Varsity 541

PREP BASKETBALL

South wins title behind Singlers

Mail Tribune
December 21, 2008

With Mitch Singler struggling a little bit to relax and let the game come to him, South Medford boys basketball coach Dennis Murphy found an odd solution: He gave the 6-foot-3 senior more to do.

Already pressed with the need for him to score in double figures and help the undersized Panthers rebound the basketball, Singler was tasked with slowing what Murphy believed was one of Lake Oswego's key components Saturday night in the championship game of the Red Bluff Holiday Classic.

True to his nature, Singler stepped up in a big way and helped lead the Panthers to their third title in the past three trips to Red Bluff, Calif., with a sensational all-around effort.

Singler tallied 15 points, repeatedly pounded the glass and held his target scoreless as second-ranked South Medford broke free from No. 4 Lake Oswego in the second quarter and never looked back for a 53-38 triumph.

"This is by far the best game Mitch has played," Murphy said. "He really stepped up for us. I think he hit his first two shots and just kind of went on from there."

E.J. Singler led all scorers with 19 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, to help the Panthers become the tournament's first repeat champion since El Camino High went on a four-year run from 1993-96.

South Medford (5-0) also earned the Red Bluff crown in 2005, but skipped the event in 2006 when it traveled to Springfield, Mo., and won the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

The loss was the first this season for Lake Oswego (4-1), which was held to eight points in the second and fourth quarters.

"You hold someone to 38 points, you've got a pretty good chance to win," Murphy said. "As long as you always play defense you've always got a chance, and I think our kids did a good job with that."

The teams battled to a 12-all tie after one quarter of play but South Medford went on an 8-0 run to close out the second quarter and take a 25-20 lead into intermission. The Panthers held onto that five-point cushion through the third quarter, then closed the game by outscoring the Lakers 18-8 in the fourth.

Max Jacobsen, a 6-foot-7 senior, led Lake Oswego with 13 points and Scott Leedy added 10.

South sophomore Josh Havird also had 10 points, including three 3-pointers, and was pivotal in limiting the looks of the Lakers' top perimeter threat, Catlin Blyth, who finished with four points. Blyth had a team-high 22 points in an earlier 68-63 victory over defending Class 6A state champion Grant prior to the Holiday Classic.

Lake Oswego junior Marcus Anthony, who had proven himself to be a top threat and tough guard in Red Bluff, was held without a point by Mitch Singler.

Given the relative inexperience of the Panthers, who return only two players with major varsity experience in the Singlers, Murphy was proud of what his team was able to accomplish during the three-day tournament.

"We really felt like this would be a good measure for us, especially going into the Les Schwab Invitational (Dec. 26-30)," added the coach. "We can really use it as a springboard to that and go up and compete with those teams and give ourselves a chance. I really felt like we played three good basketball teams down here in Pleasant Valley, Helix and Lake Oswego, and our kids played tough."

SOUTH MEDFORD (53) — E.J. Singler 19, M. Singler 15, Havird 10, Brassel 4, McLaughlin 1, Kynard 2, Mercer 0, Petersen 2, Wallan 0, Pratt 0. Totals: 18 12-19 53.

LAKE OSWEGO (38) — Leedy 10, Coleman 9, Smith 2, Livingston 0, Blyth 4, Anthony 0, Brady 0, Jacobsen 13, Reader 0. Totals: 16 5-9 38.

South Medford 12 13 10 18 — 53

Lake Oswego 12 8 10 8 — 38

3-point goals — South Medford 5 (M. Singler 1, Havird 3, E.J. Singler 1), Lake Oswego 1 (Coleman 1). Fouled out — Blyth, Jacobsen.

Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail khenry@mailtribune.com