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Grizzlies gang up on SOC nemesis By GREG STILES ASHLAND -- Starting-five for starting-five, Ashland's girls basketball team entered the season a step ahead of the Southern Oregon Conference pack. With Jenny Pippa, Chelsea Morgan and Jackie Woods pining away on the bench Friday night in foul trouble, the supporting cast proved its worth as Ashland subdued visiting Crater, 69-50. The Grizzlies battled Crater to a standstill with five minutes left in the first half. Then when Woods, Pippa and Morgan returned Ashland went on a 12-2 run in less than two minutes to take control for good. "We always say the first four minutes sets the tone," said sophomore wing Hanna Seltzer. "We weren't pleased with how we started. "Crater had said that if they were close in the fourth quarter they could win. We wanted to get the game over early. We wanted to show them they couldn't play with us." The separation may not have come as early as the Grizzlies hoped, but it was all academic after Crater center Emily Wiley fouled out with 6:41 to play and Ashland leading 55-42. "They've got the best top-five in the conference," said Crater coach David Heard. "They're strong offensively, they can all shoot and dribble. "They've paid their dues. The North (Medford) win (last Friday) was big for them and now they've got confidence. They're going to be tough to beat." The victory was the sixth straight in conference for the league-leading Grizzlies (10-3, 6-0 SOC), while Crater (8-8, 2-4 SOC) dropped into sixth place. The dues were paid over the past couple seasons when a decidedly young Ashland team took it on the chops against Crater, North Medford and Klamath Union, among others. The Comets dispatched Ashland 76-60 and 77-59 last season. "I was mentally ready for this one," said Pippa, a third-year starting point guard, who had a game-high 18 points, seven assists and four steals. "Ever since I was a freshman, I've been waiting for this. Every day in practice, we work for this." Nonetheless, Crater stretched the Grizzlies with a tough first quarter in which Ashland needed a drive by Morgan and Kirsten McNaught's 6-footer from the left baseline to tie it 14-14 at the break. Despite a woeful 10-of-37 (.272) shooting performance in the first half, the Comets kept pace. But after Crater forward Becky Arreola's free throw made it 20-20 with 4:25 left in the half, the momentum shifted Ashland's way for good. Woods converted a three-point play, Pippa penetrated the lane, Morgan buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key, McNaught scored on a breakaway and Pippa duplicated to build a cushion. The Grizzlies led 32-22 and it never got closer than eight the rest of the night. "The problem tonight was that our turnovers led to easy transition baskets for them and they do a good job finishing off strong when they get the layups," Heard said. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford,