PORTLAND — The last time the Roseburg boys basketball team played in the second round of the state playoffs was 2013 and the opponent who ended that run was the Grant Generals.
On Tuesday, in the first meeting between the two clubs since, the Generals bounced the Indians from the postseason once again.
An aggressive and active Grant defense created a tough night for the Roseburg offense and the Indians exited the Class 6A state playoffs with a 77-57 loss at Grant High School.
It’s the third consecutive season that Roseburg has ended the year in the first round.
“Their physicality was huge,” Roseburg coach Jordan Humphreys said. “They were able to stay in front of our guys most of the time and surprised us a little bit. We talked about it and tried to emulate it some, but it’s tough to emulate it.”
Grant (18-7), the second place team from the Portland Interscholastic League, forced a number of turnovers and steals in the first half and led 37-17 at halftime.
The Generals were up by 31 in the third quarter and forced a running clock for the fourth quarter. Grant advances to face Liberty in the second round on Friday.
“The (offensive) boards killed us in the first half,” Humphreys said, pointing out that it led to numerous second chance points that proved to be the difference in the score.
“It’s one of those things that are easier said than done. (Grant is) big, strong and athletic, so they’re crashing the boards pretty hard and got a lot of easy ones.”
Grant jumped out to an early 6-0 lead to start the game, but Roseburg (14-11) rallied to make it 6-4 near the midway point of the first quarter.
The Generals responded by finishing the period on an 11-2 run that stretched the lead to double figures, where it stayed for nearly the rest of the night.
Humphreys said nerves might have been a factor for the Indians.
“When you go on the road, I think the playoff atmosphere, it’s a lot different than just going down the road for a conference game,” Humphreys said.
The Indians found more success in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to put a scare into the Generals. Grant junior Mekhi Muhammad scored 10 of his game-high 21 points in the third quarter to seal the victory.
Vashon Hardges contributed 11 points for Grant and Quincy Scott chipped in 10. The Generals also had three players finish with nine points.
Roseburg’s Jullian Lopez sank three 3-point field goals and led the Indians with 15 points. Mykah Mendoza added 14 points and Owen Bentea netted 11.
Roseburg will graduate six seniors from the team this school year. Mendoza led the team in scoring and finished his career as the school’s second-leading scorer.
Lopez and Asher Vredenburg were also top scorers for Roseburg, ending the year with double digit scoring averages. Vincent Ash, an occasional starter, along with Michael Bosley and Jazz MacLean, rounded out this year’s graduating players.
The Indians are expected to return junior Owen Bentea, the team’s third-leading scorer, and sophomore Andy McCurdy, who worked his way into being a regular starter for the second half of the season.
Kaden Luther and Landon Fanugao will also add to the depth of returning experience for the Tribe.
ROSEBURG (57) — Jullian Lopez 15, Mendoza 14, Lobo, Fanugao 2, Vredenburg 7, Bingham, Ash 2, Bentea 11, Scott 4, Leeworthy, Bosley 2, Luther, MacLean. Totals 19 11-16 57.
GRANT ( 77) — Mekhi Muhammad 21, Smith 2, Scott 10, Var. Hardges 6, Van 9, Gates, Kapranos 9, Vas. Hardges 11, James 9, Anderson, Cage. Totals 30 8-9 77.
Roseburg 6 11 19 21 — 57
Grant 17 20 29 11 — 77
3-Point Goals — Rose. 8 (Lopez 3, Bentea 3, Mendoza 1, Scott 1), Grant 9 (Muhammad 3, Var. Hardges 2, Vas. Hardges 2, Van 1, Kapranos 1). Total Fouls — Rose. 10, Grant 13.
