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Photo by Jim Craven Matt Brown, left, listens to coach Matt Meunier during practice on Tuesday. Comet boys get nod in the SOC By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN It's been eight years since Crater High last won a Southern Oregon Conference boys basketball championship. Scott Baker -- a 6-foot-6 forward who would one day help Willamette University win an NAIA national championship -- was the inside force behind the Comets' drive to the 1990 SOC title. He teamed with 6-9 senior Mark Hansen to give the Comets a dominant inside presence that led to the consolation championship at state. In 1998, the Comets are back in the favorite's role in the SOC. Those coaches predicted Crater to end South Medford's string of three consecutive SOC titles. "It's good to be picked No. 1," says second-year Crater coach Matt Meunier. "It adds some pressure, but I like it. "For one thing, it'll create more interest among our fans. And it says something about our program." It's flattering, but it also leaves him wary. "We have to remember we finished sixth in the league last year," says Meunier. "Going from sixth to first is a big jump. We have to go out there expecting to win. Last year, we just went out and played without those kinds of expectations." The Comets (1-1) appear to have the firepower to win the SOC behind 6-3 senior forward Matt Brown and 6-3 wing-post Mike Jacobs. Brown finished second in the SOC in scoring last season behind Roseburg's Matt Brown, who has graduated. Crater's Brown averaged 18.2 points per game, and Jacobs averaged 15.9. The Comets also return 6-7 center Matt Harthun, who averaged 7.0 points and 8.2 rebounds a game. Senior point guard Jason Korthals is the other returning starter. "We probably deserve to be picked to win it because we have a lot of returning players and experienced players," says Meunier. ``But the experienced players finished sixth last year. We will have to have a different attitude to make the jump to first. "I'd say this league is very balanced, and we could be on top or on the bottom every night we play. We improved in the summer and the off-season, but we can still be beat any time we aren't ready to play." The Comets will put the ball in Brown's hands as much as possible. The pure-shooting wing has added 15 pounds to his frame and plays with a new sense of confidence. "Matt has bulked up in the weight room and improved his skills other than shooting," says Meunier. "He's a little quicker, and he's improved his passing and ball-handling." Brown would like to claim the SOC scoring title, which got away from him during the last week of the 1997-98 season. "He's certainly capable of that," says Meunier. "But he has other goals. Mainly, winning the championship." While Crater has been selected the team to beat in the SOC, other teams are within striking range, says Meunier, mentioning Eagle Point, North Medford, South Medford, Grants Pass and Roseburg. "It's the most balanced league we've had in a while," he says. Meunier's other starter will probably be Joel Wangle at the other wing. He can also look to 6-3 junior Brent Foster and 6-3 Casey Campbell. Another guard bidding for major playing time is 5-8 junior Chris Wright, son of former karate world champion Chip Wright, who is a former Crater High multisport athlete. North Medford (2-0), which will play at perhaps the fastest tempo in the SOC under new coach Gene Quilhaugh, will feature an array of quick and athletic guards and wings. The Black Tornado will press all over the court and run the floor nonstop. New wings entrenched in the North system are 6-1 Wes Towne and 6-1 David Husel. Jeff Zimmer, the best shooter on the team, has been moved from off guard to point guard. "I like his decision-making and his ability to read the floor," says Quilhaugh. "He really helps us there, plus he's a good outside shooter and free-throw shooter." Zimmer will also play off guard at times, after Quilhaugh finds a suitable backup point guard. Candidates are 5-11 Pete Oliver, 5-10 Chris Weyers and 5-10 Jim Pickrel. Guard-wing Jason Brownell is a physical, athletic senior who can fill several roles, says Quilhaugh. "He and Pickrel are two hard-working kids off the football team," says Quilhaugh. "Give them another month to learn our system, and they should really help us." The Black Tornado will try to score big points at the low post despite not having an experienced post-up player. Travis Hinkle, a 6-4 wing last season as a junior, will be North's best post player, along with 6-5 Dave McNeal. South Medford (1-1) returns 6-5 post player Graham Foster from its 1998 SOC championship team. Junior Steve Hilgendorf backed up senior James Wightman at the point guard last season and gained valuable experience coming off the bench. Coach Dennis Murphy says that experience should pay off this season. "Our biggest problem will be lack of experience," says Murphy. "Graham (Foster) and Hilgendorf need to step up early and provide that leadership. "Then, we need some younger kids to step up in a hurry to help us. If we come together fast enough, I think we can be in it (the championship race). But we have a long way to go to get there." Eagle Point (2-0 entering Tuesday's game) features 5-9 point guard-wing John Lucas and 6-7 center Phil Garrett, a third-team SOC all-star last season. Lucas