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Cavers surprise Ashland in opener photo by Andrew Mariman ASHLAND � It wasn�t a bad start for a team picked to finish next to last in the Southern Oregon Conference. Megan Moon sank all six of her free throws in the fourth quarter, including a pair in the final 10 seconds, Tuesday night as visiting Grants Pass shocked the Ashland Grizzlies, 72-69, in the SOC girls basketball opener for both teams. SOC coaches picked Ashland to finish second and Grants Pass seventh, but the Cavers (5-1, 1-0 SOC) got off to a fast start and doggedly hung with the Grizzlies (2-3, 0-1 SOC) until making their final charge in the fourth quarter. "I�m floating," said first-year coach Ken Lathen, who coached Grants Pass� boys from 1989-1996. "We�re short, don�t have a dominating player, but we have seven players � make that eight tonight � who all make contributions. Each kid carried us in a different part of the game." Moon finished with 22 points, converting on 12 of 14 free throws, including her final nine. Danae Thomason added 13 points, while Casey Higgins and Johnna Nealy netted 10 apiece. The eighth player Lathen referred to was 5-foot-11 sophomore Jessica Morton. "She�s a swing player from our junior varsity," Lathen said. "She played six minutes in the second quarter when our three big girls (Pilcher, Higgins and Moon) got into foul trouble. They all had three fouls by halftime. In a game like this, you need someone to help you like that." Ashland�s Jackie Woods led all scorers with 24 points, before fouling out in the final seconds, while Hanna Seltzer threw in 18 more. It was anyone�s game going into the fourth quarter after Seltzer�s 3-pointer tied it 51-51 to end the third period. Abigail Gooch hit a 12-footer for Ashland to make it 57-53 early in the fourth period. But Grants Pass took the lead with a seven-point run. "I thought we made way too many individual mistakes," said Ashland coach Heather Roberts. "We left a lot of people open on the press and made some bad rotations." Woods scored Ashland�s next six points, giving the Grizzlies their final lead, 63-62, with four minutes to play. Alicia Pilcher, however, quickly put the Cavers back on top, 64-63, with an assist from Neely. Grants Pass led 70-67 in the final 17 seconds when Woods sank two free throws to cut the difference to one. Seltzer then stole the ball and was fouled with 12 seconds. But her first shot hit the front of the rim and the second was cleared by Moon. Woods promptly committed her fifth foul and Moon converted both free throws. "We handled their pressure really well," said Lathen, whose chart showed just 11 turnovers against the Grizzlies� wire-to-wire pressure. Grants Pass led 15-11 after one quarter, but the Grizzlies went on a 15-4 run to start the second quarter and led 37-32 at the half. "Grants Pass is the second-best team we�ve played this season (behind No. 3 Crescent Valley)," Roberts said. "They�ll be giving a lot of people problems." Ashland was without starting wing Jessica Bullen, who was on a trip to Cuba with the debate team. GRANTS PASS (72) � Moon 22, Thomason 13, Higgins 10, Neely 10, Pilcher 6, Klingel 6, Thompson 3, Morton 2. Totals: 23-50 23-31 72. ASHLAND (69) � Woods 24, Seltzer 18, Gooch 8, Morin 7, Huyett 6, Kalemkeris 4, Hargis 2, Fascilla 0, Sobolik 0. Totals: 24-49 19-27 69. Grants Pass.............................................11 20 20 21� 72 Ashland..................................................15 22 14 18 � 69 3-point goals � Grants Pass 3-7 (Thomason 2, Higgins 1). Ashland 4-11 (Seltzer 2, Huyett 2). Fouled out � Kalemkeris, Woods., Pilcher Technical fouls � Seltzer. JV score: Grants Pass 54. Ashland 45 Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.