The last three seasons, the Philomath Warriors have pushed to the brink of history.
In pursuit of their first girls basketball state title since 2000, they fell in the 4A semifinals in 2019, had the No. 1 seed in 2020 before the state tournament was canceled and lost in overtime of the 4A Showcase final last year.
This week, they return to the 4A tournament with the top seed. And considering it's the final season for Sage Kramer, the 4A player of the year in 2020, the sense of urgency has never been greater.
Philomath (19-4) faces No. 8 Mazama (16-8) in a quarterfinal Thursday at Marshfield High School.
“There's definitely unfinished business,” fourth-year coach Ben Silva said. “That 2020 teams was very talented. We were going to be a tough out that year in the tournament, so that one hurt pretty bad. These four seniors went through that, and they've been very focused on getting to where we're at right now.”
Kramer, a 5-foot-11 guard who averages 23.8 points and 9.5 rebounds, makes it all go for the Warriors. She had a 51-point game against Woodburn this season, setting a state record for points in a quarter (24) and tying the mark for points in a half (36). She erupted for 39 points in a playoff win over Henley.
Kramer – who has committed to Westmont College (Calif.), last year's NAIA national champion -- is up to 2,043 career points, No. 16 on the state's all-time list.
“What she does with the basketball is impressive,” Silva said. “Every game she does something that I look at my assistant coach, and just go, 'Wow.'”
As a senior, Kramer has grown as a leader and fine-tuned her game.
“It feels like her shot selection has improved a little bit,” Silva said. “Her distribution has improved, getting others involved.”
Kramer is one of three starters back from last season, when the Warriors lost to Hidden Valley 44-39 in overtime in the final of the 4A Showcase at Marshfield. The others are senior guard Reagan Larson and junior guard Hailie Couture.
“I'd say from the four years I've been doing this, we've had the most improvement and growth through the course of the year,” Silva said. “We had some new faces and people in new positions. It's been nice to see these girls blossom and develop over the course of the year, and make this thing their own.”
The Warriors have slightly altered their style of play from last season.
“We still look to get out and run, but we probably don't transition quite as much as we have in the past,” Silva said. “We play a little bit of a slower-paced game. We probably execute better than we did last year in a half-court game.”
Of Philomath's four losses, three came against 5A tournament teams in Silverton, Corvallis and Ridgeview. The other was against Oregon West Conference rival Stayton, which beat the Warriors 43-40 in the second round of conference play after losing to them 55-36 in the first round.
“I think it was a little bit of an eye-opener for our girls,” Silva said. “If our final goal is to make a push here at the state tournament, we've got to put some work in. I think they have in the last couple weeks. It didn't hurt us at all. If anything, it helped.”
4A girls quarterfinals, Thursday, Marshfield HS
No. 8 Mazama (16-8) vs. No. 1 Philomath (19-4): Philomath enters as the tournament favorite. The Warriors won both Oregon West Conference meetings with second-seeded Cascade, 41-34 and 54-35, and defeated Hidden Valley 43-35 to avenge last year's finals loss. They have Kramer and a strong interior presence in 6-3 junior Abigail Brown (7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds). Philomath's only 4A loss came against Stayton, a team that Mazama beat 53-37 in the round of 16. Mazama is led by junior Ella Baley (15.0 points) and senior Sandra Hill (12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds). The Vikings have not played in the tournament since 2017. Coach Joy Lease is 339-148 in 19 seasons at Willamina, Santiam and Mazama, including state titles at Santiam (2009) and Mazama (2013).
No. 13 Hidden Valley (14-10) vs. No. 12 Marist Catholic (16-7): Hidden Valley lost three starters from last year's 4A Showcase champion, including the 4A player of the year in Kaiah Fisher, as well as coach Joel Jessee, who left to take over the Grants Pass boys. But the Mustangs have gelled around coach Reyes Aguilera. Senior forward Skylar Willey (14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds) was the conference player of the year and senior guard Teryn Powers (13.0 points) was first-team all-conference. They stunned No. 4 Junction City 51-42 in the round of 16. Marist Catholic also came through with a playoff upset, knocking off No. 5 Gladstone 54-46. Junior guard Paige Doerr had 16 points and 17 rebounds in the win. The Spartans were runners-up in 2019.
No. 11 Corbett (21-3) vs. No. 3 Baker (20-5): Baker, the 2019 champion, is in the quarterfinals for the fifth time in six seasons. The Bulldogs have not lost to a 4A team, falling to 5A Pendleton, 1A champion Crane, 5A Crook County, 3A champion Nyssa and Fruitland (Idaho). They are led by the Greater Oregon League player of the year in 6-0 junior Jozie Ramos (16.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 4.2 steals, 2.0 blocks). Corbett, 3-20 three years ago, is flourishing under second-year coach Bill Schimel, a member of the school's state champion boys teams in 1994 and 1995. His daughter, sophomore Ally Schimel, averages a team-high 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four steals. The Cardinals won state titles in 1980 and 1987.
