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Ashland girls top Grants Pass in playoff game GRANTS PASS - What wasn't decided in 14 Southern Oregon Conference games was, finally, Thursday night, as the Ashland girls basketball team clipped Grants Pass, 42-36, in a one-game playoff for the SOC's fourth and final postseason berth. After the Grizzlies (12-13 overall) and Cavers (13-11) both finished 7-7 in regular-season SOC action and split their two head-to-head meetings, the tiebreaking game was a worthy conclusion. Ashland, which now travels to Canby for a state-playoffs battle Tuesday night, stormed to a 10-0 lead in the opening minutes only to have Grants Pass rally to claim a 30-28 edge entering the fourth quarter. In crunch time, the Grizzlies, who have just one senior on their roster, crept past the Cavers, who lose only two seniors. "They totally battled back and hung in there and didn't panic," Ashland first-year head coach Stephanie Santos said of her squad, which was hampered by illness to three players. "And that's a hard place to win." Junior wing Stefanie Talbott hit a 3-pointer at the beginning of the fourth to give the Grizzlies the lead for good. "That was big," Grants Pass second-year head coach Ken Lathen said. "It gave them some momentum." While the Cavers missed four free throws down the stretch, Ashland went 4-for-4 from the line in the closing minutes. Senior post Marla Morin tallied a game-high 16 points for the Grizzlies and grabbed at least 15 rebounds, in Santos' estimation. Senior wing/post Megan Moon paced Grants Pass with 12 points, and junior post Katie Strong scored 10. The Cavers came back from their early deficit thanks to pressure defense, led by the work of sophomore guards Kelli Briggs and Patina Taylor, who combined for 10 steals. Ashland freshman point guard Alysse Carlson struggled against Grants Pass' zone and pressure in the second and third quarters, but she settled down again to effectively direct the Grizzlies in the fourth. "They were all over her when they made their comeback," Santos said. "In the fourth quarter, she got more physical." Lathen said Ashland's hot start and determination made the difference. "When we got ahead of Ashland, they bent but didn't break," Lathen said. "You have to give them credit." ASHLAND (42) - Morin 16, Hansen 6, Talbott 7, Morris 3, Carlson 2, Gooch 8, Sobolik 0, Schilling 0. Totals 16 8-11 42. GRANTS PASS (36) - Moon 12, Strong 10, Claflin 6, Klingel 3, Briggs 5, Morton 0, Taylor 0, Tardieu 0, Glovinsky 0. Totals 16 3-10 36. Ashland ............................................. 14 9 5 14 - 42 Grants Pass ....................................... 4 13 13 6 - 36 3-point goals - Ashland 2 (Morris 1, Talbott 1), Grants Pass 1 (Briggs 1). Skyline girls LAKEVIEW 56, ILLINOIS VALLEY 52 - At Lakeview, Lakeview prevailed in a regular-season battle among squads in desperate need of a Skyline Conference victory. The Honkers (12-10 overall, 5-7 Skyline) were led by senior post Fran Hartman's 16 points and 11 rebounds. Senior wing Megan Flynn added 14 points and seven rebounds, and sophomore wing Jenna Kiely contributed 12 points and seven rebounds. Illinois Valley (3-18, 1-11) managed to cut into a seven-point deficit entering the fourth quarter but couldn't complete the comeback. Sophomore wing Kim Hamilton drilled four 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 24 points in pacing the Cougars. ILLINOIS VALLEY (52) - Walker 4, Coltas 0, Ledford 0, Dougherty 4, K. Hamilton 24, Fink 9, Nook 4, A. Hamilton 7. Totals 20 7-14 52. LAKEVIEW (56) - Megan Albertson 0, Fran Hartman 16, Megan Flynn 14, Kiely 12, Stewart 4, Bradbury 6, Richards 2, C. Albertson 2. Totals 22 10-23 56. Illinois Valley ................................. 13 7 13 19 - 52 Lakeview ........................................ 13 10 17 16 - 56 3-point goals - Illinois Valley 5 (K. Hamilton 4, A. Hamilton 1), Lakeview 2 (Flynn 2). Fouled out - M. Albertson. Technical - Walker. JV result - Lakeview won. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2002 Mail Tribune, Inc.