This story was updated at 2:42 p.m. Jan. 10, 2024 with the start time for Philomath's next game finalized.
Philomath High teammates Emily Taunisila and Anneka Steen came out of the locker room for the third quarter and ventured onto the floor to take shots at making a 3-pointer as a halftime fundraiser that was giving away pizza as a prize started to wind down.
The pair both found nothing but net, trotted over to the announcer’s table to pick up their slices and had a quick snack.
Gallery: PHS girls basketball vs. Estacada (Jan. 9, 2024)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s 62-23 girls basketball win over Estacada on Tuesday.
The fun moment seemed appropriate for an evening that saw the Warriors sink seven 3-pointers in a 62-23 rout over Estacada.
“I wanted to do it for a soda,” said Taunisila, who made a career-high five 3-pointers — all in the first half — in the Philomath win. “But I don’t drink the soda, I just like to hold it as a trophy.”
The halftime event served as a fundraiser for Philomath High’s participation in Polar Plunge, an annual activity on the Willamette River at Crystal Lake Sports Park in Corvallis that brings in money to benefit Oregon Special Olympics and other groups, such as the local Unified basketball team. The event typically awards two-liter bottles of soda but with the rising cost of that particular product, opted to try pizza as a prize instead.
Taunisila, a sophomore, scored 15 points in the first half as the Warriors (9-2) built a 47-13 lead and added another two in the second half for 17 on the night. She played less than four minutes in the third quarter and finished the game on the bench as coach Ben Silva got playing time in for the reserves.
Taunisila downplayed the accomplishment of hitting all of those 3s.
“It was just like I’m in the gym every day, so it wasn’t really anything new,” she said.
Steen, a junior, also had a trey and finished with 10 points. Freshman Reagan Heiken came off the bench to score nine points. Junior Cali Cannon had a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and in all, 13 players saw floor time.
“We’ve been in some tight games so some of the other girls probably haven’t had the minutes that they really need,” Silva said. “It was good to be able to get everybody some minutes and put some people in different positions.”
Philomath got out to a 14-0 lead before the visiting Rangers could find the hoop. Steen opened the game with her 3-pointer, junior Zoee Howard scored with an assist going to senior Ahnika Tryon and Steen hit a foul shot for a 6-0 advantage in the first 2:15 of the game. Also part of the 14-0 run, Taunisila hit two 3s about a minute apart and Tryon scored with an assist to Steen.
After Estacada was able to get some offense together, the Warriors responded with a 17-0 run that started in the final seconds of the and continued 5:21 into the second quarter.
Taunisila buried her third, fourth and fifth 3-pointers with 3:43, 1:33 and 1:03 left in the half.
“We came out and shot the ball very well to start off,” Silva said. “I think they didn’t want to give up looks inside, so they kind of just packed in the key.”
In the second half, Silva got a good look at one of the program’s youngest players that has been showing promise as a future varsity contributor.
“Annaleise Brown’s a freshman and she’s been playing really well in practice and the freshman games so I gave her a little bit of an extended opportunity to play most of the third and the fourth,” Silva said. “It’s good to give those kids some more opportunities.”
Brown scored five points and had at least nine rebounds, more than half of those on the offensive glass.
For Estacada (2-10), Emily Yost and Emerson Bailey shared top team scoring honors with nine apiece.
Philomath’s game scheduled for Friday at Madras has been canceled with wintry weather expected to impact driving conditions. However, the Warriors will instead play Friday in the home gym at 5:30 p.m. against 5A Corvallis.