No. 7 Madras (15-8) vs. No. 2 Cascade (19-3): Since winning the 2011 title, Cascade has reached the final four four times, losing in the semifinals twice (2013, 2015) and the final twice (2016, 2018). Cougars coach Mark Stevens is 583-221 in 32 seasons with the team, No. 4 on the state's all-time list and the active leader. His only title came in 2011. Cascade lost twice to Philomath and once to 5A Silverton. The Cougars reached the final by beating La Grande 58-48 behind 20 points from senior Ariel Tobiasson. Madras lost to Cascade in the 2016 quarterfinals and to La Grande in the 4A Showcase quarterfinals last year. Sophomores Sasha Equiro (12.8 points) and Rylan Davis (9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds) lead the White Buffaloes, who rebounded from a 3-7 start to win the Tri-Valley Conference. Madras won titles in 1977 and 2003.
4A boys quarterfinals, Thursday, North Bend HS
No. 9 Baker (19-6) vs. No. 1 Junction City (22-3): Junction City coach Craig Rothenberger, No. 5 on the state's all-time wins list (687-516 in 51 seasons), leads the top-seeded Tigers, who won their only title in 1994. It is their first appearance since finishing second in 2004. They have been getting solid play from junior wing Kaleb Burnett (13.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 58.6 percent field goal) and 6-4 senior post Colby Evans (11.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 54.5 percent field goal). Junction City split two games with Sky-Em League foe Marshfield and lost to Stayton and 5A Redmond. Baker, which starts three freshmen and two sophomores, is averaging a 4A-high 68.2 points per game. The Bulldogs are led by freshman guard Isaiah Jones (16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds), son of coach Jebron Jones. Sophomores Hudson Spike and Paul Hobson each are averaging 14 points per game. Baker hasn't played in the tournament since winning the 2007 title.
No. 5 Philomath (19-5) vs. No. 4 Seaside (19-6): Seaside played in four consecutive finals from 2016 to 2019, beating Valley Catholic in the finals in 2017 and 2018. The Seagulls' losses this season have come against Junction City, Corbett, Marshfield, Banks, 2A Knappa and 6A West Linn. They hold two wins against Banks, beating the Braves 52-49 in the Cowapa League playoff. They are led by senior guard Ever Sibony and 6-6 senior forward Cash Corder, who are averaging 16 an 14 points, respectively. Philomath, the champion in 2014 and 2016, lost in the quarterfinals in 2017 and made the tournament in 2020 before it was canceled. Warriors junior guard Michael Lundy (12.5 points) was an Oregon West first-team pick and 6-6 freshman Ty May (9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds) was named to the second team.
No. 11 Banks (19-6) vs. No. 3 Marshfield (18-5): Last year was a big one for Marshfield, which won the 4A Showcase tournament at home in June and the 4A football title in the fall. The Pirates, with four starters back from last season, now get a chance to win another championship on their home court. Mason Ainsworth, a 6-1 senior point guard who led 4A in scoring the last two seasons, is averaging 22.9 points and has a high game of 40. Pierce Davidson, a 6-7 senior, scored 30 points in the win over Corbett in the round of 16. Senior guard Dom Montiel (6-3), the quarterback for the football team, has a knack for rising in big moments. Banks won the title in 2019 and reached the semifinals of the 4A Showcase last year, losing to Cascade. Cooper Gobel (19.3 points, 6.1 rebounds), a 6-4 senior wing, scored 26 points to lead Banks past No. 6 La Grande 58-55 in the round of 16, hitting four three-pointers, including the winner as time expired. Junior wing Ben Mayo (17.1 points, 2.5 steals) had made 60 three-pointers.
No. 10 Stayton (18-5) vs. No. 2 Cascade (19-3): The Oregon West rivals, separated by seven miles, meet for the third time this season. Cascade beat the Eagles 39-35 on Jan. 14 and 73-65 on Feb. 8. The Cougars, who lost to Marshfield in the final of the 4A Showcase last year, won their only title in 1974. Cascade has three first-team all-conference selections in senior guard Kellen Sande (15.0 points), 6-7 junior guard Ty Best (16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds) and 6-11 senior center Dominic Ball (8.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocks). The Cougars' only losses came against Marshfield, Philomath and 5A Silverton. Stayton has one of the state's best deep shooters in 6-0 senior guard Jacob Axmaker, the Oregon West player of the year. Axmaker (22.1 points) has made 86 three-pointers this season, shooting 46.2 percent from behind the arc. He gets plenty of support frm 6-6 senior guard Gabriel Wigginton (12.9 points) and 6-7 junior post Garrett Callsen (10.4 points, 9.5 rebounds). The Eagles, who won their last title in 1995, reached the semifinals in 2019.
jerryu@osaa.org
Subscribe
