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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us January 3, 2005 Grizz aim to Finish By Jennifer Squires Ashland Daily Tidings Ken Lathen knows the Grizzlies' 2-7 preseason record doesn't look like much. "On face value, it looks like we're probably not very good," the first-year Ashland High girls basketball coach said. Ashland High School Girls Basketball Coach Ken Lathen Heading into Southern Oregon Conference play, life won't get any easier for Ashland. The Grizzlies open the regular season Tuesday night against North Medford. "That's going to be a very tough first game," Lathen said. Of course, it can't be more difficult than the Lake Oswego Shoot-Out last week. The Grizzlies faced highly-touted teams - Lake Oswego, Lebanon and Glencoe - and took the games right down to the wire. "We played this extremely tough schedule," Lathen said. "Our problem is trying to get a victory among them." Ashland did pull out a huge win against Sandy High at the Shoot-Out. Previously undefeated, Sandy suffered a 46-28 Grizzly beating. But the same week, the Grizzlies lost to Lebanon by just two points. "I think we've demonstrated we can play with the best in the state," Lathen said. "But that's the frustrating part. We're playing well and losing." The Grizzlies have come close to wins against very strong teams, only to turn around and lose to programs they should be able to handle. Consistency, Lathen says, is what Ashland is working on. Ready for the regular season A perennial playoff team, the Grizzlies expect to see some post-season action. However, Ashland's playoff hopes ride on how well it performs in the SOC over the next two months. The Grizzlies have relied on veteran all-star seniors Alysse Carlson and Abeni Hill, as well as junior Jamie Roupp, for most of their scoring output. The trio has been responsible for between one-half and two-thirds of Grizz points during the preseason. "Those three are the ones who do almost all of the scoring," Lathen said. "For us to do well, we're going to have to have some other individuals step up and assist them." Leaning on so few players for points has also lead to a trend of weak fourth quarters. Whether it's fatigue, the opponent figuring out the Grizz system or just bad luck, Ashland gives up a lot of points in the fourth quarter and has lost the lead in a couple of contests. "We need to finish," Lathen said, adding that the Grizz defense has remained strong throughout the preseason. "Our defense has been very good," he said. "For a bunch of short girls working together, it has been just astounding at times." Grizz notes: Ashland will face the SOC a little weaker than the team had planned. Rheana Laipply, who came off the bench to contribute from the wing position, tore her ACL at the Shoot-Out and will not return this season. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's Slippers men's slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weight Loss Programs Memory Foam Mattress college loans alternative student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts Adventure Travel Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation trillion cut diamonds Currancy Exchange Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams