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Corvallis ousts Ashland from tournament By Greg Stiles PORTLAND � It was an up and down season for the Ashland Grizzlies. Up one week, down the next. Superb quarters were followed by flawed ones. And so after marching through three sub-tournament opponents to earn their trip to the girls Class 4A state tournament, the Grizzlies were found wanting when they arrived at the Chiles Center. Instead of making their mark as determined third-place Southern Oregon Conference team that set a school record for wins in a season, the Grizzlies were bounced out of the tournament in less than 24 hours. Corvallis, the second place team from the Valley League, rallied from a 10-point third-quarter deficit to oust Ashland, 58-53, Wednesday morning. "I�m trying to think about what happened," Ashland coach Heather Roberts said. "I thought we had the game in hand. "We�ve definitely had our highs and lows. I wonder if fatigue didn�t have something to do with it at this point. I knew the kids were excited to be here and we knew coming into this game Corvallis would be beatable. But I didn�t know how much energy they�d have left." There is little doubt the Grizzlies could hold their own against a dozen or more of the other 15 teams in the tournament field. But after falling short Tuesday against Beaverton, 56-52, 10th-seeded Ashland couldn�t muster a solid four quarters against Corvallis, the 15th-seeded team that lost its tourney opener 71-24 to Oregon City. The Grizzlies finished the season 16-11, while Corvallis (22-6) plays Hermiston in Friday morning�s consolation quarterfinals. Ashland led 31-27 at the half and then outscored the Spartans 11-7 to start the third quarter, taking a 42-32 advantage when Hanna Seltzer knocked down a free throw with 3:53 on the clock. But the Sparts went on a 9-2 run to pull within 44-41 entering the fourth quarter. Makaira Coblentz scored six of her 17 points in the surge, countered only by Jackie Woods inside moves. "Defense was the key," said Bayley Coblentz, who paced Corvallis with 22 points. "We had to come out and take advantage when we got steals or stops. We had to turn the opportunities into makes." The Spartans had turned the corner and weren�t to be denied as Makaira and Bayley Coblentz accounted for their team�s 17 fourth-quarter points � mostly after Corvallis had negotiated the Grizzlies� frantic press. "When something was there we knew we had to take advantage and make layins," Bayley Coblentz said. Makaira Coblentz put Corvallis on top for good, sinking both ends of a one-and-one opportunity to make it 48-46 with 3:22 to play. Ashland couldn�t counter and she scored again on a layin. The Grizzlies twice narrowed it to two when Woods penetrated inside, scored and got fouled. But she was unable to convert either free throw. Woods finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds, hitting 11 of 19 shots from the field to go with three steals, a couple of blocked shots and five turnovers. Seltzer, who played alongside Woods in three tournaments, had 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. But it wasn�t the way either wanted to go out. "Nobody expected us to get this far," Woods said. "But after everything we did, we couldn�t get into our game. There was no excuse for us not to rise to the occasion today. Our team has been up and down, but we didn�t have enough confidence. I don�t know whether it was the pressure of playing at the Chiles Center or what. When we played Beaverton (Tuesday), we let the pressure get to us." Woods put her team in good position in the second quarter, scoring 12 of Ashland�s 19 second-quarter points. The Grizzlies stretched a two-point first-quarter lead to 19-10 on Jessica Bullen�s layin after a steal by Lindsay Huyett. But the advantage shriveled quickly to 23-19 on a basket by Bayley Coblentz with 4:58 left in the half. Woods scored the final six points of the half for the Grizz, but Makaira Coblentz kept the Spartans right in it. "I felt comfortable in the first half," Woods said. "I just didn�t get the same opportunities in the second half." ASHLAND (53) � Huyett 2, Bullen 5, Seltzer 11, Woods 25, Morin 8, Larson 0, Hargis 2, Gooch 0, Fascilla 0, Kalemkeris 0. Totals: 21-56 8-17 53. CORVALLIS (58) � Covey 8, Strowbridge 0, Plinksi 0, B. Coblentz 22, Gale 4, Cronkite 7, Miller 0, Coopers 0, M. Coblentz 17. Totals: 20-61 16-25 58. Ashland....................................................12 19 13 9 � 53 Corvallis.................................................10 17 14 17 � 58 3-point goals � Ashland 3-16 (Bullen 1, Seltzer 2), Corvallis 2-12 (Covey 2). Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.