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Making a point at St. Mary's Thatcher Jones has come a long way in becoming a driving force for the SCL-leading Crusaders By TIM PYLE Mail Tribune There was a time when Thatcher Jones wasn't so cool, calm and collected on the court for the St. Mary's boys basketball team. But that was three years ago. Jones, the Crusaders' senior point guard, has come a long ways since swinging between the JV and varsity squads as a freshman, when head coach Tim Pflug says Jones was "scared to death" during his varsity appearances. "He looked like a little deer, sometimes, in headlights," Pflug says with a laugh. Now, Jones is a third-year starter whose leadership, defense and ever-improving offense has St. Mary's riding high atop the Southern Cascade League at 8-0 in league play. The 5-foot-11, 155-pound Jones is a relative newcomer to organized basketball, picking up the sport in seventh grade when he began attending St. Mary's. He moved to Medford in fifth grade from Truckee, Calif., near Lake Tahoe, where he spent his winters on the ski slopes. Although Jones' basketball skills were raw in his first few years on the Crusader courts, Pflug says Jones' determination was apparent from the get-go. "There was something about Thatcher that just told you he wasn't going to quit," says Pflug, who has known Jones since he was an eighth-grader. Jones, who finished his St. Mary's soccer career during the fall, says basketball has become his favorite sport. "I love playing basketball," he says. "I don't know what it is, but I love it." The Crusaders have found cause for joy on the court, where they've lined themselves up for a second straight SCL crown. With Jones and 6-foot-6 junior post Michael Fiddler leading the way, St. Mary's has overcome the graduations of Chris Murphy and Jason Caplan, who combined for about 30 points per game last season. Seniors Matt Burt, Peter Staver and Jared Sharp join Jones and Fiddler in the starting lineup. Whether this season's Crusaders are better than the one that finished eighth at the state tournament last year remains to be seen, but Pflug says a victory over No. 4 Joseph and a narrow loss to No. 5 Santiam Christian shows St. Mary's can again be a postseason factor. "I like our chances," says the sixth-year head coach. Jones, who is St. Mary's second-leading scorer behind Fiddler, says the Crusaders run more than they did a year ago. "I'd say we're just a different team," says Jones, an honorable mention all-SCL pick last season. "We try to push it as much as we can." In transition, Jones uses exceptional quickness and solid decision-making to direct the St. Mary's fast break. And he says those are the same characteristics that best define his half-court offensive game, as well. Pflug points to Jones' improved outside shot and a signature floater he has developed as the primary methods through which he has increased his scoring to about 15 points per game. Fiddler sees the offensive improvements, too. "He's picked up his offense a lot," says the returning first-team all-league post. "He's got a lot of speed, he's a good ball-handler and his outside shot is better. And he gets good dribble penetration. ... He's matured quite a bit." Jones' offense is efficient, but defense and leadership remain his calling cards - the former something that's always been present; the latter a skill refined through time. "It's just never giving up on a play," Jones says of his defensive approach. As for leadership, the reserved senior says, "This year, I have to say stuff in the huddle. ... It's a lot harder than it looks. I like to lead by example." Although Jones may be reticent with his words, Pflug says his point guard is the kind of leader he enjoys most. "When he comes out of the game, and he's exhausted because he plays almost the whole time, he's up, talking to the teammates who have taken his place," Pflug says. "I hear him coaching. Those are the kinds of rewards coaches look for. "He's been a quiet leader, not one to get in your face or yell at you. He sets it by example. He works hard all the time, and that's very contagious. ... I've had both kinds of leaders - the verbal, in-your face guys and the quiet types. Overall, I like this quiet leader the best." One thing that does excite Jones is the prospect of reliving the highlight of his season so far at the state tournament, which begins Feb. 26 in Pendleton. "My favorite thing is dishing to Mike Fiddler and watching him dunk," Jones says. "We had an alley-oop at the Salem tournament earlier this season. It was an out-of-bounds play, and I lobbed it up to him. Even the other team was excited." For the level-headed, tranquil leader of the Crusaders, that's about as wild as it gets. Reach reporter Tim Pyle 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.