The Southern Oregon Conference boys basketball opener between North Medford and Ashland looked fairly even on paper and for two quarters the game was indeed close.

But North Medford’s Ben Anderson erupted for three 3-point baskets in the third period and that paved the way for a 63-45 Black Tornado victory.

Anderson had 13 in the decisive period and 22 in all as the Tornado won its second straight game and improved to 4-6 overall.

"Those 3-point baskets really sparked us," North Medford coach Gene Quilhaugh said. "Ben had the hot hand and we went to him."

North Medford also received strong bench play from junior point guard Brian Weeks, who contributed 10 points and four assists, and from junior post Gabe Burchfiel, who had 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Kyle Allred scored 14 points and Noah Shields 10 to pace the Grizzlies, who shot just 41 percent from the field (18 of 44) and 43 percent (9 of 21) from the free throw line.

North Medford was coming off a third-place finish at the Abby’s Holiday Classic.

"We looked at that tournament as a way of playing into game shape," said Quilhaugh, whose team had four players report late due to the school’s extended football season. "We’re starting to get in sync."

ASHLAND (45) — Allred 14, Streng 3, Kirkpatrick 5, Clevenger 2, Beugli 7, Bishop 0, Gasde-Bennett 0, Scholl 2, Cate 0, Shields 12. Totals: 18 9-21 45.

NORTH MEDFORD (63) — Anderson 22, Olson 8, Weeks 10, Poulton 0, Foreman 9, Timmerman 0, Hovland 0, DeLine 0, Taylor 0, Lucas 0,, Burchfiel 10, Wessells 0, O’Brien 4. Totals: 27 5-12 63.

3-point goals — North Medford 4 (Anderson). Fouled out — Shields, Foreman. Technical fouls — Ashland coach Skinner, Streng.

JV score: North Medford 60, Ashland 52.

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