Take a glance at the South Medford High basketball roster and you'll see three Singlers: Kyle, his brother E.J. and their cousin, Mitch.

A deeper look reveals a fourth Singler, of sorts.

Griff Boyd, a son of Shelley Singler Boyd, was the best player on the Panthers' JV team and was elevated to the varsity two weeks ago.

Boyd, a 6-foot, 185-pound junior, will likely emerge as the No. 1 pitcher on South Medford's baseball team, but he's not a bad hooper, either.

Boyd averaged 16 points and erupted for 30 in a late-season game against Sheldon. He led the JVs to a 21-3 record.

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Boyd said he doesn't mind getting overshadowed by his cousins.

"They're all great players and they deserve all the publicity they get," Boyd said. "Basketball is their main sport and baseball is mine. I'm sure my time (in the spotlight) will come."

Actually, it already has. Two years ago, the then-freshman outshined Roseburg phenom Blake Keitzman in pitching the South Medford baseball team to a 3-1 win.

A hard-throwing left-hander, Boyd figures to really blossom on the mound this spring. He's already been practicing baseball on Wednesdays and Saturdays; the hoop team doesn't practice on those days.

"I'm looking forward to baseball but it's been fun working out with the varsity basketball team," Boyd said. "And it's exciting just sitting on the bench and watching these guys run up and down the floor. The action is a lot faster and more intense (than the JV level)."

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There was just four seconds on the clock when South Medford junior Conner Egan entered last Saturday's state-playoff game against Oregon City.

But what a meaningful four seconds it was.

The capacity crowd of 2,000 roared its approval and began chanting Egan's name as he removed his warmup jacket and took the court for the first time since suffering a severe concussion after taking an elbow from a North Medford player in a game on Feb. 6.

"That was special," Conner said as fans swarmed him and his teammates after the game.

Egan still hasn't been cleared by his doctor to play, but with the Panthers holding a 77-59 lead, the outcome wasn't in doubt. Egan stood at halfcourt and barely moved as the Panthers inbounded the ball and the four seconds melted off the clock.

"If needed, his teammates would have protected him," said Nancy Egan, Conner's mother.

Egan continues to suffer from headaches but his condition continues to improve. He plans to go out for tennis next week.

Support for the South Medford forward continues to pour in. A family from Northern California, whose son suffered a similar injury, called recently and told the Egans what medicines and treatments they were using.

One of the treatments is cranial sacral therapy — a form of message. Egan has been receiving the therapy from a spa in Ashland. Deanne Anderson, the mother of South Medford senior reserve Dillon Anderson, has been administering the treatments free of charge.

"The treatments have taken the edge off his headaches and allowed his neck and shoulder muscles to relax," Nancy Egan said. "He still gets headaches all the time but they're not as intense as they were earlier. He's now able to go out with his friends. Mentally, that's so good for him. It's nice to see him smiling again."

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Senior forward Van Dellenback-Ouellette was sitting on a couch eating dinner when the electric clippers swooped in from the side and removed a big chunk of his long, curly locks.

By the time the team dinner had ended last Tuesday at the home of junior point guard Michael Harthun, Dellenback-Ouellete, sophomore shooting guard Mitch Singler and junior post Johnny DeCoste had lost nearly all their hair.

"My hair hasn't been this short since fourth grade," Van Dellenback-Ouellette said. "I've been rubbing my head for days trying to get used to it."

Dellenback-Ouellette doesn't mind his new look, however, knowing that it has lightened the mood of his South Medford teammates as they prepare for this week's Class 6A state tournament in Eugene.

"Everyone took a turn whacking at my hair and getting their laughs," Dellenback-Ouellette said. "It was all in good fun."

Fortunately for the trimmed trio, Harthun's sister, Nicole, a professional hair stylist, tidied the cuts and made them look presentable.

"Personally, I like mine," Singler said. "My hair was pretty long before. Now I don't have to worry about it getting in my eyes or sweat dripping all over the place."

Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail dhunt@mailtribune.com