Philomath’s girls basketball team stepped back into the fire of a challenging nonconference schedule Tuesday at Crater High by squaring off for the second time this season against one of the top teams in Class 5A.
The Central Point school had answers late to hold off the visiting Warriors, 61-46. The Comets led 32-22 at halftime before Philomath started to chip away at its deficit. Going into the final eight minutes, the home team’s lead was 44-37.
“We had it down to two or three partway through the fourth and they went on a big run,” PHS coach Ben Silva said. “It was a good performance … We had to overcome a bunch of foul trouble.”
Philomath was whistled for 18 fouls in the contest compared to just eight for the Comets.
Crater senior Taylor Young was on fire in the game with 10 field goals and 13 visits to the foul line, sinking eight of them for a total of 28 points.
For the Warriors, juniors Jordyn Hood and Reagan Heiken each scored 14. Heiken was especially effective in the second half, including seven points in the third quarter when the Warriors made a strong push. Hood’s points included a pair of 3-pointers. Sophomore Libby Kramer also hit a pair of 3s.
Crater (9-3) has defeated Philomath twice this season — the first being a 76-52 win in the finals of the Spartan Holiday Showcase Dec. 21 at Corvallis.
Philomath (6-6), which has lost three straight for the first time since early in the 2022-23 season, will not play again until Jan. 13 for a home game against Sutherlin. The Warriors have added a game to the schedule for Jan. 17 at home against Silverton.
The Warriors have gone up against six Class 5A opponents and four large schools in California as part of their nonconference schedule. Philomath has a 2-0 record against Class 4A teams.
“We have played a very tough preseason,” Silva said. “I think we will be just fine once we get up against 4A competition.”
Crater 61, Philomath 46
Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Crater HS, Central Point
PHILOMATH (46)
Reagan Nuño 2 0-0 4, Annaleise Brown 1 1-4 3, Shaylee May 1 1-2 3, Jordyn Hood 5 2-2 14, Reagan Heiken 6 2-4 14, Libby Kramer 2 0-0 6, Isabelle Muir 1 0-0 2, Khali Toombs 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 6-12 46.
CRATER (61)
Jazmine Fernandez 5 0-0 12, Brynlee Young 2 0-0 6, Haley Plankenhorn 2 0-0 4, Madison Kitchen 1 2-6 5, Taylor Young 10 8-13 28, Autumn Jackson 0 0-0 0, McKenna Hyatt 3 0-0 6, Addison Griffin 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 10-19 61.
Team 1 2 3 4 F Philomath (6-6) 12 10 15 9 46 Crater (9-3) 15 17 12 17 61
3-Point Goals—Philomath 4 (Hood 2, Kramer 2), Crater 5 (Young 2, Fernandez 2, Kitchen). Fouled Out—Brown. Total Fouls—Philomath 18, Crater 8. Technicals—None.