MEDFORD – The regular season came to an end for the Roseburg boys basketball team with a 58-46 loss against North Medford on Friday night, but unlike past years the Indians will keep playing once the state playoffs tipoff next week.

Roseburg (15-10; 5-5 SWC) finished fourth in the Southwest Conference standings and just missed out on an automatic berth in the OSAA/On Point Community Credit Union state championship playoffs.

The Indians finished 26th in the OSAA power rankings and will be heading to the playoffs as an at-large team. Roseburg will play at Tigard (15-9; 8-4 Three Rivers) in the first round on Tuesday at 6 p.m. 

Knowing the season would continue, head coach Mike Pardon approached the regular season finale as a chance to get his team some experience in a playoff-type atmosphere.

“Here’s a perfect opportunity for us to come into a really tough place to play, play a playoff team, and I thought we were there at times.”

North Medford (15-9; 7-3 SWC) led wire-to-wire in the game. The Black Tornado pulled ahead by 11 points in the first half, but Roseburg trailed 29-20 at halftime after a defensive first half.

North managed to get the lead back double-digits in the second half and answered every time Roseburg mounted a run to get back within single-digits.

North Medford senior Jaray Thomas scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half to counter Roseburg’s comeback attempts. Junior Jett Carpenter added 13 for the Black Tornado.

Collin Warmouth went 7-for-7 from the free throw line and scored a game-high 23 points to lead Roseburg. Jett Black shot 2 of 3 from behind the arch and added eight for the Tribe.

The Indians will now prepare for their first playoff game since the 2011-12 season. The fact that Roseburg is going to the postseason for the first time in six seasons is something very impressive to coach Pardon.

“Hey we lost three starters. I mean think about that, we lost three starters and we’re still going to the playoffs. Good for our kids,” Pardon said. “We haven’t been here in six years, so this is awesome. We’ve got a winning record for the first time in six years. We’re in the playoffs for the first time in six years. Our kids need to be commended.”

ROSEBURG (46) — Collin Warmouth 23, Black 8, Seely 5, Ellis 5, Martin 3, Avilez 2, Adams 0. Totals — 15 11-13 46.

MEDFORD (58) — Jaray Thomas 19, Carpenter 13, Spence 8, Parker 7, Orozco-Bernal 5, Wells 2, Ellis 2, Karrick 2, Conrad 0, Hurley 0, Angulo Jr. 0, Robustelli 0. Totals — 21 13-17 58.

ROSEBURG; 11;9;11;15;-;46

MEDFORD; 17;12;15;14;-;58

3-point Goals — Rose. 5 (Black 2, Seely 1, Warmouth 2, Martin 1). N.M. 3 (Carpenter, Orozco-Bernal, Parker). Total Fouls — Rose. 18. N.M. 11. Foul Out — C. Ellis. Technicals — Thomas, C. Ellis, Plankenhorn.

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