received honorable mention. Eagle Point may have lost junior off guard Nick Rouhier for the season with a knee injury. "We won't know what his status is until January," says Eagle Point coach Keith Williams. "We're not counting on that happening." Thus far, the Eagles have gotten solid production from guards Chris Sawyer, John Buda and Lucas in trying to make up for the loss of Rouhier. Ashland (1-1 entering Tuesday's game) continues to wait for the return of football players Kris Pavilionis, Jimmy Werbin and Jay Keuster from its football team, which will meet Roseburg in the state championship game on Saturday. "I think we'll be a sleeper in the league," says Ashland coach John Skinner. "The football kids are going to give us a new purpose. They will help us carry over what's happening in football, I think." SOC boys basketball CRATER Coach -- Matt Meunier (second year). Returning starters -- Mike Jacobs, 6-4, sr., wing, 16.1 ppg; Matt Brown, 6-3, sr., wing, 18.2 ppg; Matt Harthun, 6-7, sr., post, 7.0 ppg; Jason Korthals, 5-10, sr., guard, 6.1 ppg. Returning lettermen -- Joel Wangle, 6-1, sr., guard, 4.2 ppg; Brent Foster, 6-3, jr., wing, 3.9 ppg. Key newcomers -- Chris Wright, 5-8, jr., guard; P.J. Price, 6-3, so., wing; Chris Speaks, 6-2, sr., wing; Tyler Smith, 6-5, sr., post; Casey Campbell, 6-3, jr., wing. EAGLE POINT Coach -- Keith Williams (fourth year). Returning starters -- John Lucas, 5-8, sr., point guard, 10.5 ppg; Phil Garrett, 6-7, sr., post, 8.5 ppg. Returning lettermen -- Chris Sawyer, 5-10, sr., guard, 7.2 ppg; Chad Stuart, 6-4, sr., wing, 5.0 ppg; Nick Rouhier 5-11, jr., guard, 11.9 ppg. Key newcomers -- Jake Kleker, 6-4, jr., post, 2.3 ppg; Brad Crawford, 6-0, jr., wing, 1.8 ppg; Dan Acrey, 5-10, so., guard; Christian Anderson, 6-3, so., post. NORTH MEDFORD Coach -- Gene Quilhaugh (first year). Returning starters -- Jeff Zimmer, 6-1, sr., guard, 8.5 ppg; Travis Hinkle, 6-3, forward, 5.2 ppg. Returning lettermen -- Kelly Jantzer, 6-2, sr., forward, 2.3 ppg. Key newcomers -- David Husel, 6-1, sr., guard; Wes Towne, 6-1, sr., guard; Jason Brownell, 6-0, sr., wing; Pete Oliver, 5-10, jr., point guard; Chris Weyers, 6-0, jr., guard; Jim Pickrel, 5-10, sr., guard; Dave McNeal, 6-5, sr., post. GRANTS PASS Coach -- Bill Cowell (third year). Returning starters -- Reid Sorensen, 6-7, sr., center, 12.2 ppg. Returning lettermen -- Ryan Lathen, 6-3, sr., guard. 2 ppg; Grant Slagle, 5-10, sr., guard. Key newcomers -- Nick Dawson, 5-10, sr., guard; Peter Jordan, 6-2, sr., forward; Gabe Barbee, 5-10, jr., guard; Rob Lesher, 5-8, jr., guard; Mike DeLaGrange, 6-6, jr., center. ROSEBURG Coach -- Mike Pardon (sixth year). Returning starters -- Pat Anderson, 6-2, sr., wing, 8.2 ppg. Returning lettermen -- Kevin Linderman, 5-11, jr., guard; Dustin Michalek, 6-2, sr., forward, 4.1 ppg. Key newcomers -- Hans Christianson, 6-3, sr. post; Joe Gonzales, 6-1, sr., wing; Chris Cavaganaro, 5-11, sr., guard; Brad Coen, 6-2, jr., wing. SOUTH MEDFORD Coach -- Dennis Murphy (10th year). Returning starters -- Graham Foster, 6-4, sr., post, 6.2 ppg. Returning lettermen -- Steve Hilgendorf, 5-9, jr., point guard, 3.2 ppg. Key newcomers -- Jace Johnson 5-8, sr., point guard; Brian Hickey, 6-4, jr., wing, John McKay, 6-2, so., wing; Damian Rasmussen, 6-0, jr., wing; Ethan Wallenberg, 6-4, jr., post; Jared Mulhollen, 6-4, so., post; Colin Grant, 6-3, jr., wing; David Kime, 6-4, jr., post; Nick Decker, 6-7, jr., post. ASHLAND Coach -- John Skinner (second year). Returning starters -- Kris Pavilionis, 5-7, jr., guard, 6.1 ppg; Jim Werbin, 5-11, sr., guard, 9.1 ppg; Marko Kalemkeris, 6-7, sr., center, 5.1 ppg; Brett Zundel, 6-5, jr., 3.0 ppg. Returning lettermen -- McKay Challman, 6-0, sr., guard, 5.1 ppg; Carter Kirkpatrick, 6-3, so., wing; Sal Pippa, 5-8, jr., guard, 3.5 ppg. Key newcomers -- Kyle Allred, 6-2, so., forward; Jay Keuster, 5-10, sr., guard. KlAMATH UNION Coach -- Brett Crawford (second year). Returning starters -- Adam Bailey, 6-0, jr., guard, 3 ppg; Dillon Woodrum, 6-3, jr., forward, 2.0 ppg. Returning lettermen -- Jeremy Axberg, 6-1, sr., guard. Key newcomer -- Justin Scriber, 5-10, sr., guard. Coaches poll Here are the results of the Southern Oregon Conference coaches poll, with first-place votes in parenthesis: Crater (6)........................47 Eagle Point....................37 North Medford (1).........32 Grants Pass (1)............29 Roseburg......................28 South Medford.............27 Ashland........................17 Klamath Union..............7 1997-98 standings South Medford.............16-0 Klamath Union.............11-5 Roseburg.....................11-5 North Medford.............10-6 Grants Pass.................8-8 Crater...........................7-9 Eagle Point.................5-11 Ashland.......................1-15 Returning SOC all-stars Crater: Matt Brown (second team), Mike Jacobs (second team), Matt Harthun (third team), Jason Korthals (honorable mention). Eagle Point: Phil Garrett (second team), John Lucas (third team), Nick Rouhier (honorable mention). North Medford: Travis Hinkle (third team), Jeff Zimmer (honorable mention). Grants Pass: None. Roseburg: Pat Anderson (third team). South Medford : Graham Foster (third team). Ashland: Jim Werbin (honorable mention), Marko Kalemkeris (honorable mention). Klamath Union: None. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford,