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49 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 9, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 3, 2004 South boys face stiff test in opener Undermanned Panthers tangle with No. 4 South Eugene tonight at 7 By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Two of the state’s premier Class 4A boys basketball teams will square off locally tonight when third-ranked South Medford plays host to fourth- ranked South Eugene. Tip-off is 7 o’clock. South Medford, which won 27 of its 29 games last season and finished fourth at the Class 4A state tournament, returns only one starter — sophomore forward Kyle Singler. However, the 6-foot-8 standout won’t be in the lineup tonight because of a broken thumb suffered in football. Singler has a cast on his right (shooting) hand and is expected to miss the first two or three weeks of the season. South Medford suffered another setback in practice this week when senior forward Jon Weaver sustained a badly sprained ankle that has him doubtful for tonight’s contest. The Panthers will still be able to put some talented players on the court, however. Senior guard Isaiah Adams, junior post Brent Johnson and junior forward Kendall Gielow, a 6-7 transfer from North Medford, are all expected to have productive seasons. Advertisement "We’ve got potential but right now we’re not very good," said South Medford coach Dennis Murphy. Tonight will mark the debut of Michael Harthun, South Medford’s standout freshman point guard. "He’s extremely talented and he’s working hard to do the right things, but right now he has a lot to learn," said Murphy of the 6-1 Harthun. "The main thing is he needs to learn to control a game as opposed to being out of control." The Panthers struggled in Tuesday’s jamboree as they barely beat North Medford, 23-20, and then lost 21-19 to Ashland. The teams played 12-minute quarters. South Eugene returns the nucleus of its 2003-04 team that advanced to the semifinals of the 4A tournament before settling for fifth place. The Axemen are led by senior point guard J.R. Morgan and senior forward Matt Bramow, who made a state tournament-high 10 3-pointers in 19 attempts last season. Bramow, who was named to the all-tournament first team, averaged 17 points and seven rebounds in three games at state, while Morgan averaged about five assists per game. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities