South Eugene 65, Grants Pass 45: Top Performers

Jackson Naugle February 29, 2020 @ 02:27 PM

After a nail-biting win over crosstown rival Sheldon on Tuesday, South Eugene needed just one more to clinch their second straight SWC title. That they did, hammering Grants Pass 65-45 behind a masterful performance by senior guard <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sam-harris/">Sam Harris</a>. After leading only 26-16 at the break, the Axe came out firing in the third quarter, outscoring the Cavemen 27-14 to put the game out of reach. South Eugene led by as many as 28 points as they cruised to their ninth league victory in ten games. The Axe are 20-5 on the season, the tenth overall seed in the state tournament, and one of only five 20-win teams in Oregon 6A. Meanwhile, Grants Pass finished 12-10 and will represent the SWC as an at-large team. Here’s our top performers from Friday: <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sam-harris/">Sam Harris</a> (2020 South Eugene) - Stats: 18 pts, 8 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl Harris, a clear frontrunner for SWC-POY honors, put on a show on Friday, dicing up the Cavemen for a near-triple-double performance. A smooth handle and pull-up jumpshot fuel the senior’s effectiveness on the offensive end, while his quickness and sturdy frame hold-up defensively. For a team that has dominated much of the season, Harris, a three-year varsity starter, acts as a leader on both ends. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jarrett-bryant/">Jarrett Bryant</a> (2021 South Eugene) - Stats: 14 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, (7-for-8 FG) The Axe’s lone junior starter has found his rhythm going into the postseason, thanks in part to his effectiveness as an inside scorer. Bryant continued to have great shot selection on Friday, knockin seven of his eight looks to snatch secondary scoring honors for the Axe. Additionally, the 6-foot-4 forward tends to do a little bit of everything on both ends, pitching in five boards, two assists, and two steals. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aidan-clark/">Aidan Clark</a> (2020 South Eugene) - Stats: 13 pts, 7 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk As an inside presence, Clark made himself felt on Friday, scoring from both the field and the stripe on his way to 13 hard-earned points. The 6-foot-8 senior uses his long arms to collect rebounds on both ends, and his sheer size makes him a mismatch with the ball in his hands. Often times, teams are forced to foul and send the experienced senior to the free-throw line, where he tends to cash in at a decent rate. <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josh-paul/">Josh Paul</a> (2020 South Eugene) - Stats: 12 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl Paul continues to be a force offensively, as he poured in twelve points on ten shots on Friday. Additionally, the 6-foot-5 senior offers defensive verasility, able to guard almost any position at the high school level. Alongside Harris, Paul is the best complimentary scorer in the conference, and his athleticism and size make him one to watch for college coaches. Trent Anderson (2022 Grants Pass) - Stats: 13 pts, 2 reb, 1 ast, (5-for-8 FG) Coming off the bench for the Cavemen was Anderson, who proved to be one of their young bright spots heading forward. The sophomore guard plays hard-nosed and determined, and his quickness on the ball is certainly noteworthy as well. Despite playing fairly limited minutes, Anderson managed to lead the visiting Cavemen in scoring. With a shifty play style, the 5-foot-10 guard is a big difference-maker.