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Grizzlies have a lot to build on for next year Commentary By GREG STILES Ashland found itself looking ahead to next year a lot sooner than the Grizzlies had hoped. When four-year starter Chelsea Morgan went down with an anterior cruciate ligament tear in her right knee with three games remaining in the Southern Oregon Conference season, it meant the Grizzlies were going to have to do things differently. The alterations began with tournament expectations. After playing four games at state last year, Ashland entered this season hoping to advance two or three games into the championship side of the bracket. Had the Grizzlies won two SOC games they lost after Morgan's injury, they might have avoided running into No. 1 Oregon City in the first round. "I think we could have been where Crater is had Chelsea not been injured," Ashland coach Heather Roberts says. "But we didn't dwell on it, and that's a credit to the kids. "If we had been in a different bracket other than one with Oregon City, things would've gone differently and we probably would've been playing Saturday night." Secondly, Ashland went from being a veteran team with five returning starters to an inexperienced team starting three underclassmen. "We're young, but mature," says junior Hanna Seltzer. "Obviously, with Chelsea gone, it left a big hole. I think we still showed we're still one of the top 12 teams in the state." The Grizzlies lose point guard Jenny Pippa and forward Kristin McNaught along with Morgan to graduation. That means Roberts will have more experience with five seniors -- including a pair of four-year starters in SOC player of the year Jackie Woods and Seltzer -- next season than Roberts had the previous four years. "We learned to deal with adversity this year," Seltzer said. "When we ran into a wall, we didn't back down. We made it to state and we accepted the challenges we had at state." It didn't take long after their 58-51 consolation semifinal loss to Springfield to start focusing on the odyssey awaiting in 2001. "The kids all felt pretty proud of the way they played," Roberts said. "Obviously, with Jenny going, there's going to be a big hole to fill. We haven't had to work on breaking presses and that sort of thing in four years." You get the idea that the Grizzlies will learn from 2000 and adjust to whatever comes their way next year. Veteran sportscaster Bill Jacobs, who currently handles North Medford basketball and football, was designated the Oregon Association of Broadcasters' lead play-by-play voice for the tournament. Sportscasters audition for slots at the various boys and girls tournaments, and Jacobs scored high enough to be given his choice of 4A tourneys. This is his 10th year calling tournaments and at least the third time handling 4A girls duties. "I choose the girls for selfish reasons," Jacobs says. "It seems there is more work at the girls tournaments than the boys, and I get to do Crater games. "My favorite tournament memory is when Crater made its run to the title game two years ago." Mascots are few and far between at the tourney, but the Lincoln Cardinal has managed to attract plenty of attention. The 7-foot Cardinal got chased off the floor -- mascots aren't allowed on the floor -- on Thursday and then was hounded by security as he mingled with spectators on Friday. The Cardinal was flirting with Crescent Valley cheerleaders on Friday; rules governing mascots say they have to hang out with their own cheerleaders. Greg Stiles is a Mail Tribune sports writer. He can be reached at 776-4483 or [email protected] Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA