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South rises to the occasion By DON HUNT Mail Tribune A sign hangs in the South Medford High boys basketball locker room that says, "What You Need To Know About Defense: It's an attitude. It's 90 percent desire and 10 percent ability. We can't win without it. You won't play without it." Those are coach Dennis Murphy's rules, and his players take them to heart. The fifth-ranked Panthers leaned on their trusty defense in the championship game of the Abby's Holiday Classic Saturday night at South High. They forced 16 turnovers and held Redmond to 34 percent shooting from the field on the way to a 62-48 victory. The win, South Medford's ninth against one loss, marked the third time it has held an opponent to less than 50 points this season. "They certainly created a lot of havoc with their defensive pressure," said Redmond coach Kelly Bokn, whose team came into the game with just one loss of its own. "We had a tough time getting into any kind of rhythm offensively. "Their kids really hustled and played hard." South Medford held its Central Oregon opponent scoreless in the game's first four minutes and 12 seconds while taking a 6-0 lead on a pair of baskets by senior guard Ryan Heil and one by senior post Eric Fiegi. Heil and Fiegi each finished with 18 points to lead the Panthers, and senior wing Alan Johnson added 11. "Defense is a big priority at South," said Johnson, who had perhaps his best all-around game of the season. "If you don't play it, you don't see the court. "Our offense struggled at times tonight, but our defense was tough the whole way." Redmond finally got on the board when Josh Wagenblast nailed a 10-foot baseline jumper with 3:48 to play in the first period but managed only 20 points the remainder of the half and trailed 32-22 at the intermission. South Medford stretched its lead to 41-28 midway through the third period on a steal and layup by Heil. However, Redmond rode 3-point baskets by Nathan Klontz and Dan Scurlock to fuel a 10-0 run and trailed just 41-38 heading into the fourth. Klontz then snuck inside for a layup five seconds into the final period, and suddenly Redmond was within one point. But South's Boomer Marshall hit a layup at the other end and then Heil drilled a 3-pointer on the Panthers' next possession to boost the margin back up to 46-40. Redmond was still within five points with three minutes to go, but a rebound basket by Fiegi and four straight points by Johnson finally put the game out of reach. "I was really proud of the way we came back in the third quarter after the game almost got away from us," Bokn said. "I think we showed some character, but we kind of ran out of gas at the end. "They're a very solid club and, I think, deserving of their ranking." Marty Leunen, Redmond's 6-foot-7 sophomore post, had 12 points and 13 rebounds while battling the 6-9 Fiegi. "That's the biggest kid Marty has faced this season, and he got a lesson in post play 101," Bokn said. "He was a little intimidated at first, but he got his confidence in the second half and whirled around him (Fiegi) a couple times." South Medford now turns its attention to the start of play in the Southern Oregon Conference. The Panthers play host to Roseburg Wednesday in the SOC opener for both teams. The two teams tied for top billing in a preseason coaches poll. "I think we're ready," Heil said. "We've played some tough teams in the preseason, and we've improved a lot. "We're a confident ballclub right now." REDMOND (48) - Leunen 12, Liedtke 8, Huston 7, Klontz 6, Surlock 5, Billings 4, Wagenblast 2, Herman 2, Fladwood 2, Hilges 0, York 0, Byer 0. Totals: 18 9-18 48. SOUTH MEDFORD (62) - Fiegi 18, Heil 18, Johnson 11, Marshall 6, Walport 5, Lower 2, Fischer 2, Hagart 0, Olson 0, Carpenter 0, Smith 0. Totals: 25 9-15 62. Redmond..... .......................................... 8 14 16 10 - 48 South Medford....................................... 12 20 9 21 - 62 3-point goals - Redmond 3 (Klontz 1, Surlock 1, Leunen 1), South Medford 3 (Heil 2, Walport 1). Fouled out - none. Technical fouls - Wagenblast. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.