In the fourth quarter with the game’s outcome not in doubt and the running-clock mercy rule in effect, Philomath High’s 5-foot-4 senior Cali Cannon was not going to let up with an opportunity for a little extra time on the basketball court Tuesday night against Sweet Home.
Cannon’s energy never seemed to wane in the team’s 53-18 victory, even diving on a ball in the final few minutes to make sure the Warriors could maintain possession.
“I love to see that,” PHS coach Ben Silva said. “She works hard every time she steps on the court for us. Whether it be in practice or in games, she makes the most of her minutes. And that’s fun to see. She’s excited to be out there flying around trying to make things happen.”
Junior Isabelle Muir probably best fits the role of sixth player with the team’s current starting lineup but Cannon in recent weeks has been one of the first off the bench depending on the game situation. The coach also regularly depends on a group that includes sophomore Annaleise Brown, senior Mica Boynton, freshman Reagan Nuño and sophomore Jordyn Hood.
Up and down the roster, Silva has developed a team that bought into a mentality that revolves around playing tough on the defensive end.
“Every kid that comes into the game knows that’s the expectation,” Silva said. “Just fly around and make things happen defensively.”
Philomath led 10-0 in the win over the Huskies. Within the first two minutes, sophomore Reagan Heiken had scored back-to-back baskets — first with an assist by senior Anneka Steen and then after coming away with a steal. Senior Zoee Howard scored on an easy layup and then junior Shaylee May hit for two buckets as the Warriors built a double-digit lead with 3:23 left in the quarter.
The Huskies (4-13 overall, 0-6 Oregon West) buried a 3-pointer on a shot by sophomore Brooke Elder and later hit a couple of free throws. Plus, junior Addy Vannice came away with a steal and a hoop with 18 seconds left to finish off the visiting team’s most-productive eight minutes. But the Warriors still took a double-digit lead into the second quarter at 18-7. Senior Aspen Russell, Heiken and Howard all contributed on the scoreboard over those final three minutes.
Silva voiced pleasure with the teamwork he was seeing on the floor with his squad.
“I thought we shared the ball particularly well today,” he said. “We made some good, long passes down the court.”
In the second quarter, the Warriors poured it on with a 16-2 run to go up 34-9 at the half. Six different players scored points over that eight-minute stretch.
“They play hard, they get to the right spots,” Silva said. “We just have a lot of people who are hard to stop, especially when we’re able to get out in transition like that. Our defense was solid as always.”
In the second half, Philomath (16-3, 5-1) slowed down its attack on offense but continued to stifle Sweet Home while on the defensive end. The Huskies were held to 18 points — the eighth time this season that the Warrior defense held an opponent to less than 20.
Howard and Heiken shared team-high scoring honors with 10 apiece. Brown chipped in nine and May finished with eight.
Elder had 10 points to lead the Huskies.
Philomath will get no rest with a game scheduled for Wednesday evening at Class 3A power Amity. Located an hour up Highway 99, the contest has a 6 p.m. tipoff time. Amity enters the game with a 23-0 record and No. 1 ranking.
