EUGENE — North Medford used a strong opening quarter to build an early lead and held on to defeat host Sheldon 70-59 on Friday night in Southwest Conference action.
Kaison Faust had 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists to lead a balanced attack for the first-place Black Tornado (16-2, 5-1 SWC), which got off to a hot shooting start and forced six turnovers in the opening period that led to transition buckets against the Irish (9-9, 3-4), who were coming off a big win against South Eugene.
“It’s an important game for us to get on the road,” North coach Scott Plankenhorn said.
Elias Spence scored 13 points and Oscar Banuelos added 12 points and five assists for North, which got quality production from all eight players who played and committed just nine turnovers.
Quinton Rumrey (six points, three steals, four rebounds) and Jake O’Connor (four points, seven rebounds, four assists) also had standout performances for the Tornado, which twice saw Sheldon cut its deficit to single digits but was able to answer and push the margin back up.
North scored 16 straight points in the first period during a 20-3 run.
Sheldon went on a 17-6 run in the opening minutes of the second quarter to cut its deficit to seven points midway through the period, but the Irish were held to a pair of free throws in the final four minutes as North reasserted its control of the game prior to halftime.
Sheldon made another run late in the fourth quarter, cutting North Medford’s lead to 67-59, but the Tornado closed out the win by going 8-for-11 from the free-throw line over the final 1:52.
“We survived every run they had,” Plankenhorn said.
Dominic McGarvey finished with 16 points to lead Sheldon.
NORTH MEDFORD (70): Wells 3, Banuelos 12, Rumrey 6, Thomas 6, O’Connor 4, Parker 5, Faust 21, Spence 13. Totals: 25 13-25 70.
SHELDON (59): Frey 0, Bailey 13, Hankins 8, Herbert 5, McGarvey 16, Mageo 7, Banks 7, Owen 3. Totals: 22 12-17 59.
North Medford;24;16;15;15;—;70
Sheldon;9;19;13;18;—;59
3-point goals — North Medford 7-16 (Banuelos 2, Rumrey 1, Thomas 2, Parker 1, Faust 1), Sheldon 3-12 (Hankins 1, Mageo 1, Owen 1).
JV result — Sheldon 70, North Medford 63.