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39 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, April 15, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 8, 2005 North Medford senior Kyle Williamson has led the Tornado in scoring this season and been North's most consistent basketball player. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Where there’s a will, there’s a way North Medford senior Kyle Williamson aims to help spark a run to the state playoffs By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune Just because an athlete is quiet, it doesn’t mean he or she isn’t competitive. Take North Medford High senior Kyle Williamson. Witnessing even one outburst per game from the mild mannered guard might be a stretch, but don’t be fooled for a second. Williamson’s just as competitive as the next guy, and just as frustrated by the Black Tornado’s boys basketball struggles this season. "You can tell he’s got a kind of inside burning desire for this team to be successful," says North head coach Tim Sam, whose squad is 6-11 overall and 3-6 in Southern Oregon Conference play heading into tonight’s home game against Klamath Union. In tonight’s other SOC games, fourth-ranked South Medford plays host to Grants Pass, Ashland is host to No. 9 Roseburg and Crater is at Eagle Point. All games start at 7. Advertisement For Williamson, it’s not what you say it’s what you do. "I just want to get this team back where it should be," says the 6-foot-1 standout, "and every night I come out with one goal and that’s for us to win. I just try to go out and give 100 percent and hopefully that helps us get the win." Williamson has been North’s top scorer in seven of its nine conference games, including the first five in a row, and ranks seventh in SOC scoring at 13.6 points per game. His level of consistency has been a boon for the Tornado. Whereas many high schoolers may score big one night and post half as many points the next night, with Williamson what you see is what you get when it comes to his scoring average. "He bring some stability to us, for sure," says Sam, adding that the senior’s dependability ranges beyond his scoring. "He defends well for us, he rebounds well from his spot and he’s pretty solid as far as his consistency shooting." Content to be known as a team player, Williamson says he enjoys being able to provide a little bit of everything for the Tornado. "I just try to do the little stuff to help us win," he says. "I’m just one of those guys who puts his nose down and goes to it. I don’t mind getting dirty and doing whatever we need out there." It’s a trait that spills over to his teammates, who haven’t had trouble getting effort this season, just wins. "It just hasn’t clicked this year; I don’t know why," says Williamson, whose Tornado has suffered through close losses to Roseburg (twice), Grants Pass and Ashland. "Something just isn’t there quite yet. We work hard, just sometimes it’s almost like we’re working too hard and trying to do too much at once. We’ve just got to slow down and check up with ourselves." Williamson admits he’s as guilty as the rest when the Tornado’s in a lull, but plans to do his part to learn from past mistakes in order to help lead North to its third straight trip to the Class 4A state playoffs. "It’s just a matter of doing it," he says of North’s stretch run that includes key games at Grants Pass on Friday and home versus Ashland on Feb. 22. "We’ve been talking about how we should be able to do this and that but haven’t really proven it. We’ve gotta walk the walk if we’re gonna talk the talk." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Distance Education Diamonds Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Fasa Advertisement s