South Medford scores a win but suffers a bigger loss in playoff opener
Published 11:13 pm Tuesday, March 4, 2025
South Medford senior Sara Schmerbach drives to the basket for a score against Newberg during Tuesday's Class 6A state playoff opener in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford junior point guard Jordan Barlow steals the ball against Newberg and heads up the court Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford junior Mayen Akpan drives to the hoop for a basket against Newberg Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford head coach Tom Cole comforts Sara Schmerbach after she returned to the bench following an injury sustained against Newberg Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford sophomore Payton Andersen, right, blocks the shot of Newberg's Aubrey Case during Tuesday's 6A state playoff opener in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford junior Mayen Akpan dives for the loose ball against Newberg's Taylor Williams Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford senior Maddy Warberg connects for one of her five 3-pointers in the second half Tuesday against Newberg in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford junior Mayen Akpan soars over the Newberg defense for a basket Tuesday during the Class 6A state playoff opener in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford senior Sara Schmerbach is fouled going to the basket during Tuesday's Class 6A state playoff opener against Newberg in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
No. 6-seeded Panthers earn 27th straight playoff home victory despite early loss of senior leader Schmerbach to knee injury
The scoreboard told the story of yet another Class 6A state playoff victory for the South Medford girls basketball team, but you would be hard-pressed to find anyone among the Panther faithful who felt all that joyous Tuesday night
South Medford shook off a sluggish start to roar toward a 27th straight home playoff win under head coach Tom Cole, using a 26-4 run to separate from 27th-seeded Newberg for a 67-37 triumph.
South Medford head coach Tom Cole comforts Sara Schmerbach after she returned to the bench following an injury sustained against Newberg Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
In the middle of that stretch, however, the sixth-seeded Panthers (21-4) saw senior leader Sara Schmerbach go down with a knee injury in a moment that brought complete silence to the Panthers’ gymnasium.
Very obviously in pain, Schmerbach was eventually helped off the court with 52.5 seconds remaining in the second quarter, returning to the gym — on crutches and her left knee wrapped — with 2:45 to go in the third quarter to appreciative applause from the South Medford fans.
The Panthers’ unquestioned leader on the floor managed 12 points and two steals before her exit, and Cole said he doesn’t expect Schmerbach to take the court again for South Medford. She has already signed to play next season at Santa Clara University, with fellow Panthers senior Maddy Warberg.
“It’s far from feeling like a win right now,” said an emotional Cole after Tuesday’s game. “Honestly, this is harder than if we would’ve lost this game, just because Sara has meant so much to this team and to our program for so many years. The game means absolutely nothing in these circumstances.”
From a sparkplug off the bench to a do-it-all contributor during her tenure, Schmerbach helped propel South Medford to a 6A state championship last season after a runner-up showing the year before and a fifth-place finish as a freshman.
“Sara’s production, in a statistical evaluation means one thing, but Sara’s leadership and tenacity and competitiveness that elevates this team at moments that it needs that is irreplaceable,” said Cole. “Can we find production from other players? I feel like we still have a talented roster that’s capable of doing that. The real challenge will be finding the energy that Sara has consistently brought to us, not only in big games but at games where momentum is critical to changing the outcome.”
“That tenacity and sense of pride to compete is always what’s made Sara really special,” added the coach, “so figuring out how to replace that is different, and that will be a challenge for us for sure. But, the sun’s going to come up tomorrow and we’re going to have a game on Friday, and we have to try to regroup and put our best foot forward.”
South Medford junior Mayen Akpan drives to the hoop for a basket against Newberg Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford will host No. 11 seed Century in Friday’s second round, with a berth in the state tournament on the line. The Jaguars (21-4) edged No. 22 Mountainside, 62-55, in Tuesday’s playoff opener.
“I think with our connections as a team, we’ll be able to muster up the energy and just the want, not just for ourselves but to be like, we want to get Sara — even if she can’t play — back there (to the state tournament) for four years,” said South Medford junior Mayen Akpan.
Prior to the injury and especially thereafter, the Panthers were able to put Newberg (13-13) in their rearview mirror with steady efforts from Akpan, junior Jordan Barlow and sophomore Payton Andersen.
Akpan provided 21 points and six rebounds, while Barlow hounded the Tigers defensively and was opportunistic offensively for 14 points, six steals, four assists and four rebounds.
“I’m so grateful having her on our team,” Akpan said of Barlow. “Jordan is so athletic and she just gets down there and gets dirty with the defense. She has a big impact offensively and defensively where we need her.”
Andersen came off the bench to grab six rebounds and dole out four assists in a role that’s sure to expand, and Warberg heated up in the fourth quarter to connect for four of her five 3-pointers in tallying 15 points.
Warberg was making her return to the court after a bout with pneumonia, and the Panthers have already been without the services of junior guard Elise Richardson for most of the season.
Akpan said the Panthers did their best to keep their eye on the task at hand minus their floor leader in the second half.
South Medford junior point guard Jordan Barlow steals the ball against Newberg and heads up the court Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
“It was definitely like, let’s go out there and do what we can for Sara,” said Akpan. “She’s a big leader on our team and a big inspiration and she brings a lot of energy, so we just wanted to be able to bring what she can’t, and hopefully we’ll still be able to have her when we can on the bench. We’re praying and hoping for her to heal and get healthy, and just hoping for the best.”
On the costly play, Schmerbach was in a defensive slide as she pinched Newberg senior Aubrey Case to dribble toward the sideline in front of the scorer’s table. With space dwindling, Case lowered her shoulder into Schmerbach to try and squeeze past, and that led to an awkward landing that sent Schmerbach immediately to the floor in intense pain.
The game had seen increased physical activity throughout the second quarter, but there certainly was no malice involved.
“Basketball is a physical sport so it happens,” Akpan said. “You’ve just got to be ready for the next game and keep grinding.”
NEWBERG (37): Lindell 9, Davidson 0, Salvey 0, Beaudry 1, Gray 9, Kelly 0, Washington 3, Wytsma 0, Kriehn 4, Smith 0, Case 11, Williams 0. Totals: 13 6-10 37.
SOUTH MEDFORD (67): Taulani 0, Warberg 15, Imperial-Viray 0, Schmerbach 12, Barlow 14, Howell 3, Akpan 21, Andersen 2, Vasey 0. Totals: 28 4-9 67.
Newberg 11 4 5 17 — 37
South Medford 17 14 18 18 — 67
3-point goals — Newberg 5 (Lindell 3, Gray 1, Washington 1), South Medford 7 (Warberg 5, Barlow 1, Howell 1).
CLACKAMAS 89, NORTH MEDFORD 38: At Clackamas, North Medford senior Caileigh Raines supplied a strong all-around effort but the Black Tornado was unable to keep pace with Clackamas in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs.
Raines accounted for 18 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Black Tornado (9-16), while Olivia Boger scored nine points.
Clackamas is seeded fifth in the state tourney, but is No. 1 in the 6A coaches poll and ranked among the top-10 teams nationally.
Southern California-bound senior star Jazzy Davidson, who surpassed Jamie Nared to become the leading scorer in Oregon 6A girls basketball history, had 25 points and five steals for the Cavaliers.
Sara Barhoum knocked down four of her seven 3-pointers in the first quarter — totaling 27 points overall — to help Clackamas build a 31-7 lead through one quarter.
NORTH MEDFORD (38): Brownlee 2, Gomez 0, Smalley 2, Miller 0, West 4, Taylor 0, Boger 9, Raines 18, Canton 0, Verduzco 0, Lane 3, Molioo 0, Leggett 0. Totals: 15-50 4-11 38.
CLACKAMAS (89): Peterson 8, Le 0, Roden 8, D. Mogel 0, R. Mogel 10, Landolt 5, Lacy 0, Dixon 2, Barhoum 27, Olen 0, Chasteen 4, Davidson 25. Totals: 37-72 4-9 89.
North Medford 7 7 14 10 — 38
Clackmas 31 34 16 8 — 89
3-point goals — North Medford 4-12 (Boger 2, Raines 1, Lane 1), Clackamas 11-24 (Barhoum 7, R. Mogel 2, Landolt 1, Davidson 1).
Reach sports editor Kris Henry at khenry@rv-times.com or 458-488-2035
