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Tornado steps up defense, places 7th By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN North Medford High's boys basketball team salvaged seventh place Thursday afternoon in the Abby's Holiday Classic. And they did it coach Gene Quilhaugh's way, with tough defense. The Black Tornado forced 24 Sheldon turnovers with its man-to-man pressure and rallied from a 12-4 deficit to defeat the Irish, 56-51, in the North gym. "When you get seventh place in your own tournament, it's not a great deal, but we'll take it," said Quilhaugh. "We did some things better and worked better together with some different combinations." North improved its season record to 3-6. The Black Tornado opens its Southern Oregon Conference schedule Tuesday night when it meets South Medford in the North gym. "The good news is we're tied for first in the conference," said Quilhaugh. "Everybody else is, too, and what we've done in the past doesn't matter at this point. "We're going through a learning experience," said Quilhaugh. "We're taking two steps forward and one back, but it's part of the process. It's an interesting dance right now for us." Senior guard Wes Towne scored nine points, dished off two assists and had two steals in the second half as North rallied from a 23-21 deficit to secure the win. "It was a fine second half by Wes," said Quilhaugh. "I thought (guard) Charlie Jensen also played excellent pressure defense." Jensen led North Medford with 11 points. North built a 48-39 lead with 4:47 left in the fourth quarter on a 9-4 run. Guard Thomas O'Brien, who led North with eight rebounds, scored five points during the surge and Towne buried an 18-foot jump shot and added a transition layup. Sheldon made North Medford play a game of "prove it" at the free-throw line during the final two minutes by fouling to stop the clock. The Black Tornado made just eight of its 18 free throws in that span, but defended the Irish well enough to keep them from drawing closer than four points. "We shot free throws, but we didn't make them," said Quilhaugh. "I'm still finding out things about these guys." Olson made two of four free throws and Jensen was 3-for-6 in preserving the lead for the Black Tornado. For the game, North shot just 50 percent (19-for-38). North Medford was led by Jensen with 11 points. Point guard Mike Olson added eight points and five assists and junior Kevin Foreman had seven points. Guard Blake Slonecker led Sheldon with 13 points. Forward Ben Moen-Arnold added eight for the Irish. Foreman's 3-point play helped North Medford break a 27-27 tie in the third quarter, and the Black Tornado continued on to outscore the Irish 13-8 to take a 43-35 lead with 6:16 left in the game. Towne scored on a jump shot from 18 feet and added a layup, and O'Brien converted three of six free throws during that stretch. NORTH MEDFORD (56) --Olson 8, Weyers 2, Oliver 2, Foreman 7, Mellbye 4, Anderson 0, Towne 9, Jensen 11, O'Brien 4, Casebier 6, Schlicting 3, Clark 0. 18 19-38 56. SHELDON (51) --Ross 4, Drennan 0, King 0, Martel 5, Erickson 0, Baker 0, Hamilton 0, Slonecker 13, Marsden 6, Copley 2, Haliski 4. 19 4-9 51. 3-point goals -- Sheldon 3 (Slonecker 3). North Medford 1 (Olson 1). Fouled out: Ross, Slonecker. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.