Pirates handle Ashland

from Medford Mail Tribune

December 12, 2012

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PHOENIX — With only one player back with varsity experience, this year's Phoenix boys basketball team is a drastically different version of the program that fell in last year's Class 4A state championship.

The newest cast of Pirates took a positive step in their growth with a 50-38 victory over 5A Ashland on Tuesday.

Senior Hunter Mahaffey led the way with 16 points and 18 rebounds. The 6-foot-2 forward knocked down six of his seven field-goal attempts, while teammate Tyson Morris (the squad's only returner) added nine points, three assists and three steals, including two crucial thefts in the fourth quarter. With his team holding just a 37-36 lead late in the game, Morris snagged back-to-back steals that led to Joe Raffensperger layups.

"We played a well-rounded game for the most part," Phoenix head coach Glenn Johannes said. "We are trying to get better and figure what our rotations are gonna be, and we're happy with the effort of everybody on the floor."

Phoenix (2-1), which was coming off a 51-38 loss to Del Norte on Saturday, led 28-26 at halftime and maintained its two-point advantage heading into the final period.

"The loss was a tough one for the kids," Johannes said. "They are learning how to lose a game like that and respond and come back to play on short rest."

Gabe Stanley led the Grizzlies (1-6) with 10 points.

ASHLAND (38) — Stanley 10, Walters 9, Fredrickson 8, Kaegi 8, Layton 3, Atteberry 0, Feinberg 0, Kandaris 0. Totals: 14 6-12 38.

PHOENIX (50) — Mahaffey 16, Raffensperger 10, Morris 9, Deras 8, Wyncoop 5, Janousek 2, Mayers 0, Leavens 0, Kotsios 0. Totals: 18 14-19 50.

Ashland 9 17 7 5 — 38

Phoenix 15 13 9 13 — 50

3-point goals — Ashland 4 (Fredrickson 1, Walters 1, Layton 1, Stanley 1).