In his 22nd year leading Philomath High’s boys basketball program, Blake Ecker has certainly seen his share of big games through 390 wins and two state championships.
After taking care of business Monday night against Sweet Home, 64-36, the Warriors will turn their attention to a Thursday road tilt against Stayton. If Philomath can pull that one out, Cascade awaits on Feb. 20 in a showdown that could be for the Oregon West Conference title.
Gallery: PHS boys basketball vs. Sweet Home (Feb. 12, 2024)
A collection of photos from the Philomath High boys basketball team’s senior night win over Sweet Home on Monday.
The Cougars, ranked No. 2 by the OSAA and in control of their own destiny in the league race with a 7-1 record, have been a source of frustration for Philomath (ranked No. 4 and 6-2 in the conference). Cascade swept three games over the Warriors last year, including the state title game, and won in the PHS gym a couple of weeks ago, 74-58.
“We just have to focus and make sure it’s one game at a time, just focus on Stayton — that’s what I do,” Ecker said. “I mean, I know that game is coming up but I always try to focus on just one game at a time and prepare these guys and not even think about Cascade until the weekend.”
That may sound like a coach’s cliché but Ecker insists that he’s serious about keeping thoughts of Cascade on the back burner.
“It lingers a little bit but not as much — we’ve got to beat Stayton first,” Ecker said. “If we don’t beat Stayton, then we won’t have an opportunity to win (the league title).”
Cascade (17-3 overall) defeated North Marion, 72-56, Monday and will play road games at Newport on Thursday and Crook County on Saturday before facing the Warriors.
“I think it’ll come down to our defense,” PHS senior Jacob Peters said about the upcoming games. “If our defense shows up, and I think it will, because the next two are pretty important for the league championship. That’s what we’re all going for right now.”
Stayton seems to have the ability to pull off an upset. The Eagles are on a five-game losing streak but lost at North Marion last week by just five points and earlier this season beat Newport, a team that downed the Warriors earlier this month.
Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. tip-offs.
Prior to Monday’s tip-off against Sweet Home, eight seniors were honored as part of pregame activities — Kallin Albin, Connor Harms, Owen Heiken, Preston Kramer, Kash Lindsey, Kaden Muir, Mason Stearns and Peters.
“They got lots of playing time so that was nice to see,” said Ecker, who along with regular starters Kramer and Peters also put Stearns, Lindsey and Albin on the floor to start the game. “We wanted to start some guys who never had the opportunity to start.”
Philomath led by 10 points at halftime with Kramer hitting for 11 and six other players contributing points. Stearns, Lindsey and Peters each hit 3-pointers over the first eight minutes. Still, the Huskies stayed within striking distance entering the second half.
“We buckled down in the third quarter and just went man-to-man and outscored them 17-3,” Ecker said, the scoreboard showing PHS with a 50-26 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Sweet Home hit a free throw early in the third and made its only basket with 9 seconds left. Meanwhile, Philomath poured it on with a 13-0 stretch at one point. Peters scored nine of his 14 points for the game during the scoring run.
Kramer finished with 19 on eight field goals and 3 of 4 on foul shots. Along with the 10 by Peters, another player hitting double digits was Stearns, who scored 10 on four field goals and had a second 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Senior Ethan Delibertis led Sweet Home (4-17 overall, 1-7 Oregon West) with 10 points.
