The Philomath High School boys basketball team won its second straight game to open Oregon West Conference play with a 67-54 victory on the road over North Marion. The Warriors have now won four straight and improve to 8-6 overall.
Junior Esias Sapp had his second straight double-double and three players hit double digits for scoring as Philomath put together one of its top offensive performances of the season.
Sapp scored 16 points on four field goals and 8 of 11 from the foul line, grabbed 10 rebounds and had four assists. Junior Kaden Howard threw in 15 points, which included a pair of 3-pointers, and junior Hamish McConnell got a start and finished with 12 points.
Philomath got off to a good start with a 19-9 advantage through the first eight minutes. McConnell, Howard and junior Jamin Peters had multiple baskets in the first quarter and sophomore Nathan Seits drilled the first of his two first-half 3-pointers.
North Marion (7-9, 0-2) closed the gap to 26-20 by halftime and then the two teams traded punches in the third quarter for a combined 43 points. During that stretch, the Warriors picked up seven points from Howard and the team made 7 of 8 free throws.
In the fourth, the Warriors closed out the win with McConnell scoring a couple of more baskets and the team continuing its success at the foul line at 7 for 9.
For the game, Philomath hit 17 of 24 free throws, an improvement in a part of the game where the Warriors have struggled this season.
Seits came off the bench and scored nine points. Peters had seven points and seven rebounds. Howard finished with five boards and four assists. McConnell also had five rebounds.
Senior Miles Gianella led the Huskies with 21 points. Senior Riley Jones added 19.
Philomath’s next game is scheduled for Tuesday at home against Cascade (6-6, 0-2). The boys play the early game at 5:30 p.m.
Philomath 67, North Marion 54
Friday, Jan. 23, at North Marion HS, Aurora
PHILOMATH (67)
Dreyton Nuño 0 6-7 6, Kaden Howard 6 1-2 15, Hamish McConnell 6 0-0 12, Esias Sapp 4 8-11 16, Jamin Peters 3 1-2 7, Nathan Seits 3 1-2 9, Ace Gerding 1 0-0 2, Lucas Lewetag 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 17-24 67.
NORTH MARION (54)
Lucas Fowler 1 0-0 2, Miles Gianella 9 3-7 21, Raef Hammack 1 0-0 3, Riley Jones 6 5-6 19, Matthew Patzer 4 0-0 9, Landon Ashpole 0 0-0 0, Ezra Workman 0 0-0 0, Luke Hopper 0 0-0 0, Elias Gonzalez-Trujillo 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 8-13 54.
Team 1 2 3 4 F Philomath (8-6, 2-0) 19 7 22 19 67 North Marion (7-9, 0-2) 9 11 21 13 54
3-Point Goals—Philomath 4 (Howard 2, Seits 2), North Marion 4 (Jones 2, Hammock, Patzer). Fouled Out—None. Total Fouls—Philomath 15, North Marion 17. Technicals—None.