The South Medford High community is still celebrating the win of the Oregon State 6A Basketball Championship last Saturday night. It's as if no one wants to let go of that moment in time or the fabulous basketball season. In some ways we are "addicts" of South Medford High Basketball and tonight we got one last "fix" as there was a celebration of the win at the South Medford High Gym . They set up the stage used for senior graduation. The band was there playing "Techno" one last time "Whoo!... Whoo!" and the players were introduced. "BJ" even got a "hair cut". "BJ" is the team statistician and a long time Medford resident and beloved character in the Medford community. He said to the team while they were in the elevator at the Eugene Hilton that if South won the championship he would shave his head. Well tonight in front of about a thousand fans the team players, directed by Coach Murphy, gave "BJ a real close haircut. Coach Murphy gave an emotional speech that brought tears to him and many in the crowd. He has been the coach at South for the last 19 years and winning the championship was the culmination of a long quest. Coach Murphy thanked everyone from the ball boy to the janitor and team bus driver. He gave a special thanks to the owner of a local chain of grocery stores who called South Medford and said "fill as many buses with students as you can for the State Tournament and send me the bill." He got a deserved standing ovation from the crowd. The highlight of the night was when they turned off all the lights in the gym and turned on a lone spotlight which lighted the "raising" to the rafter, over the gym, of the "State Championship Banner" to the music of "We are the Champions." It brought tears to many. This was followed by a highlight film segment of the State Tournament on the back wall of the gym. As we entered each fan was given a glossy color 8 X 10 photo of the team with "2007 6A OSAA State Champions" across the top. To finance rings for the team, autographed basketballs were sold for $500 each and there were a lot of takers. Not only is Coach Murphy a great coach he is quite a showman. (See picture above.) The last time I felt like this was when the Oregon Ducks went to the Rose Bowl in 1994.I didn't want to leave the gym when the "Celebration Ceremony" was over. My wife and I lingered in the gym soaking up the moment. We didn't want to say good bye to South Medford basketball for another season.
On Tuesday Steve Duin of the Portland Oregonian wrote a column about the Championship game. What is interesting is he is NOT a sports columnist and I believe his wife works for the Lake Oswego school district. Some quotes from the column:
That sports fans was special. Before an emotional crowd in a storied gym, two of the best players--and high school teams-- in Oregon history delivered an unforgettable and fitting end to their prep careers Saturday in the state 6A basketball championship in Mac Court.
Hey, even the soundtrack was to die for...
Saturday's sell-out crowd, those on the floor and those tucked beneath the rafters... luxuriated in the moment, swept up not only by what the two teams brought to the floor in the Panthers' 58-54 victory but what the community of South Medford brought to Eugene.
"South Medford basketball is to that community what the Trail Blazers were to Portland back in the heyday" said Lakers coach Mark Shoff, and the Panther faithful--at least 5000 strong---overwhelmed McArthur Court. When those fans weren't cheering Singler, sharpshooter Michael Harthum and Van Dellenback-Ouelette, they were brought to their feet by the South Medford pep band and the drum grove it calls "Techno" ....the "whoo! Whoo! and the jumping....( are part of it)..."It's fun to see 6000 people jumping up and down"...
As those of us know who have watched these guys for the last four years, the memories will keep you warm during the long winters ahead.
