Close calls build confidence.

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

Cameron Marshall figures South Eugene has the edge in at least one area when compared to the rest of the teams in the OSAA Class 4A boys basketball tournament.

"I think one thing where we have an advantage over a South Medford or Lake Oswego is that we know how to win close ballgames," the South Eugene junior said.

The fifth-ranked Axemen survived a couple of close calls in the playoffs to reach the state tournament for the third time in four years. South (25-2) opens against third-ranked Jefferson (22-3) at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at McArthur Court.

South Eugene defeated both Hillsboro and Grants Pass in the playoffs with last-second shots. Trenton Newton-Jones hit a 17-foot jumper at the buzzer to lift the Axemen past the Spartans 73-72 on Wednesday. Three nights later, Marshall hit a short jumper at the horn to push South past the Cavemen, 43-41, in overtime.

Such moments were nothing new to South Eugene. While some top teams breezed through most of their league schedules, the Axemen survived a few scary moments in the second half of Midwestern League play to emerge as champions at 16-0.

The Axemen trailed North Eugene by 11 in the fourth quarter before rallying for a 54-53 overtime win. South was tied with Lebanon entering the fourth quarter and eventually won 70-60.

Sheldon led by one point in the final minute of regulation before South pulled out a 58-55 overtime victory. The Axemen trailed Springfield 40-37 entering the fourth quarter before rallying for a 60-53 victory.

"It definitely helped us to be in those types of games," South Eugene coach Dave Hancock said. "We learned to execute and learned how to give ourselves a chance to win. Sometimes you can practice all that, but you need the experience of doing it. We have been in three overtime games this year and won them all, so that bodes well for us."

The Axemen will take a 19-game winning streak into state along with the confidence that they can come through in the clutch.

"We've been in so many games like that now that we know what to do," sophomore guard Scott Masterson said. "We've been in those situations and we set it up and execute the play. It's worked out."

Could all those narrow escapes make South Eugene a team of destiny?

"We don't get too much into that," Hancock said. "We're just really trying to break down our opponents' strengths and weaknesses and see what we can do to match that."

The Axemen know Jefferson's strength is its fast pace, which helped the Democrats average 79.7 points per game, including 118 points in two games and 117 in another.

"We've got to handle their pressure, we can't turn the ball over," Hancock said. "We have to dictate the tempo of the game and not let them do that. We can get up and down the court too, and we'll trap and pressure them and do our thing. We are not going to change the way we play, but we will make some adjustments that will be minor and dictated by our strengths."

Jefferson is led by 6-foot-3 senior guard Lathen Wallace, who will play at Oregon State next year. Wallace ranks seventh in the state with 21.0 points per game.

"He's a big guard who is quick and a good shooter," Hancock said.

South has been led all season by Newton-Jones, Marshall and Logan Beal, and those three hit the big shots again in the playoffs.

"They have stepped up to answer the call and been great leaders for this team in a lot of ways," Hancock said.

South's role players have also come through in the clutch, including sophomore guards Masterson and David Berney. Masterson hit back-to-back jumpers early in the fourth quarter after South fell behind Grants Pass while Berney made a couple of three-pointers against the Cavemen.

"Those two have come off the bench and given us productive minutes," Hancock said. "Masterson is good defensively and he goes to get rebounds. That is really the key, to go and play with no fear and enjoy the game."

The Axemen have have gotten quality minutes from a committee of post players, including 6-5 sophomore John Hayward-Mayhew, an honorable mention all-league player. Hayward-Mayhew scored 11 points against Hillsboro.

"Hayward-Mayhew has made a big improvement throughout the year and is a good force inside for us," Hancock said. "He goes to the glass well and is really maturing into a good player."

Senior Joe Blasher had seven rebounds against Hillsboro while Jamie Stimac and Zach Zosel have rotated in the starting lineup.

"They are all playing real well, and it doesn't seem to matter who we start or which direction we go," Hancock said. "They all play their role very well, and mentally they are ready to play."

The improvement of those players is one reason why the Axemen feel confident.

"At the start of the year we got blown out by South Medford, but I feel our young guys have gotten better and we've all matured just by playing in all these close games," Marshall said.

CAPTION(S):

South Eugene junior Cameron Marshall, here going up for a shot in a playoff game against Hillsboro, hit a basket at the buzzer to beat Grants Pass on Saturday to send the Axemen to the state tournament.