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Click Here 42 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, February 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 21, 2004 South Medford point guard Ryan Fiegi holds all the cards in directing the Panthers' attack. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell South’s Fiegi is the real deal Senior point guard has a knack for reading opponents to instinctively know where the openings are and when to exploit them By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune Ryan Fiegi’s been known to gamble every now and then as an athlete. Not too many 6-foot-5, 180-pound teenagers with a future in basketball would step under center as quarterback for their school’s football team, especially in the rough-and-tumble Southern Oregon Conference. As one of the taller kids in his class, he’s also opted to play a position on the basketball court typically reserved for the shortest. So it’s of no real surprise the South Medford High senior has taken to the world of poker, specifically the current rage sweeping the nation of no limit Texas Hold’em. Featured on television stations ranging from ESPN to the Travel Channel, the World Poker Tour has spilled into living rooms far and wide, including a certain Medford household. "I can’t get enough," the 17-year-old says of the televised poker tournaments. "I’m ashamed to admit it, but I even watch the repeats over and over, even though I know what’s going to happen." Advertisement It’s a passion that began a year ago when former South Medford High all-star Boomer Marshall introduced Fiegi and a handful of other teammates to the game as a way to fill down time on lengthy bus rides or at out-of-town tournaments. Fiegi and friends continue to gather every few weeks for fun in hopes of mastering the game of chance, where victory or defeat hinge on the next turn of a card, and the prospect that the worst hand can still prevail given a properly played bluff. "It’s like a different sort of competition," says Fiegi, who is averaging 12.9 points, five rebounds and five assists per game for the second-ranked Panthers (13-1). "It’s not athletic, it’s all about your mind, which is fun for me." It’s also something well up Fiegi’s alley, considering his 3.87 grade-point average and desire to major in business in college. "Ryan’s just real smart at whatever he does," says South teammate and card foe Caleb Berkey. "Since he was young, he’s always made the smart decision. On the basketball court or even at the card table or in the classroom, he just has an ability to analyze things." That innate ability translates best to the basketball court, where Fiegi directs the potent Panther attack. Fiegi has a wealth of options with Berkey, Craig Johnson, Kyle Singler, et. al, at his disposal, and seems to make the right choice time after time. "The thing he does best is break down a defense," says Berkey, one of four Panthers averaging double-digit scoring. "He’s just so difficult to keep up with. He’ll get by his guy and then kick it out to the open man or take the shot himself if it’s there. He does a lot of grunt work to set us up for those open shots." Most of it involves reading his opponent and relying on instinct. "That’s where playing cards is kinda like basketball," says Fiegi, who’s probably the only point guard in the state who jumps the opening tip for his team. "If you watch a person play for so long, you’re going to know his tendencies and stuff. If you play cards with a guy long enough, you’re going to know whether he bluffs and his tendencies." And you’re going to know where the openings are and when to exploit them. "I just take what the other team gives me," says Fiegi, who has a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. "If they’re not guarding Craig, then I’m going to give him the ball. But if they’re shutting him down or Berkey or Kyle, then I’ve gotta find shots somewhere else." That includes calling his own number, which creates a world of concern for defenders on which option to deny. "I’m not sure who you try to stop," says the SOC player-of-the-year candidate. "We can come at you in so many ways." And that’s no bluff. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times