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Varsity 541 NEWS NOW Outpouring of support continues for Todd Ragsdale ... Talent-based Sawyer Paddles & Oars files for bankruptcy protection ... Oregon Wild's litigious past a factor in Ochoco wilderness opposition ... Outpouring of support continues for Todd Ragsdale ... Talent-based Sawyer Paddles & Oars files for bankruptcy protection ... Oregon Wild's litigious past a factor in Ochoco wilderness opposition ... PREP BASKETBALL South denies Sheldon Carroll nets career-high 27 points to pace No. 2 Panthers Comment By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Jan. 30, 2016 at 2:00 AM By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Jan. 30, 2016 at 2:00 AM --> South Medford 61, Sheldon 52 RECAP: South Medford senior Conor Carroll contributes a career-high 27 points and Josh Washington adds 12 points and 12 rebounds to deny Sheldon. UP NEXT: T... » Read more X South Medford 61, Sheldon 52 RECAP: South Medford senior Conor Carroll contributes a career-high 27 points and Josh Washington adds 12 points and 12 rebounds to deny Sheldon. UP NEXT: Tuesday, South Medford at Grants Pass; Thurston at Sheldon. » Social News All South Medford’s Conor Carroll knew is that someone had to pick up the slack with fellow senior Hunter Bradford sidelined by injury for Friday night’s prime Southwest Conference boys basketball clash against Sheldon. With the Panthers’ hold on first place in the SWC at stake, Carroll not only picked up the slack but he ultimately shouldered the load in a career-high night that led South Medford to a 61-52 comeback win at South Medford High. The 6-foot-3 senior wing poured in 27 points on 11-for-18 shooting to lead four Panthers in double figures as South Medford improved to 17-1 overall and 7-0 in conference. Carroll’s previous high was 25 points in a 54-51 win over Nevada Union (Calif.) in the Red Bluff Holiday Classic on Dec. 17. He entered Friday’s game ranked third in the SWC in scoring average for all games at 12.4 points and eighth in SWC-only scoring at 11.3 points per game. “That is by far the best high school basketball game I’ve ever seen him play,” said South Medford head coach Dennis Murphy, whose team is ranked second in the Class 6A media and coaches’ polls. “He was so tough and made some tough shots and got some tough rebounds. I don’t think I took him out the second half. He did a heck of a job, he really did, and he kept us in it. I’m awful proud of him.” Seemingly whenever South Medford needed a basket to curtail Sheldon’s momentum, Carroll was there. His deep 3-pointer among a crowd of players at the buzzer allowed South Medford to take a 40-39 lead into the fourth quarter, and he opened the final frame with another trey to create a slight cushion over the Irish (11-6, 4-3 SWC). When Sheldon junior Will Swank tied the game at 49-all on a 3-pointer with three minutes to play, Carroll didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger and answer with another shot beyond the arc to set off a 12-3 run to close the contest. “Conor hit some huge shots down the stretch, which really made a difference in the outcome,” said Sheldon head coach Dan Clark. “He came up big when they needed them.” Carroll said he was thinking only of protecting South Medford’s first-place advantage over the likes of Sheldon, North Medford and South Eugene, who each entered Friday two games back in the standings. “It was a home game that we had to win,” said Carroll. “If we would’ve lost that would have put the other teams in the race and that’s not what we want. So I was feeling way into it tonight and it was way emotional for me.” Carroll was 3-for-7 from the field in the opening quarter, including a missed desperation halfcourt heave at the buzzer, and 2-for-2 in the second to pace a subdued Panther effort. He ratcheted up his clutch play in the second half, going 3-for-4 in the third quarter — with a pivotal three-point play that pinned the fourth foul on Swank — and 3-for-5 in the fourth to go with seven total rebounds and two steals. “I didn’t feel like I had a lot of points or really think about it,” said Carroll, “they just were going in.” Senior post Josh Washington added 12 points and 12 rebounds while senior guard Eskari Carter chipped in 11 points, six assists, four steals and four rebounds. Sophomore guard Kaleb Franklin had 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Franklin followed a key backcourt steal Carroll made to end the first quarter with his own pilfering effort and ensuing layin following a Carroll triple to help the Panthers to a 45-39 edge to open the fourth. “Those are basketball IQ plays where all of a sudden they make a basketball play without someone diagramming it or telling them what to do,” said Murphy, “and we need more of those things.” Points, in general, were hard to come by even in South’s 63-45 win at Sheldon on Jan. 5, so Carroll said the Panthers were on notice Friday night. Bradford and Raymond Benford each had 13 points to lead the way in the first meeting, with Carroll netting seven. “Hunter had 13 points in the last game against Sheldon so we had 13 points to pick up,” noted Carroll. “One of us had to do it and I guess I just happened to pick up the slack.” Swank led Sheldon with 15 points. Murphy wasn’t pleased to see only four score for his Panthers, but he did appreciate the constant hard work of Carroll and Washington in Bradford’s absence. “Somebody had to step up, there’s no question about it, and they both picked up some slack,” said Murphy. “Josh did a great job down low and all the rebounds we needed to get he got for us. For the most part if they missed it in the second half they only got one shot opportunity.” “But we’ve got to get some other guys to get some offense going for us in (Bradford’s) absence, so we’ll see,” he added. SHELDON (52): Swank 15, Mitchell 12, Da. Williams 7, Walk 6, Herbert 5, Di. Williams 3, J. Williams 3, Higgins 1, Diehl 0, Wulf 0, Rygg 0. Totals: 18-47 8-10 52. SOUTH MEDFORD (61): Carroll 27, Washington 12, Carter 11, Franklin 11, Benford 0, Martin 0, Cota 0, Metcalf 0, Bock 0. Totals: 21-44 16-25 61. Sheldon;17;12;10;13;—;52 South Medford;16;10;14;21;—;61 3-point goals — Sheldon 8-20 (Swank 3, Mitchell 2, Di. Williams 1, Da. Williams 1, J. Williams 1), South Medford 3-7 (Carroll 3). Fouled out — Swank. JV score — South Medford 67, Sheldon 63. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Jan. 30, 2016 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction Schedules & Events --> Recent Scores --> Prep Notebook Kris Henry Strength in numbers It’s an experiment that has true benefit and merit, but also one with a big hill to climb before permanent implementation throughout... Varsity 541 Photos North vs Grants Pass Cascade Christian vs. St. Mary's South vs North South vs Willamette Ashland vs. Crater South vs. Sheldon » More Photo Galleries Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications | Contact Us | Advertise | © Copyright Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.