South Eugene 62, North Medford 56: Top Performers
Behind a stout offensive performance by Oregon baseball commit Bryce Boettcher, the South Eugene Axe clawed from behind on Tuesday to beat North Medford 62-56, moving them to 3-0 in Southwest Conference play. In a game that went back and…
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Continue ReadingBehind a stout offensive performance by Oregon baseball commit Bryce Boettcher, the South Eugene Axe clawed from behind on Tuesday to beat North Medford 62-56, moving them to 3-0 in Southwest Conference play.
In a game that went back and forth for much of the second half, the 6-foot-2 Boettcher made numerous big plays down the stretch, scoring eight of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter.
With the loss, the Black Tornado move to 2-1 in league play, tied for second with Sheldon. Despite turning the ball over at a high rate, North Medford fought hard until the final buzzer, proving themselves as obvious contenders in the league.
Here’s our top performers from Tuesday:
Bryce Boettcher (2020 South Eugene) – Stats: 16 pts, 10 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl
Boettcher, a three-sport athlete for South Eugene, found an offensive rhythm late, converting two momentous three-point plays, one from deep and one the old-fashioned way. Although the senior is most effective on the baseball diamond, his athleticism, intelligence, and competitiveness make him a force on the basketball court as well.
Sam Harris (2020 South Eugene) – Stats: 15 pts, 1 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk
Harris is no doubt the engine for the Axe, making plays on both ends throughout the entire game. Harris is a sniper from deep, averaging just under 19 points per game on the season, and his elite scoring ability will be a key to the Axe’s success heading forward. As it stands, Harris is probably the odds-on favorite for Southwest Conference player-of-the-year.
Aidan Clark (2020 South Eugene) – Stats: 13 pts, 7 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk
The four-year varsity player has come a long way in terms of making a difference inside, and a putback dunk by the 6-foot-8 senior that gave the Axe a four-point lead in the fourth quarter testified to that. Clark’s long arms make him a tremendous rim protector, and although he could be more aggressive on the glass, his size and experience make him one of the Axe’s biggest difference-makers.
Josh Paul (2020 South Eugene) – Stats: 12 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl
Rounding out South Eugene’s senior quartet is the 6-foot-5 Paul, perhaps the best college prospect of the bunch. Despite playing a reserved role offensively on Tuesday, Paul made his fair share of plays, and continues to play incredibly efficient basketball. The swingman shoots above fifty percent on the season, making him one of the conference’s best scorers. Furthermore, Paul collected eight rebounds, which is commonplace for the senior.
Jett Carpenter (2020 North Medford) – Stats: 19 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast
Carpenter scored a game-high 19 points, using his athleticism and size to attack the basket and get to the line. The senior forward is terrific from the stripe, and although he didn’t have the best night from downtown, Carpenter can usually stretch the floor with his jumper. The Black Tornado depends on the senior’s ability to create with his right-hand dribble offensively, making him their consistent number one option. Look out for the 6-foot-5 Carpenter to contend for first-team all-conference honors in March.
Photo: Kirsten Frazer