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Fiegi scores 39 in South rout of Eagle Point By Kris Henry For at least one day, Gary and Lacey Fiegi can breathe easy. The Medford couple won�t have to feed their 6-foot-8 son Eric � the South Medford boys basketball team took care of that in a 95-53 romp past Eagle Point Friday night. The Panthers fed the junior post so much a congratulatory appearance by Sally Struthers seemed inevitable. Fiegi in turn devoured the Eagles with a career-high 39 points and 14 rebounds. "I knew I was going to get mine, I just didn�t know how big," said Fiegi, whose previous high was 29 against South Eugene. Fiegi entered the night determined to make up for Tuesday�s six-point effort and poor shooting in a 51-38 loss to Roseburg. It didn�t take long to see that his teammates were determined to make that happen as well. The curly redhead poured in 13 first-quarter points, including a stretch where the Panthers fed the ball to him on the block five straight times. "I was definitely hoping that would be something they would do," Fiegi said of South�s concentration inside. "After the game I had against Roseburg, I knew I just needed to come in relaxed. I know what I can do, and I think this is a real confidence booster heading into Grants Pass." Beyond a league win, South Medford (14-5, 6-3 SOC) also gained ground on the Southern Oregon Conference lead Friday as Roseburg knocked off second-ranked Grants Pass, 50-47. The Cavemen and Indians each are now tied at 8-1 in league, with South Medford and North Medford two games back in third place at 6-3. The Panthers hit the road to play Grants Pass on Tuesday. Eagle Point, which played without head coach Keith Williams and starting guard Danny Acrey, dropped to 7-12 overall and 2-7 in league. Williams was serving an OSAA-mandated one-game suspension after picking up two technical fouls in Tuesday�s loss to Crater. Assistant coach Kim Horn, who guided the troops Friday, said Acrey was suspended one game for a violation of team rules. It�s doubtful the presence of either would have made a difference, especially with Fiegi dominating inside. "We came after him with both sides," said Horn. "We couldn�t get anything on the bottom side, so we tried to pinch down, but he�s tough. He�s 6-foot-8 and has 4-foot arms and the kid can really play well." Paul Burdick and Rocky Johnston each fouled out trying to contain Fiegi, with Eric Nackerud picking up four fouls and several others chipping in to send the Panther post to the free-throw line 18 times. He converted 15. "Those free throws can really get you going, and I was coming in off a couple bad games," said Fiegi. "I concentrated real hard in practice the past couple days on my free throws, and I finally got it together tonight." Fiegi and company were well into their post-game celebration when they learned of his 39 points � prodding the quiet junior to cry out in vain for missing the magical 40-point mark. "Just one more free throw. That�s all I�m asking for," he said in mock frustration. Considering Fiegi sat out portions of the second and third quarters and went to the bench with 5:25 to play in the game, he had plenty of ammunition to ride South coach Dennis Murphy on his near-miss thanks to depleted minutes. But that never happened, and Murphy said it wouldn�t happen with a kid like Fiegi. "He�s just a great kid," said the coach. "He just goes out and does what we ask him to do." That included playing the role of cheerleader down the stretch as South tried in vain to reach the 100-point mark. Although Murphy doesn�t expect to make a run at 100 points against Grants Pass, he hopes the Panthers can take one aspect of Friday�s game into that contest. "We�ve got to get the ball in to Fiegi," said Murphy. "Granted, it�s easier to do against Eagle Point than Roseburg and Grants Pass, but that�s a big part of our game. He�s shooting better than the rest of us, and that should also open things up a little more on the outside for everyone else." The Panthers converted 33 of 64 shots from the field and 28 of 38 from the charity stripe. Eagle Point struggled to make 18 of 50 from the field and didn�t take a free throw until there was 3:28 to play in the third quarter. South managed 26 assists against Eagle Point, with Ryan Heil posting a team-high eight to go with his 10 points and six steals. John McKay chipped in 12 points for the Panthers, while Greg Horn paced Eagle Point with 11 points on a night when both benches received a heavy dose of playing time. EAGLE POINT (53) � Horn 11, Johnston 6, Campbell 5, Brooks 7, Gray 4, Burdick 4, Anderson 8, Baumer 5, Martinen 3, Nackerud 0, Matteson 0. Totals: 18-50 13-18 53. SOUTH MEDFORD (95) � Fiegi 39, McKay 12, Heil 10, Johnson 7, Marshall 2, Lower 4, Mulhollen 8, Tomlins 4, Burnett 7, Olson 2, Smith 0. Totals: 33-64 28-38 95. Eagle Point.............................................16 6 17 14 � 53 South Medford......................................23 15 33 24 � 95 3-point goals � Eagle Point 4-10 (Horn 2, Campbell 1, Baumer 1), South Medford 1-4 (Heil 1). Fouled out � Burdick, Johnston. JV result � South Medford won. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.