 4A playoffs as the No. 5 seed and will host a first-round game at 7 p.m. Friday against Marshfield.