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A reason to believe? By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings In a one-minute span during Monday's practice - the final session before tonight's Southern Oregon Conference opener against Klamath Union - the paradox that is the Ashland High boys basketball program both summarized its recent history and gave a glimpse of its hopeful future. Ashland High senior guard Bryan Clevenger (right) says this year's Grizzlies have more experience and more confidence than in years past and can translate that into Southern Oregon Conference wins. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA The sequence plays out during a typical half-court scrimmage. The offense is trying to get the ball inside, but is stymied by the No. 1 defense, leading to an errant entry pass, a steal, and a tongue-lashing courtesy of first-year head coach Rick Cornelius. Moments later, that same offense patiently whips the ball around the same group of defenders, makes the right passes at the right times, spots an opening, then quickly turns that opening into a lay-up. The first play reflects everything the Grizzlies have come to be known for over the past two years of league play, a stretch that has included just one win in 28 attempts (this was only reinforced by the recently released SOC coaches poll, which had the Grizzlies ranked dead last). The second play represents the strides Ashland has seemed to make during a successful summer league and a 7-3 preseason, which included blowout wins over Dallas, Summit, North Valley and North Bend and a pair of one-point losses to Marshfield and Sheldon. But the Grizzlies have looked decent enough in the preseason before - last year they entered SOC play 4-5, only to lose 13 of their next 14 - so the obvious question is: what makes this team any different? "I think we're playing with more confidence than we have in years past right now," chimed in Grizz leading scorer Bryan Clevenger, one of six seniors on the team. "And I think I attribute that to the fact that last year we all played together, but that was really the first year in a while because we had pieces that were playing at different levels and stuff. Five or six juniors last year played together, so I think after this last summer all playing together � we're pretty comfortable with each other now. So I think that's probably the key to our confidence right now. We feel great, we're ready to go." Cornelius also likes what he's seen so far, but is quick to point out that the real season doesn't start until tonight. "That (7-3 record) stands for something," Cornelius says, "but as I've told the players time and time again throughout December, especially in the last two weeks, it remains to be seen what's going to happen in the SOC. That's our real challenge and we know that. "They're a little tentative right now. I can feel it and I feel that too, because truly we want to see this materialize into the kind of success that we want this program to have." Cornelius and company very quickly will find out just how ready they are. Tonight they'll play host to the Klamath Union Pelicans (7-3), the third-rated team in the coaches poll, then Friday they'll host the top-rated and defending SOC-champion South Medford Panthers (8-1). After that, Ashland plays three straight road games against Roseburg (4-6), second-rated Grants Pass (7-3) and Crater (4-5) before closing out the first half of league play at home versus North Medford (4-4). Cornelius says the Grizzlies' goal is to make the playoffs. He believes they have plenty of talent to do that, but says his team needs a breakout win in league play to gain confidence. If that happens, predicts Cornelius, Ashland could stun the conference and sneak into the postseason. "From top to bottom, we can compete," Cornelius said. "What we have to do now is, we have to show not only to the other teams but more importantly to ourselves that we can find a way to win, and that's going to be very important and a big part of it. And if I don't miss my bet, we're going to get to a place where it's going to take one win, a key win, a big win that's going to just kind of unleash a lot of inhibitions, self doubt, and get us to a place where we could have a very good year in the SOC." The Grizzlies have shown flashes of the potential Cornelius is so excited about during an eye-opening preseason. They opened Dec. 6 with a confidence-building 61-59 road win over South Albany and proceeded to win their next two before the 55-54 loss to Marshfield on Dec. 13. Two blowouts later the Grizzlies were sitting at 5-1 and averaging an impressive 65.6 points per game. Ashland lost its next game 39-38 to Sheldon, but ended its preseason schedule with a convincing win over Mountain View, a loss to Hermiston, and finally a 56-30 annihilation of Dallas on Dec. 28. Through 10 games the Grizzlies are averaging 58.6 points per game while holding their opponents to an average of 46.1. Probably most responsible for that impressive 12.5 point differential has been Ashland's intense pressure defense and increased emphasis on running the ball. The Grizzlies don't have much size - only two varsity players are listed taller than 6-feet - so they've been forced to be creative in their attempts to keep teams away from the basket. "We think that at times, we defend very well," Cornelius said. "We can pressure people and we can defend in spite of our size. We have some defensive schemes out there that are designed to try to hide our lack of size." When that defensive pressure forces turnovers the Grizzlies will try to run. Clevenger, senior guard Christopher Presicci and senior guard Nick Palmesano are all dangerous on the break and can finish. That running game proved to be Ashland's biggest strength during the preseason and Cornelius will continue to encourage that aggressiveness. "We'll continue to use our speed and our quickness and athleticism in the open floor because that really is the strength of this group of kids," Cornelius said. "But it's every bit as important for us to be able to find a way to be deliberate with the ball on the offensive side � and to find that good wide-open look, even if we have to go seven, eight, nine passes deep into the offense." Thus, Cornelius stresses that patience will be crucial to his team's success. When the Grizzlies aren't scoring on the break, Clevenger, senior forward Clinton Bryan and sophomore forward Christopher Mackovjak (Ashland's tallest player at 6-4) will get most of the shots out of the set offense. Clevenger, who has played consistently well after an up-and-down junior year, can penetrate off the dribble, while Bryan and Mackovjak are Ashland's best bets inside. Bryan, a tireless worker who makes up for his relatively short stature (he's 5-11) with a soft touch, says the Grizzlies have what it takes to turn the program around. "We have a really strong team bond," he says, "a lot of unity that we didn't have last year. We had a lot of turmoil within the team after a few events (last year), but this year we're all friends, we're all teammates and we've played together for a long time. So we feel like it's coming together." How together they are will be put to the test tonight against a Pelican squad that figures to contend for a league title. Palmesano says the importance of the league opener cannot be overstated. "It's the first conference game," he said. "This is going to set the tone for the rest of the year." Added Cornelius: "I think the truth of the matter is, if you look at the league, I don't think we're too far off of anyone else. Our real challenge is to change the perception that we have of ourselves. We know what the perception is out there. What's our perception and how can we overcome that and see ourselves as being worthy of going out and capable of going out and being able to compete on any given night? "And I believe they can. I know they can." LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -