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Cavemen roar past Black Tornado By Greg Stiles It was just a matter of seconds, really. Hardly even enough time for a network break back to the studio. It was plenty of time, however, for the fifth-ranked Grants Pass Cavemen to demonstrate they�re back on track Tuesday night. In less than two minutes, Grants Pass broke loose for a 12-1 run to end the first half. Then the Cavemen buried North Medford in the fourth quarter by sinking 11 of 12 free throws en route to a 57-35 Southern Oregon Conference boys basketball victory. "We had a lot of nice contributions," North Medford coach Gene Quilhaugh said of the first 14-plus minutes of the first half as the teams battled to a 24-24 deadlock. "Then we got silly with the ball. It�s like they say in tennis, we had some unforced errors and we weren�t intense." David Wessells drained a 3-pointer and followed up with a free throw to tie it, 24-24, with 2:43 left in the second quarter. Ian Elseth then ignited the pivotal torrent by completing a three-point play to give the Cavemen (20-2, 10-2 SOC) the lead for good. Grants Pass capitalized on a Black Tornado (9-12, 6-6 SOC) turnover when Jerrod Dastrup drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing. Gabe Burchfiel momentarily slowed the flow with a free throw for North Medford, but Dastrup answered with two free throws followed by Tyler York�s steal and 10-foot jumper. Elseth made it 36-25 at the half, arching in an 8-footer with one tick left on the clock. "They made a couple of baskets, then we got down and started turning it over," Burchfiel said. The Black Tornado sank 6 of 10 field goal attempts in the second quarter, but committed six turnovers. Grants Pass hit 9 of 12 shots from the field in the second quarter and was guilty of just three turnovers. "Our shots started falling," said Elseth, who led all scorers with 21 points to go with seven rebounds. "I�m not sure what it was, though. Maybe our pressure got to them or they just didn�t make their shots." The third quarter turned into a defensive stalemate as both teams scored just two field goals. Burchfiel connected on three of four free throws as the Tornado entered the fourth quarter within striking distance, 40-32. It fell apart for North in the fourth quarter. Luke Lathen scored back-to-back baskets that extended Grants Pass� advantage to 12 points, while the Tornado missed its first five field goal attempts. "We just got back into our transitional game and started running the ball better," Lathen said. "I was open and my teammates hit me." Then the parade to the foul line began. Elseth hit two free throws and York pushed in seven straight gifters before missing the eighth. Brian Weeks, trying to pressure the suddenly-patient Cavemen, drew two quick fouls and then was charged with a technical foul. "We knew we�d get pushed around," Elseth said. "But we dealt with it." Quilhaugh was left wondering what might have happened had North�s offense been anywhere as good as its defense in the third quarter. "They had 10 or 11 possessions where they went scoreless," Quilhaugh said. "We played fine defense, we just couldn�t score." Burchfiel�s eight points led North, while Travis Poulton pulled down 10 rebounds. Andy Dobner had something to do with the Tornado�s offensive woes as he blanked Ben Anderson much of the night. "That�s all I�ve been able to do lately," Dobner said whimsically. "My shot just isn�t there any more." Grants Pass won its first 18 games before losing back-to-back outings against Roseburg and South Medford. Now the Cavemen have won two straight and seem back on track, one game behind the front-running Indians. "Honestly, I think it helps us to have a loss or two," Dobner said. "It�s better than going to the state tournament undefeated and then losing two up there." GRANTS PASS (57) � Cohen 2, Olson 2, York 17, Minor 0, Dobner 0, Hill 0, Berg 2, Dastrup 7, Lathen 8, Richard 0, Mahr 0, Elseth 21. Totals: 19-47 16-18 57. NORTH MEDFORD (35) � Olson 7, Weeks 1, Poulton 2, Foreman 5, Taylor 2, Anderson 3, Burchfiel 8, Wessells 6, O�Brien 0, Lucas 0, Timmerman 0, Deline 0, Hovland 1. Totals: 12-42 8-13 35. Grants Pass..............................................12 24 4 17 � 57 North Medford.............................................8 17 7 3 � 35 3-point goals � Grants Pass 3-5 (York 2, Dastrup 1); North Medford 3 (Olson 1, Anderson 1, Wessells 1). Fouled out � Weeks. Technical foul � Weeks. JV score � Grants Pass 51, North Medford 45. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.