Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 7, 2006 Panthers expect better game from GP Cavemen are healthier than earlier meeting with South Medford By DON HUNT Mail Tribune The last time South Medford met Grants Pass in boys basketball, the top-ranked Panthers raced to a 23-4 lead after one period and rolled to an 81-46 victory. Don’t expect such a lop-sided outcome when the two teams renew their rivalry at 7 tonight at Heater-Newman Memorial Gym in Grants Pass. South Medford, 18-1 overall and 9-0 in the Southern Oregon Conference, can take a big step toward securing a league title with a season sweep of the Cavemen (13-7, 8-1 SOC). Panthers coach Dennis Murphy isn’t taking Grants Pass lightly, however. "We’re approaching this as a playoff game," Murphy said. "We’re expecting to get their best shot, and if we don’t bring ours, we might not like the outcome." Advertisement Grants Pass wasn’t at full strength when the teams last met on Jan. 13. Starting wing Craig Dolmage was sidelined with pneumonia, starting center Jason Nunnemaker was saddled with foul trouble and backup post Shane Mahr went down with an ankle sprain in the fourth quarter. But now the Cavemen are healthy, and they’re on a six-game win streak since the blowout loss to South. "I’m sure most people feel like they’ll beat us by at least 20 — they’re the best (high school) team in the state and maybe the Northwest," Grants Pass coach Bill Cowell says. "But there have been bigger upsets in the history of this game." Cowell believes the only way his team can win is to shoot the ball well from the perimeter and keep the score in the 50s against the much-taller Panthers. "We’ve got to be patient with our offense, we can’t have coverage mistakes with our defense and we can’t turn the ball over against them like we did last time," says Cowell, who will throw an assortment of zones at the Panthers. "And we’ve just got to hustle for every loose ball." Forwards Kyle Singler and Kendall Gielow lead the Panthers in scoring at 19.3 and 15.1 points per game, respectively. Center Brent Johnson and point guard Michael Harthun, who had 25 points and seven assists in South Medford’s 85-57 win over Klamath Union last Friday, also average in double digits for the Panthers. Senior post Jason Nunnemaker paces GP scoring at 13.4 per game. Since Cowell took over the Grants Pass program 10 years ago, it has won seven games and lost 13 against the Panthers. No other team in the SOC can claim as much success, although the Panthers have won five of the last six meetings. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail Panthers expect better game from GP ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s