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Basketball Story Archive

North's Wonsyld, Crater's Noon sign with colleges

Two local girl athletes signed letters recently to compete collegiately at NAIA schools.

6A hoops tourneys move to same site

PORTLAND — The Class 6A high school boys basketball tournament is returning to Portland.

Former North aide takes over at Crater

Jared Casper had two main goals growing up.

Johannes named Phoenix boys coach

PHOENIX — Phoenix High School officials didn't have to look far in finding a boys basketball coach, replacing Brian Miller with top assistant coach Glenn Johannes, the school announced Thursday.

St. Mary's Valdez on 2A all-state second unit

St. Mary's junior post/forward Veronica Valdez has been named to the Class 2A girls basketball all-state second team in voting by coaches.

E.J. Singler chosen top 6A player

South Medford senior E.J. Singler was named the Class 6A boys basketball player of the year Wednesday, making it the second time in three seasons that a Panther player has earned that distinction.

McNichols steps down as Crater boys coach

Troy McNichols' four-year tenure as Crater High boys basketball coach came to an end Friday when the 1998 Comet graduate resigned citing family reasons.

Lokeno garners all-state mention

In four years, Josh Lokeno left an indelible mark on the Crater basketball program.

Father-son duo earn top Class 3A honors

Coming out of the Class 3A boys basketball state tournament, the Morse family couldn't imagine a better story line after Cascade Christian won the state title.

McKinnis lands on all-state first team

Hindsight is always 20/20, but Ashland girls basketball coach Tom McCracken says he knew what kind of season was in store for senior guard Kelsey McKinnis long before the Grizzlies gathered for their first practice.

March 2009

Newcomb nabs state accolade

South Medford senior guard Brittney Newcomb was not handed natural basketball ability, Panthers coach Tom Cole said.

E.J. Singler earns state Gatorade POY award

South Medford senior E.J. Singler has spent most of his basketball career in the shadow of older brother Kyle, now a standout sophomore at Duke University.

A Classic finish

Fans were treated to a little bit of everything, including a fantastic finish, during Friday's second annual Mail Tribune All-Star Basketball Classic in the Kids Unlimited gym.

South's Newcomb shines brightest

The girls teams in the second-annual Mail Tribune High School All-Star Basketball Classic featured considerable star power.

Robbins, Torgerson lead voting for Classic

With 21/2 days of voting remaining, Crater's Travis Robbins and Grants Pass' Natasha Torgerson are the leading boy and girl point-getters for the Mail Tribune All-Star Basketball Classic.

Tornado defeats Mazama in season opener

Junior pitcher Brady Shipley struck out 11 in five innings and Matt Maurer provided a bases-loaded triple as North Medford opened the baseball season with a 10-2 home victory against Mazama Tuesday.

After spirited rally, Crater falls just short

EUGENE — If there is anything that Crater proved during the Class 5A boys basketball state tournament, it's that the 2008-09 Comets will not give in no matter how long the odds.

Hidden Valley boys capture third at state

CORVALLIS — Hidden Valley built a big first-half lead, then had to survive a rally by La Grande to post a 44-39 boys basketball victory in the Class 4A third-place game at Gill Coliseum on Saturday.

Crater advances to fourth-place game with victory

EUGENE — There was no huge crowd or all-state gamebreaker to contend with Friday morning for Crater, and the Comets finally had a chance to settle in and make McArthur Court here their second home.

Mustangs fall to Central in 4A semis

CORVALLIS — Hidden Valley dictated tempo with its defensive style against third-ranked Central in the Class 4A boys semifinals Friday at Gill Coliseum.

Hidden Valley girls win consolation semifinal

CORVALLIS — Hidden Valley overcame what could have been a disastrous start in the Class 4A girls consolation semifinals Friday at Gil Coliseum.

Century buries Crater early

EUGENE — Century coach Scott Kellar knew as well as anyone that the Crater boys basketball team was making its first trip to the state basketball tournament since 1990.

South Medford survives with 'ugly' win

EUGENE — The object of any tournament game is to survive and advance, and that's about all you could say about South Medford's 50-42 win over Wilson in Thursday morning's consolation semifinal of the Class 6A boys basketball state tournament.

Familiar foes meet for fourth

EUGENE — It only seems fitting that South Medford and Lake Oswego will be matched up in Saturday's fourth-place final at the Class 6A boys basketball state tournament.

Hidden Valley girls fall in 4A quarterfinals

CORVALLIS — Second-ranked Cottage Grove outscored No. 4 Hidden Valley 14-4 in the third quarter en route to a 41-26 victory in an OSAA Class 4A girls tournament quarterfinal game.

Casillas, Coggins earn MVL first team

Harley Casillas of Butte Falls and Ryan Coggins of Rogue Valley Adventist were recently selected to the all-Mountain Valley League first team.

Shots don't fall, but South does

EUGENE — South Medford senior E.J.

