PREP BASKETBALL

Singler's hot start propels Panthers

December 19, 2008
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RED BLUFF, Calif. — South Medford's E.J. Singler spent the summer fine-tuning his perimeter game, and those refined skills were on full display Thursday night as the 6-foot-6 senior led the Panthers to an opening-win in the Red Bluff Holiday Classic.

Singler was 7-for-11 from the field in the first half and led all scorers with 24 points as South Medford gradually pulled away from Pleasant Valley High of Chico, Calif., for a 72-55 triumph in boys basketball.

The University of Oregon signee scored 14 of the Panthers' 21 first-quarter points and had 18 by halftime. South Medford led 41-32 at intermission and used a 17-10 run in the third quarter to clinch the outcome.

"He shot the ball extremely well in the first half," said South Medford head coach Dennis Murphy of Singler. "We moved him around quite a bit and he hit from just about everywhere."

The Panthers (3-0) will next face Helix High of San Diego in tonight's semifinals at 5:30.

Mitch Singler added 13 points and was a key rebounder for South Medford, while teammates Mike Brassel and Cameron Kynard each had 10 points.

Kellen Coppage, a 6-4 guard, had 22 points to lead Pleasant Valley (6-1), which was undefeated entering the game and picked to win its league championship.

Murphy said his team's ability to shore up its play on defense provided the key to victory.

"As we continued to play, we got better defense in regards to some of the things they were doing," said the coach. "We did a better job of not letting them beat us off the dribble and making them shoot over us."

Another key was the combined play at point guard with Brassel and Sam McLaughlin, who limited their turnovers and steadied the Panther attack. Cy Dellenback-Ouellette, who entered the season as the expected starter at point guard, suffered an ankle injury in South's season opener and Murphy said he likely will be out of action until mid-January.

"We'll get a real test (tonight) with Helix and their quickness," the coach added.

SOUTH MEDFORD (72) — Brassel 10, McLaughlin 3, Kynard 10, M. Singler 13, Havird 7, E.J. Singler 24, Mercer 4, Petersen 1, Wallan 0, Pratt 0. Totals: 25 16-21 72.

PLEASANT VALLEY (55) — Rodrigues 5, Canalin 3, Carter 0, Almond 0, Duong 0, Haley 2, Schwarz 6, Swaim 8, Moore 0, Coppage 22, Beehner 6, Jenkins 1, Velasco 2, Rix 0. Totals: 22 7-10 55.

South Medford 21 20 17 14 — 72

Pleasant Valley 16 16 10 13 — 55

3-point goals — South Medford 6 (Brassel 1, McLaughlin 1, Kynard 1, M. Singler 1, E.J. Singler 2), Pleasant Valley 4 (Rodrigues 1, Canalin 1, Coppage 2).