MERLIN — It took the Crater boys basketball team nearly three quarters of its season opener to exploit a major height advantage over North Valley in a nonconference game Tuesday.
The Comets led 37-35 at the half, then began to use their size in the second half to pick apart the Knights in a 75-61 victory.
James Oshel, a 6-foot-5 senior, had 18 points and 6-4 junior transfer Drew Runberg added 14 for the Comets, who held a 41-21 edge in rebounds. Ben Louie and Chase Crook also scored in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
All four of Crater's leading scorers are 6-foot-4 or taller.
"They had trouble with our size," said Crater coach Troy McNichols. "That was our goal. We really tried to stretch the floor and deliver it to our big kids."
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But the Comets (1-0), buoyed by a stretch of five straight North Valley turnovers late in the third quarter, came out of the break with a 21-13 scoring run to take a 10-point lead heading into the final period.
"Our style of play is up-tempo," said Knights' coach Rob Boye, "and they were willing to run with us. That kept us in the game.
"I thought their depth took over a little in the third quarter. Their physical size started to tire us out a little bit."
Nate Ellis led the Knights (1-2) with 18 points, while Matt Malinoff had 11 and Derekk Vandehey 10. Malinoff also had six assists, with Kevin Rose dishing out five and Vandehey contributing four to go with four steals.
CRATER (75) — Louie 12, Shults 2, Peila 7, Brothers 5, Moser 5, Crook 11, Uhles 2, Runberg 14, Oshel 18, Schmelzer 0. Totals: 27 20-31 75.
NORTH VALLEY (61) — Ellis 18, Malinoff 11, Vandehey 10, Rose 9, Claffey 9, Larson 2, Clark 2, Olmsted 0, Brummett 0, Ghena 0, Nicholas. Totals: 21 17-27 61.
Crater 17 20 21 17 --75
North Valley 15 20 13 13 --61
3-point goals — Crater 1 (Moser 1), North Valley 2 (Rose 1, Malinoff 1). Fouled out — Claffey.
JV result — Crater won.
- ST. MARY'S 74, GLENDALE 39 — At Glendale, four St. Mary's players scored in double digits as St. Mary's romped past Glendale.
Jacob Midtlyng led the way for the Crusaders (1-0) with 16 points, while Nick Perry drained four 3-pointers in the first half en route to 13 points.
Max O'Sullivan added 12 points and Nash Gambee had 11 for St. Mary's, which drained nine 3-point baskets as a team.
Kyle Tate had the high score for Glendale with 10.
ST. MARY'S (74) — Sutton 5, O'Sullivan 12, Watson 0, S. Boggess 0, Gambee 11, Hillgarpner 2, Midtlyng 16, R. Goggess 7, Perry 13, Reniele 0, Grant 6, Street 2, Harper 0, Tomlinson 0. Totals: 28 9-14 74.
GLENDALE (39) — Tate 10, Carr 8, Ellis 3, Middelton 0, Hissong 3, Platt 0, Burkhalter 0, Thackery 6, Kitchens 2, Freeman 0, Coon 4, Borreson 3. Totals: 15 5-11 39.
St. Mary's................................... 25 13 19 17 — 74
Glendale......................................... 6 12 9 12 — 39
3-point goals — St. Mary's 9 (Sutton 1, O'Sullivan 2, Gambee 1, Midtlyng 1, Perry 4, ), Glendale 5 (Tate 2, Carr2, Ellis 1).
JV Score — St. Mary's 61, Glendale 40.
- PROSPECT 67, ROGUE VALLEY ADVENTIST 61 — At Prospect, after a rocky beginning, Prospect lifted itself to a win over Rogue Valley Adventist.
Jacob Schultz scored 41 points to reach a career-high for the second consecutive game.
Ross Andrison snagged 11 rebounds to go with his six points while Dakota Gordon had eight points and seven rebounds for the Cougars (2-2).
Jacob Allen led the way for the Hawks with 22 points.
ROGUE VALLEY ADVENTIST (61) --Westbrook 2, Cool 7, Patel 0, Dent 0, Coggins 16, Sjarli 8, Allen 22, Robertson 6. Totals: 28 2-7 61.
PROSPECT (67) — Andrison 6, Bennett 2, Gordon 8, Mahoney 2, Hanscom 2, McCoy 6, Schultz 41. Totals: 27 8-13 41.
Rogue Valley Adventist.............. 23 14 17 7 — 61
Prospect......................................12 22 19 14 — 67
3-point goals — Prospect 5 (Schultz 4, Gordon 1), Rogue Valley Adventist 1 (Allen 1). Fouled out — Allen.
