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May 28, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels February 27, 2004 Grizzlies trounce EP, end season on a high note By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland High boys' basketball team survived Junior Malgarejo's shooting exhibition to send the two Grizzly seniors out on a high note. Ashland high senior guard David Morris flies over Eagle Point senior wing Junior Malgarejo (left) on his way to an attempted layup, Thursday night at Mountain Avenue gym. The Grizzlies pulled out the win, 65-55. Satsuki Doi | Ashland Daily Tidings Malgarejo drilled 7 of 12 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 24 points, but the Grizzlies used a 15-5 bull rush in the second quarter to take control en route to a 65-55 season-capping Southern Oregon Conference victory over Eagle Point, Thursday night at Mountain Avenue gym. The aforementioned seniors - Logan Bishop and David Morris, both guards - did their part too, contributing 11 and 10 points, respectively, as Ashland (7-17 overall, 3-11 SOC) rode a balanced scoring attack to a season sweep of Eagle Point (4-18, 0-14). Four Grizzlies scored in double figures and two more tallied nine points. It was the Grizzlies' first win since they throttled the Eagles Jan. 30 at Eagle Point. "It was nice to end with a win," said Morris, who hit a pair of 3s in the third quarter to help Ashland pull away. "This game was especially fun because the scoring was really balanced so � we were all involved and it was just a good team effort." Bishop agreed, but was disappointed his four-year stint at AHS did not include a playoff berth. "To be honest, I think it could have been better," he said. Junior forward Corey Costantino led Ashland with one of his most complete games of the season - a team-high 16 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Junior forward Jeff Skinner added 10 points and a team-high 11 boards, and junior guard Josh McDermott and sophomore center Josh Cornelius each scored nine. Bishop also added three steals before fouling out early in the fourth. Malgarejo hit four 3s in the first quarter and three in the fourth, but it wasn't nearly enough to keep the Eagles from enduring their second straight winless SOC campaign. Eagle Point has a 1-41 league record over the past three years. Ashland led by just three late in the second quarter, but went on a 14-2 run capped by Morris' 3 to take a commanding 41-26 lead with 5:28 to go in the third. Eagle Point slowly cut the deficit to seven late in the fourth. Ashland answered with four straight free throws - two by McDermott and two by Skinner - to ice it. "Well, for two senior boys it means everything," Ashland head coach Rick Cornelius said. "And for this program it means everything. You know, these kids really care for each other. They really do. They're very close, and when they can give David and Logan an exit like that, a gift like that, it's a nice way to end it - and that's what really matters." Senior highlights Both seniors added to their highlight reel in the last hurrah. Bishop, showcasing his athleticism, shot down the court after a steal for a one-man fastbreak in the first quarter. Morris' defining moment was the off-balance, lean-in 3 that clanged through the rim to give Ashland its biggest lead of the night. If everyone else returns, the Grizzlies will have a senior loaded, upper-classmen dominated lineup next year. Cornelius hopes that transfers into league wins. If not, future Grizzly graduates can only hope to leave as satisfied as Morris. "Overall, I'd have to say it was fun," he said. "I'll always remember the times we had together. You know, each year you have a different group of kids and so each year is completely different. When you're younger, you're the sophomore and you look up to the seniors, and then when you're a senior the sophomores look up to you. "It's kind of a cycle and it's always fun to see what kind of group you get each year, and I'll miss these guys a lot because we had a lot of fun together." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams