Crater clubs Philomath in battle of No. 1s

Published 12:18 am Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Challenges have been set across Crater’s path throughout the early part of this girls basketball season, and the Class 5A top-ranked Comets have answered the call every time.

The latest hurdle involved a road trip to 4A No. 1-ranked Philomath, and the end result Tuesday night was the same as its been whenever Crater has found a ranked team in its path.

With their defensive pressure turning into offensive opportunities, the Comets were able to steadily speed past the Warriors for a 60-44 triumph.

Crater was able to carve out basket after basket thanks to the slashing stylings of senior Sage Winslow and junior Taylor Young and production in the paint from 6-foot-4 senior Lydia Traore.

After a one-game absence, Winslow returned to the court in full force with 21 points, seven rebounds and six steals to lead the way for Crater (12-1), with Young serving as a perfect running mate as she totaled 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals.

Traore also finished with three blocks to go with seven rebounds and 10 points as the Comets went up by five points through one quarter, 10 points by halftime and 16 points entering the final frame.

“We started to play some really good defense and got quite a few deflections that turned into steals, so that was nice,” said first-year Crater head coach Amber Lease of her team’s ability to steadily separate each quarter from Philomath (9-2).

The Warriors had limited their previous three opponents to 18 points or less, and hadn’t allowed more than 48 points in a game all season.

Cameron Yohner knocked down two of Crater’s three shots beyond the arc to finish with eight points, while Addi Dippel had three steals, Autumn Jackson added two steals and three rebounds and Addison Griffin pulled in four boards.

Sophomore Reagan Heiken led Philomath with 21 points — 10 coming in the final quarter.

The Comets have outscored their opponents on average by nearly 25 points per game.

“Things are going good but I think there are still a lot of things for us to improve on,” said Lease. “There are some fundamental-based things that we can keep a little bit simpler. I think that we’ll continue to improve our game because we’re also just challenging ourselves every day in practice.”

Next up for Crater will be the second phase of the season for Lease and company, with the Comets opening Midwestern League play Friday at North Eugene (5-6).

“I told the girls tonight that there’s three seasons to the year,” said Lease, “ and we just finished season No. 1 and we are starting season No. 2 tomorrow. We need to come ready to go because anything can happen in season No. 2.”

EAGLE POINT 46, KLAMATH UNION 30: At Klamath Falls, Eagle Point used 12 points and six steals from Kady Lindstrom to help pull away for the nonleague victory.

Thianna Deng-Gomez added 10 points and Jill Garlitz had seven assists for the Eagles (7-4), while Maddie Daw and Kady Ledbetter led the team with seven rebounds apiece.

Boys Basketball

ST. MARY’S 61, SOUTH UMPQUA 55: At Myrtle Creek, St. Mary’s halted a two-game losing skid by pulling away in the fourth quarter, getting 25 points and 15 rebounds from junior Jax North to lead the way.

C.J. Seggelink added 11 points and eight rebounds and A.J. Zimmerman added nine points for the Crusaders (5-5) in a game where neither team led by more than six points.