On an evening when Philomath High’s Ahnika Tryon received pregame recognition as the team’s lone senior, it only seemed fitting that she made the game’s first field goal — and the last — in a 64-22 victory over Sweet Home.
“This is family, you know,” she said after the game. “I just want to come out every day, practice with them, have fun with them.”
Gallery: PHS girls basketball vs. Sweet Home (Feb. 12, 2024)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s girls basketball win over Sweet Home on Monday.
The 42-point win over the Huskies represented the latest fun activity for the girls in a matchup that saw Philomath shoot out to a 22-0 lead.
Going to Tryon on the team’s opening possession was a designed play.
“We drew that one up for her,” PHS coach Ben Silva said. “She had the first and last field goal of the game, which is kind of cool.”
Tryon jumped at center court and controlled the game-opening tip-off by kicking it back to junior Aspen Russell. Setting up in half-court, Russell and junior Anneka Steen passed back and forth a couple of times before sophomore Emily Taunisila took possession on the right side. At that moment, Tryon moved through the lane while junior Zoee Howard provided interference under the hoop.
The opening left Tryon open for Taunisila’s feed and the Warriors led 2-0 just 14 seconds in.
In the fourth quarter with 1:25 remaining, Tryon scored what would be the game’s final basket on a layup with an assist from sophomore Isabelle Muir.
The Warriors scored two more points on a pair of free throws by junior Hannah Bennett with 42 seconds left to account for the 64-22 final.
Freshman Reagan Heiken had a game-high 13 points on five field goals and 3 of 5 from the free-throw line. Steen scored 13 on six field goals, including a 3-pointer in the first quarter. Taunisila finished with a dozen on five field goals and 2 of 2 at the foul line.
Tryon had eight points in all — also scoring on a jumper with 55 seconds left in the first and inside with 1:44 left in the second.
Philomath will now go on the road for two big games beginning Thursday at Stayton followed by Feb. 20 at Cascade.
“I think we are capable of performing well,” Tryon said. “We have a good connection with our team in that we share the ball a lot, we aren’t selfish, we’re very team-oriented.”
Silva doesn’t think the Warriors will have any serious issues with playing in the type of atmosphere that can be expected on the road with a conference title on the line.
“I’m feeling pretty confident in the group,” Silva said. “I think things are coming together really well right now. We’re just such a hard group to match up against because on any given night, we have four or five girls who could go off for double digit points. That makes it hard for teams to match up against us.”
The Warrior defense, however, sets the tone by consistently frustrating opponents. Philomath is allowing just 23.3 points per game against Oregon West opponents. In the first trip through league play, the Warriors beat Stayton, 26-15, and Cascade, 45-41.
As of Tuesday, the OSAA rankings had Philomath at No. 3, Stayton at No. 5 and Cascade at No. 6.
Both of the next two games have start times of 5:30 p.m.
