Document text
Eagle Point gets offensive, downs Crater to stay in hunt By DAVE DAUGHERTY EAGLE POINT -- For most of the season, the Eagle Point High boys basketball team has been forced to build a strong case for defense. With its perimeter shooters shooting just 30 percent from the field, it's been the Eagles' defense that has had to rise to a higher level. On Friday night, the Eagles became sharpshooters and senior center Phil Garrett held tough o defense in a 55-46 Southern Oregon Conference win over visiting Crater. The victory keeps the Eagles in the playoff hunt with a 6-4 league mark, while the Comets, minus injured guard Matt Brown, continued their downward spiral -- it was their sixth straight loss. "They (Comets) were feeling what we've felt all year long," said Eagle Point coach Keith Williams, whose team has suffered through sickness and injury problems of its own. "It's just tough." Nobody could have guessed the Eagles were suffering through shooting woes in the first period. They knocked down their first five shots and took a 14-13 lead after one period. "We wanted to come out strong," said Garrett, who scored four of his 12 points in the first quarter. "We wanted to use their disadvantage (the loss of Brown) against them." With Brown watching from the bench in street clothes due to a deep thigh bruise, Crater's offensive burden fell almost solely on the shoulders of forward Mike Jacobs in the first half. The 6-foot-3 inch Jacobs scored 10 of his 13 points in the first half. His effort, along with teammate Jason Korthals' seven first-half points, weren't enough as the Eagles extended their lead to 31-26 at intermission. The Comets must have experienced deja vu in the third period. Eagle Point knocked down its first five shots again, including three straight from guard John Lucas. "John's been struggling with his shooting," said Williams of the point guard who led all scorers with 15 points. He was 6-of-8 from the field. "It was nice to see him break loose." Garrett, meanwhile, was rejecting one Crater shot after another. "I don't like easy shots inside," said the 6-7 Garrett, who had three blocks in the third period. "We've been having trouble in the third period all year, but tonight we got over the hump and had a good game." Garrett continued his roll into the fourth period -- only this time he turned into his team's first offensive option. Garrett scored the Eagles' first six points of the final stanza, pushing his teams lead to 10 points early in the period on easy conversions. "Those were all designed plays for him," said Williams. "We haven't been going inside very well, but we came out and just wanted to go to him. We haven't scored a lot of points in the third period of league games all year." Garrett's offensive explosion still couldn't overshadow his defensive prowess, as he rejected four more shots in the fourth period to finish with seven. His presence in the middle, along with forwards Chad Stuart, Jake Kleker and Danny Acrey, took Jacobs and Comet center Matt Harthun out of their games. "I just like it when they come inside a lot," said Garrett. "It's a lot easier playing defense when I'm not moving around much." "Phil did a great job of shutting those guys down and making them try to shoot over him," added Williams. "It makes a difference when you have a guy that can go up and get the ball." Crater didn't make a field goal in the fourth quarter until 1:54 remained. To make matters worse, it was only 4-of-11 on free throws. "It was part of our game plan to wear them down," said Williams. "I saw they ran out of gas on Thursday against South, and I thought we could do the same." Eagle Point visits conference-leading North Medford for an 8:30 game tonight. It's a make-up of a postponement Tuesday due to snow. CRATER (46) -- Wangle 5, Korthals 7, Foster 9, Campbell 1, Smith 0, Jacobs 13, Harthun 10, Wright 0, Price 1. Totals: 16-46 11-24 46. EAGLE POINT (55) -- Sawyer 3, Lucas 15, Buda 0, Gala 0, Stuart 6, Acrey 8, Kleker 6, Garrett 12, Rouhier 5. Totals: 21-43 12-21 55. Crater ............................13 13 9 11 -- 46 Eagle Point .................14 17 10 14 -- 55 3-point goals -- Crater 3 (Wangle 1, Korthals 1, Foster 1), Eagle Point 1 (Sawyer). Fouled out -- Foster. JV score -- Crater 40, Eagle Point 38. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford,