Playing at a high level over the course of a 14-week high school basketball season challenges the best of teams. In a way, the struggles that players go through can remind them of the type of effort they need to bring game after game.
Philomath High’s boys have not been an exception with a sort of lull materializing over the past few weeks. Nobody could touch the Warriors in most games over the first couple of months with several quality wins. The team had to come through late to beat Stayton by 10 points on Jan. 31 and followed with a frustrating one-point loss to Cascade on Feb. 2. Then there was a one-point win on Feb. 9 over North Marion — an opponent that Philomath had beaten by 43 points only two weeks earlier.
PHS defense rises to occasion in girls hoops win over Stayton
In a game that seemed to drag on for long stretches with officials blowing their whistles for 35 fouls and numerous traveling calls, Philomath High’s home girls basketball appearance against Stayton on Thursday night didn’t have much of a rhythm to it. But the Warriors fought through those challenges, put up an exceptional effort on…
On Thursday night in the PHS gym, the boys appeared to be on their way back to living up to a No. 1 ranking in a 60-38 victory over Stayton.
“I’m happy with how we played — it’s better than we have been playing,” PHS coach Blake Ecker said after the win upped his team’s record to 19-2 overall, 8-1 in the Oregon West. “I think we hit our low point and we’re coming back. I mean, Stayton is the No. 8 team, they’re really good, and it was a 10-point game at their place and a close game until the fourth quarter when we started pulling away.”
One of the key areas of improvement Ecker sees relates to ball movement.
“We’re seeing this glimpse of the type of game where we’re passing the ball really well and certainly hitting on some of those (shot opportunities),” Ecker said. “There’s definitely things we need to improve on but I thought we got better and better as the game went on. It feels like we’re on the upward trend and that’s where we need to be right now.”
Philomath had a slow start offensively with just four points over the game’s first six minutes. Stayton’s dangerous senior guard, Gavin Berning, hit a couple of shots and a free throw to give his team an early lead. But it wasn’t long before Philomath started to click. The Warriors went on a 12-0 run with 10 of those points coming over the last 90 seconds of the first quarter.
Junior Preston Kramer was hitting early and in fact scored Philomath’s first eight points. Then that ball movement came into play with Kramer finding senior Cole Beardsley for two, junior Kaden Muir getting the ball inside to senior Chad Russell for two and Kramer picking up another assist as Beardsley scored on a quick layup right before the buzzer.
Kramer, who also hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter, was a major factor in Philomath’s offensive attack and he finished the evening with a game-high 19 points.
“He played well and kinda carried us,” Ecker said. “Having three guys in double digits, that’s huge, that’s a big deal, but Kramer played well and Kaden Muir came in and did a great job defensively and attacked the basket a little in the second half.”
Senior Ty May had a huge second half with 14 of his 16 points in the third and fourth quarter. Beardsley found an effective rhythm in the third quarter when he netted nine of his 15 points.
Stayton (15-7, 4-5) found a little light a couple of minutes into the second quarter but Philomath had another run of eight points to take a 25-10 lead. Kramer had a steal and a hoop, May slammed one home, Beardsley scored on a layup after a turnover and Russell hit with an assist to May during that stretch. But the Eagles finished with six straight points to get back to within single digits heading into halftime.
One of Stayton’s most potent weapons can be found in 6-foot-6 post Garrett Callsen, a player that can take over a game. In last year’s state tournament, Callsen nearly averaged a double-double in Stayton’s three games, which included a 49-33 loss to the Warriors in the fourth/sixth game. In the first meeting this season, Callsen had 19.
Callsen was able to score 17 points against Philomath on Thursday night but nearly half of his points came in the fourth quarter when the outcome had been decided. Philomath also kept tabs on Berning, who finished with 13.
“He’s a great player, a great kid and I like his game,” Ecker said. “One of our goals was for him to not have 19. And then No. 2 (Berning), he’s a good scorer, good shooter as well.”
Philomath poured on the heat in the third quarter and outscored the Eagles 26-10 to put the game out of reach for the visitors. May and Beardsley led the way with Kramer and senior Jacob Peters also contributing with baskets. And during the third quarter, Stayton lost junior Kaden Holm, who started in the post, to five fouls.
The two teams played out the fourth quarter and Philomath ended up winning by 22.
Philomath can now turn its full attention to Cascade — a matchup that undoubtedly has been on the players’ minds ever since a 50-49 loss.
“That Cascade game it’s going to be a doozy for the league title,” Ecker said. “They have some talented players. It’s definitely been circled on our calendar.”
The Cougars (19-3, 9-0) won its regular-season home finale over Newport on Thursday, 67-37. Monday night’s PHS-Cascade game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start.