Comets ready for the big stage

The Crater boys basketball team will meet one of the state's premier guards when the Class 5A state tournament opens today at McArthur Court in Eugene.

Versatile Valdez deemed SCL's best

Despite standing just 5-foot-6, St. Mary's junior post/forward Veronica Valdez made her impact felt in the Southern Cascade League this season.

Mustangs advance to Class 4A semifinal

CORVALLIS — Hidden Valley scored eight straight points to hold off late-charging Elmira for a 46-34 win in an OSAA Class 4A boys state quarterfinal on Wednesday.

Steady progression

For E.J. Singler, it's never been about being the star player on his basketball team.

South-Lincoln opener offers study in contrasts

Be it by geography or past history, South Medford and Lincoln couldn't be coming into the Class 6A state tournament from more different directions.

Skyline recognizes Phoenix guards

Chelsea Passante will leave the Phoenix girls basketball program with ample evidence of her storied career.

Up to the Challenge

SALEM � In the most important game of his prep career, Scott Morse came up with a big-time performance.

Classy Morse is at home with Cascade Christian

SALEM � Not only has Brian Morse developed a powerhouse boys basketball program at Cascade Christian High, he has done it with class.

Crater rolls on to Class 5A state tournament

CENTRAL POINT � Make room for a long-lost visitor, McArthur Court.

St. Mary�s rebounds, takes third at 2A state

Judging by the final score, you�d think the St. Mary�s girls basketball team had little trouble putting behind it a devastating loss one night earlier.

No. 2 Jefferson defeat No. 5 Ashland for third

PORTLAND � Ashland couldn�t hold off a determined Jefferson team for third place at the Class 5A state tournament at the University of Portland Chiles Center.

Second-ranked Wilsonville holds off Ashland

By Joe Zavala

South heads back to Mac

With 16 of the best boys basketball teams in the state left vying for one of the eight bids to the Class 6A state tournament, South Medford knew it would take just about all it had to advance to the Elite 8 for the eighth straight time.

Challengers to play for title

SALEM — Cascade Christian lost to defending state champion Regis at home earlier in the season, but the defeat proved beneficial.

Last-second basket sinks Crusaders

In the same moment, St. Mary's plans to play for the state championship and a buzzer-beating shot by Nestucca took the same path: They both fell through.

Grizzlies go silent in semifinal loss

PORTLAND — Brenna Heater walked off the court with a towel over her head, the scoreboard blocked from view. Not a bad strategy considering this ugly reminder: North Eugene 39, Ashland 25.

Defense catapults Comets into final

Better known for its dynamic offense, the Crater High ice hockey team rode its goaltending and penalty killing into the Southern Oregon League championship game.

Grizzlies storm back to win opener

PORTLAND — Outworked and seemingly overmatched, the Ashland girls basketball team looked to head coach Tom McCracken for a pep talk. What they got was a reality check.

State tournament spot up for grabs tonight

For South Medford, it was only a matter of time Tuesday before the third-ranked Panthers pulled away for a 17-point victory in the first round of the Class 6A boys basketball state playoffs.

St. Mary's advances to state semis

St. Mary's had to defeat De La Salle North Catholic to reach last year's Class 2A state tournament.

Grizzlies run past overmatched foe

ASHLAND — Through all the dark moments this winter has brought, Charlie Sebrell steadfastly maintained that his Ashland High boys basketball team could play with anyone in the state.

Challengers coast to win

At different times this season for second-ranked Cascade Christian, Scott Morse has taken over the game.

Phoenix bounces Newport

NEWPORT — Danielle Smith scored a season-high 24 points and the Phoenix girls basketball team won its first playoff game since 2005 with a 58-50 victory against Newport on Wednesday.

Panthers march by Scots

With little state playoff experience on the South Medford boys basketball roster, E.J. Singler planned on helping get his team off to a good start prior to Tuesday night's Class 6A opener against David Douglas.

Westview ousts North Medford from playoffs

One of North Medford's best performances of the season wasn't good enough in the opening round of the Class 6A boys basketball state playoffs Tuesday.

South's Singler is player of year

The role E.J. Singler has played for the South Medford boys basketball team has been undeniable, and the the 6-foot-6 senior has been rewarded for it.

SWC couldn't stop Newcomb

A common goal of Southwest Conference girls basketball coaches was to stop Brittney Newcomb.

Panthers host Scots to start playoffs

South Medford's celebration for earning at least a share of its eighth straight conference title was short-lived, with the Panthers quickly getting back to business after last Thursday's boys basketball win over Sheldon.

Ashland charges into state tournament

ASHLAND — The Grizzlies' big three made room for a fourth on Saturday.

Crusaders win 16th straight, roll into state

As they began their journey into the state tournament on Saturday, a young and anxious St. Mary's girls basketball team wasn't exactly in tune offensively.