GRANTS PASS — The Grants Pass Cavemen used a 36-14 rebound advantage to hold off the Roseburg boys basketball team for a 59-52 Southwest Conference victory Tuesday night at Heater-Newman Gymnasium.
“We didn’t block out very well. We gave up a lot of (offensive) boards,” Roseburg coach Jordan Humphreys said.
Humphreys said rebounding was an emphasis as the Indians tried to get back in the win column, pointing out the Tribe is 11-2 when it outrebounds its opponent.
“Apparently we didn’t do enough rebounding drills and just talked about it too much,” Humphreys added.
Roseburg (13-10, 5-6 SWC) was playing catch-up with Grants Pass (13-11, 7-5) most of the night, but took a 31-29 lead into halftime thanks to a couple of second-chance points for Mykah Mendoza just before the first half clock expired.
That would be Roseburg’s final lead in the game as Grants Pass started the second half on a 9-0 run.
The Cavemen led by their largest margin at 48-40 early in the fourth quarter, but Roseburg cut the deficit down to 52-50 with 4 minutes left to play.
Neither team shot well down the stretch, but Roseburg was forced to begin fouling to conserve the clock. Grants Pass shot just 2-for-7 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter, leaving the door open for a Roseburg rally.
The Indians struggled to execute the offense in the closing minutes and the lack of rebounding allowed the Cavemen to hold the basketball and run out the clock.
The Cavemen have the best scoring defense in the Southwest Conference, allowing an average of 52.2 points per game.
“If it’s a close game and you’re not making buckets, like we weren’t tonight, then that works for them (Grants Pass),” Humphreys said.
Mendoza led all scorers with 22 points for Roseburg. The senior is now tied with Joe Newton for second all-time in career scoring at RHS.
Asher Vredenburg and Owen Bentea both added 10 points for the Tribe. Peyton Bruner led Grants Pass with 15 points and Luke Morgan contributed 10.
Roseburg will attempt to end a three-game losing streak when the Indians host Sheldon at 6:45 p.m. Friday on senior night.
ROSEBURG (52) — Mykah Mendoza 22, Lopez 6, Vredenburg 10, Ash 2, Bentea 10, McCurdy 2, Luther. Totals 19 8-10 52.
GRANTS PASS (59) — Peyton Bruner 15, DeChenne 4, McLean 7, McKittrick 8, Broerman, Bushmiaer 2, Morgan 10, Rossetta 6, Jessee 7. Totals 25 5-12 59.
Roseburg;12;19;9;12;—;52
Grants Pass;14;15;16;14;—;59
3-Point Goals — Rose. 6 (Bentea 2, Mendoza 2, Lopez 2), G.P. 4 (McKittrick 2, DeChenne 1, McLean 1). Total Fouls — Rose. 13, G.P. 10. Fouled Out — McCurdy. Technical Fouls — Bruner.
JV Score — Roseburg 64, Grants Pass 50.
