After a challenging preseason against top competition, the Philomath High School girls basketball team got the league win it needed Tuesday night by rolling past Sweet Home, 55-20, in its Oregon West Conference opener.
The Warriors came out firing, opening with a 12-0 run and shooting 52.9% in the first quarter to build a 20-5 lead. Philomath had a balanced attack with Shaylee May, Reagan Heiken, Annaleise Brown and Jordyn Hood all scoring in the game’s first four minutes.
Gallery: PHS girls basketball vs. Sweet Home (Jan. 20, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath’s 55-20 win over Sweet Home in girls basketball on Tuesday night.
“We’ve had a really tough preseason so it was nice to be able to get out early,” Philomath coach Ben Silva said. “I thought we shared the ball really, really well early on, got out in transition and gave ourselves some good looks in the half court as well. It was nice to get rolling early in the game like that.”
The Warriors’ balanced attack continued in the second quarter with a pair of 3-pointers — Isabelle Muir’s at the 4:26 mark for a 26-5 lead and Hood’s at 1:26 for a 33-5 lead. By halftime, PHS was up by 30.
Three players reached double figures in scoring. Heiken led the way with 12 points while May and Hood each added 11 and Brown contributed eight.
“They shared the ball really well,” Silva said. “Increasing our assists is one of our team goals and I guess we met that or exceeded what our goal was today.”
Silva singled out Heiken’s passing ability.
“Reagan Heiken passes the ball so well,” he said. “She’s known for her scoring but she’s as good of a passer as I think we’ve ever had maybe. She sees the floor and makes really challenging passes look easy sometimes.”
Heiken had two assists in the game’s first 58 seconds on a pair of May baskets.
With the game decided, the attack slowed in the second half. Philomath led 51-10 at the end of the third quarter and Silva cleared the bench in the fourth, with four of the team’s five starters sitting. In all, 11 players got into the game.
For Heiken, the league opener brought a return to normalcy after a preseason schedule that saw the Warriors face tough competition.
“It was nice coming back and having more fans — it feels more normal to play the teams we’re used to playing,” Heiken said. “We definitely had a hard preseason and it’s nice to get a win.”
The junior said the team’s mindset remained positive despite the challenging results in preseason play that resulted in a .500 record.
“I think it gets to some people when there’s a pattern of losing,” Heiken said. “Personally, I feel like we were playing good teams and we were playing good and just didn’t come out on top. We had lots of close games, though and I think that shows more than if we beat a bunch of crappy teams.”
Heiken sees the value in the difficult preseason schedule as the Warriors look ahead to postseason play.
“I think it is smart to be playing tougher teams and getting used to tighter competitions,” she said. “We knew we’re going to come into league and have lots of easy games like tonight so that’s why it’s important to learn how to battle. We haven’t come out on top but maybe that means we’re due for some wins at state.”
Heiken has also adjusted to a new role this season as Silva has moved to a five-out offense.
“Last year, it was more like position and this year, it’s more like five out, which means everyone does everything,” she said. “I’m not the most comfortable dribbling and the most comfortable outside of the post but I can hold my own and I can pass. I think it’s working well for everyone to have more free roles.”
Junior Aaliyah Brown led Sweet Home (6-6 overall, 0-1 Oregon West) in scoring with nine points. Sophomore Taylor Gaskey had a pair of 3-pointers.
Philomath (8-7, 1-0) will not play Friday with North Marion not putting a varsity squad on the floor this season. The Warriors have scheduled a game for 2 p.m. Saturday, however, with a final nonconference game against Astoria.
Philomath 55, Sweet Home 20
Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Philomath HS
SWEET HOME (20)
Brooke Elder 0 2-2 2, Addy Vannice 0 1-2 1, Aaliyah Brown 4 0-0 9, Loralai Mark 0 0-0 0, Taylor Gaskey 2 0-0 6, Aubrey Newberry 0 0-0 0, Mailey Brewer 0 0-0 0, Amara Gonzales 0 0-0 0, Rylee Mabe 1 0-0 2. Totals 7 3-4 20.
PHILOMATH (55)
Reagan Nuño 2 0-0 4, Annaleise Brown 3 2-2 8, Shaylee May 5 1-2 11, Jordyn Hood 4 2-2 11, Reagan Heiken 5 2-5 12, Libby Kramer 0 0-0 0, Isabelle Muir 2 0-0 5, Khali Toombs 0 0-0 0, Parker Maxey 0 0-0 0, Bethany Cannon 1 0-0 2, Sienna Bushnell 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 7-11 55.
Team 1 2 3 4 F Sweet Home (6-6, 0-1) 5 3 2 10 20 Philomath (8-7, 1-0) 20 18 13 4 55
3-Point Goals—Sweet Home 3 (Gaskey 2, Brown), Philomath 2 (Muir, Hood). Fouled Out—None. Total Fouls—Sweet Home 12, Philomath 6. Technicals—None.