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51 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, April 13, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend March 14, 2004 Commentary Future looks bright for Panther basketball program By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune EUGENE — As South Medford celebrated only its third boys basketball trophy in school history, one couldn’t help but ponder the future of the Panther program. The fourth-place trophy bounced from the senior hands of Ryan Fiegi, Craig Johnson, Andy Hagert, Caleb Berkey, et. al, into the grasp of freshman Kyle Singler, and his smile said it all. "Hopefully in the future we can try to do this again, and maybe finish even higher," said Singler, who averaged 11 points and 9.3 rebounds in helping South to its best finish at state since a third-place run in 1996. The Panthers placed seventh in 1998. Considering the experience South’s underclassmen gained in support of the six Panther seniors, and the fact that the freshman, JV and varsity programs combined for a 66-9 record this season, the future looks bright at South. Advertisement "We think we’ve got some good things coming," said 16th-year South head coach Dennis Murphy. "We’re excited about that." It all starts with Singler, whose season as understudy to Johnson and three-game experience at the state tournament could prove vital in his continued development. "It was a great experience for me getting this far into the tournament," said the 6-foot-7 phenom who has already drawn interest from the likes of Duke, Arizona, UCLA and Oregon State. "We’ve got some other younger players who will come back and we should be tough because of this experience." Singler, juniors Isaiah Adams, Tyler Heil and Jon Weaver and sophomore Brent Johnson each got to witness the roller-coaster that is top-flight Oregon basketball. Be it an undefeated run to a third straight Southern Oregon Conference championship or life as the No. 1 target in the state, the underclassmen were there soaking it all in. When the Panthers started sluggish and never recovered against Redmond in Thursday’s tournament quarterfinals, they took notice. When South could have limped home yet again once their title hopes vanished, they saw the Panthers play an inspired game in the consolation semifinals against Lake Oswego. And when the Panthers were pushed to the limits in an exhausting four-overtime affair against Oregon City on Saturday, they saw the leadership and character it takes to refuse to lose. "We just decided that we can’t let this slip through our fingers," Craig Johnson said after playing 46 tireless minutes Saturday. "We thought that maybe things would come to us easier, but they really didn’t so we had to just kind of go get ‘em." It was a good lesson that nothing is ever handed to you, but it was one the seniors planted long before the first fan filed into McArthur Court. "I learned to never take a day off in practice," Adams said of what he’ll take from the seniors. "They would push every day because once you realize it’s your last year, you can’t let up." Adams spent the season as South’s first player off the bench, and showed that he’s not afraid to take a big shot or make a play for the Panthers. He hit seven 3-pointers in a conference win over Klamath Union, and averaged about seven points, two rebounds and two assists at the state tournament. Brent Johnson supplied a solid defensive presence off the bench, and at 6-6 provides a nice inside complement to Singler’s inside-outside attack. Heil and Weaver were leaders on the junior varsity and saw a handful of minutes on the varsity stage, and the list goes on and on for a Panther program rich in height and talent — and that doesn’t even include eighth-grade standout Michael Harthun and a host of others to follow. "We have a lot of young talent with Harthun coming in and Kyle and all of us," said Adams. "Next year should be pretty fun." Even so, it’ll take quite a showing to top Saturday’s finale. "I almost peed my pants it was so exciting," said Singler. "It was just a great way to end the season. If I had to pick a game to end on, it would have to be that one." Short of a state title, that is. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times