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BOYS HOOPS: Tornado takes a tumble By Kris Henry Updated: Dec 09, 2022 11:23 PM A A 6 View all photos North Medford caught in ‘avalanche’ of pressure by Westview in home opener With an entirely new cast of varsity players, North Medford boys basketball coach Scott Plankenhorn knew it would take a little time for his team to find a rhythm this season. Friday night proved to be a learning experience he hopes will translate to better play down the road for the Black Tornado. Despite playing its first game of the season, Westview was clicking on all cylinders on Friday, throwing waves of pressure and players at North Medford en route to a 100-48 runaway win at North Medford High. The visiting Wildcats (1-0) used relentless full-court pressure and forced a frantic pace that the Black Tornado (0-3) was not equipped to counter on this night. “Obviously we had seen film on them and we tried to demonstrate it in practice,” Plankenhorn said of Westview’s frenzy, “but seeing it live, our guys weren’t ready for that. It just avalanched, and the avalanche never stopped. We just never had an answer for anything. We couldn’t get settled in to get stops and nothing was really working for us offensively.” Westview led 30-10 at the end of the first quarter and took a 53-29 advantage into halftime after forcing 20 turnovers by the Tornado. “I don’t know what pace we can play,” added Plankenhorn, “but that’s not one.” “Our problem has been turnovers,” he added. “Until we stop giving up turnovers, we’re going to give up 50 in a half because you don’t give yourself a chance to even be in a defensive position.” It didn’t help that just about anything Westview sent toward the basket went through it. The Wildcats, who got 26 points from senior Amare Rolle, finished with 14 3-pointers and had 40 field goals overall. “If you can’t stop the way they play, then you’re just fueling their fire to how they play,” said Plankenhorn, who recalled a similar instance about 10 years ago when the Tornado lost 105-75 to Tualatin. “They’re going to be a hard team to beat if they’re going to make 3s like that.” North Medford junior Houston Klug scored 10 points while teammates Keenan Stewart and Corbin Young added eight apiece. The Black Tornado’s lone returning varsity starter, senior Antonio Orozco, remains out due to eligibility issues. North has a week off before returning to the court for a stretch of five games in six days beginning next Friday at home against Churchill. “We’ve got a week to really soul search and find out what kind of a basketball team we can be,” said Plankenhorn. “Obviously that’s not one we want to look back on and say that’s something we want to be. “It’s a huge challenge for us with a whole new basketball team. It will be a chore next week to figure out where we’re at and what works for us.” WESTVIEW (100): Llanes 0, Choi 10, Russell 2, Smith 10, Huppin 0, Acar 2, Chobu 15, Andhole 4, Likens 2, Rolle 26, Grady 11, Read 6, Knight 2, Jones 10. Totals: 40 6-6 100. NORTH MEDFORD (48): Carpenter 4, Klug 10, Walker 3, Carr 4, Torres 2, Plankenhorn 1, Stewart 8, Curtis 5, Ortega 3, C. Young 8, Scott 0. Totals: 17 11-21 48. Westview30232918— 100 North Medford1019118— 48 3-point goals — Westview 14 (Choi 2, Smith 2, Chobu 1, Rolle 4, Grady 3, Jones 2), North Medford 3 (Klug 1, Walker 1, Ortega 1). JV result — North Medford won SOUTH MEDFORD 68, LAKE OSWEGO 67: At Eugene, South Medford junior Jackson Weiland drove for a game-winning basket in the waning seconds as the Panthers capped a fourth-quarter rally to open the Shamrock Slam at Sheldon High School. Weiland finished with 19 points and Boden Howell scored 31 to pace South Medford (1-2). Winters Grady scored 31 points and Max Archambo had 23 for Lake Oswego (0-1), which led 53-49 heading to the final frame after a 21-10 surge in the third quarter. SOUTH MEDFORD (68): Weiland 19, Edgar 6, Sewell 10, Howell 31, Henry 0, Akpan 2, Espinosa 0. Totals: 25 11-18 68. LAKE OSWEGO (67): Dixon 5, Grady 31, Archambo 23, Smith 0, Alles 2, Sutherland 7, Nicholson 0. Totals: 25 8-13 67. South Medford23161019— 68 Lake Oswego17152114— 67 3-point goals — South Medford 7 (Weiland 2, Sewell 2, Howell 3), Lake Oswego 6 (Dixon 1, Grady 4, Archambo 1). WEST ALBANY 56, EAGLE POINT 35: At Eagle Point, junior Hugo Perezchica dropped in nine of his team-high 11 points in the fourth quarter for Eagle Point, which was unable to overcome a big first half from West Albany. Perezchica completed his double-double for the Eagles (1-4) with 12 rebounds and two steals. Hayden Weaver added 10 points while Moses Angel came up with four of his five steals in the fourth quarter for EP. WEST ALBANY (56): Aguilar 2, Gregory 2, Cyrus 0, Hopkins 11, Stanaway 2, Strandy 4, Pena 0, La Casse Tran 0, Kelley 5, Smith 0, Simmons 14, Kachel 16. Totals: 25 3-6 56. EAGLE POINT (35): Rodriguez 4, Jackson 0, Pierce 3, Livingston 2, Brionnes 3, Raber 0, Moreno 2, Angel 0, Weaver 10, Perezchica 11. Totals: 10 14-20 35. West Albany1617149— 56 Eagle Point88514— 35 3-point goals — West Albany 3 (Hopkins 1, Strandy 1, Kelly 1), Eagle Point 1 (Pierce 1). JV result — Eagle Point won. NORTH MARION 85, PHOENIX 53: At Aurora, Julius Bolstad scored 15 points and Dylan Harper added 11 for Phoenix, which fell into a 26-14 hole after one quarter and was unable to recover. Robin Trenbeath added eight points for the Pirates (3-1). Carter Reilly had 25 points while teammates Cole Hammack and Dawson Schrenk each added 21 to lead North Marion (2-0). PHOENIX (53): Trenbeath 8, Mooring 1, Ja. Selden 2, Ponce 0, Hernandez 6, Harper 11, Talbott 4, Mendez 0, Decker 4, Bolstad 15. Totals: 18 13-19 53. NORTH MARION (85): Hammack 21, Schrenk 21, Ledesma 4, Peirce 3, Reilly 25, Ohlman 3, R. Hartenstein 6, C. Hartenstein 0, Orr 2. Totals: 34 8-11 85. Phoenix14141213— 53 North Marion26202514— 85 3-point goals — Phoenix 4 (Bolstad 3, Decker 1), North Marion 9 (Schrenk 5, Hammack 1, Ohlman 1, R. Hartenstein 2). North Medford's Keenan Stewart drives to the hoop for two points during the 2nd quarter against Westview in Medford Friday. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] North Medford's Corban Young drives to the hoop for two points during the 2nd quarter against Westview in Medford Friday. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] North Medford's Keenan Stewart drives to the hoop for two points during the 2nd quarter against Westview in Medford Friday. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] North Medford's Davis Carr shoots for two points during the 2nd quarter against Westview in Medford Friday. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] North Medford's Miguel Torres shoots for two points during the 2nd quarter against Westview in Medford Friday. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune] North Medford's Houston Klug shoots for three points during the 1st quarter against Westview in Medford Friday. [Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune]