Zook's 33 points lead Pioneers to SAC Championship

(SALEM) In a rematch of the 2009 SAC championship game, 2A #2 Western Mennonite never trailed in a 78-67 win over 3A #9 Cascade Christian in the 7th annual Crusader Christmas Invitational at Salem Academy. Leading the way for the Pioneers was senior point guard Pierre Zook, who torched the Challengers for 33 points, including five 3-pointers. For his effort Zook was named tournament MVP for the second straight year while reminding small school fans and coaches why he is the leading candidate for 2A POY.

In the 3rd place game, 3A Sheridan made a good first impression at the SAC tournament by easily handling overmatched 2A Portland Christian 66-41. The Spartans led 26-9 after one period and were never seriously challenged by the Royals.

While many 3A fans were following the exploits of Horizon Christian and Dayton at the big-school Les Schwab Invitational, SAC AD Pete Potloff and the entire Salem Academy community are congratulated for hosting what has become arguably the state's premier small school co-ed holiday tournament. The fact SAC manages to conduct a 16-team, 3-day tournament on a single court and finish on time is a remarkable feat of organization and commitment.

Championship Game: Western Mennonite 78 – Cascade Christian 67

Brian Morse’s Challengers from Southern Oregon made their 3rd straight appearance in the SAC championship game. A year ago Cascade Christian entered the title game ranked #2 in the 3A coaches poll. The Challengers faced and defeated 2A #2 Western Mennonite, 74-68, behind seniors Ben Joffer and Colton Cochran. The 2010 edition turned the tables with the Pioneers, again ranked #2 in the latest poll, winning by a near identical 78-67 score. Those two games between two well-respected programs again demonstrated the level of competitiveness by these two schools and the SAC tournament field.

2009 tournament MVP Pierre Zook cemented his place in SAC tournament lore with a stellar 33-point performance, including hitting four of five 3-point attempts in the first period alone. A returning first team all state pick from last season, Zook wasted no time getting started, hitting a 3-pointer to open the game as the Pioneers raced out to a 25-19 lead after one period. Coach Gary Hull’s squad took a 37-34 lead to the locker room, then extended that lead to 55-45 after three periods. Cascade Christian never got closer than 68-60 as Western Mennonite repeatedly broke the Challengers’ pressure defense while keeping its own offensive pressure at full throttle.

Zook got plenty of scoring help from sophomore Bradley Branch, who scored 24 points before fouling out with 3:08 to play in the game. This year’s Challenger team won’t be confused with the 2007 squad led by Josh Heidegger, Andrew and Daniel Shipley, Scott Morse and Jeremy Cheney – at least not yet. Morse’s team is built around a group of juniors including Davis Siliga and Eric Morse, the coaches’ youngest son and brother of Scott Morse, the 2009 3A POY. Siliga led the Challengers with 19 points, including four 3-pointers. Morse added 16 points, joined by senior Mason Smith with 13 in the losing effort.

But the night and tournament belonged to Zook and the Pioneers, who swept three 3A teams ranked in the latest coaches’ poll: #7 Santiam Christian (62-48), #5 Sheridan (61-53) and #9 Cascade Christian (78-67). Coach Hull will not face a string of opponents like that until Pendleton in March when he will once again pursue the one item missing from the Western Mennonite trophy case – the elusive Blue Trophy shaped like Oregon.

(L) Cascade Chrisitan junior Eric Morse (5) scored 16 points in Challengers' championship loss; (R) Western Mennonite's Pierre Zook (24) was nearly unstoppable, scoring 33 points in Pioneer's 78-67 victory.

Photos by Bruce McCain

Western Mennonite vs Cascade Christian game photos here

3rd Place Game: Sheridan 66 – Portland Christian 41

The 3A Spartans from the West Valley League, ranked #5 in the latest coaches’ poll, replaced Rainier boys and girls in the 2010 SAC tournament field. Sheridan did not disappoint as they opened the tournament with a solid 55-44 win over 3A #8 Valley Catholic. The Spartans then faced Western Mennonite in a rematch of a December 6 game which Sheridan won, 46-39, at Sheridan. But three weeks later on SAC’s neutral court, the Pioneers prevailed, 61-53. The semifinal loss sent head coach Bob Bennett’s team into the 3rd place game against a 2A Portland Christian team that bears no resemblance to last year’s 2A championship team.

The Royals graduated all five starters from last year’s title squad and lost their coach, Jeff Huston, who left to coach 4A Hidden Valley. Ironically, the coach who led PC to the 2008 title – Anthony Baugher – is now the AD and boys basketball coach at Santiam Christian, another SAC tourney participant. First year head coach Tony Collopy has only one senior on the roster – Keegan Rogers, an all-state soccer goal keeper who came out for basketball to help the team.

The Spartans by contrast feature 6-6 senior Tre Hale-Edmerson, a 2nd-team 3A all state pick in 2009. Typically referred to by his shorter first name, “Tre” is complemented by a solid group of senior supporters, including Taylor Grauer and Brock Ingram, who had 22 and 20 points respectively in the Spartans easy victory over the Royals.

On paper this game looked to be a mismatch and the paper was correct. Sheridan led 26-5 after one period and 42-14 at intermission. With the game solidly in hand, coach Bennett’s squad cruised to the victory, despite being outscored 27-24 by the Royals in the second half. Portland Christian was led by juniors Brennan Miyazono (17 pts) and Marcus Fisher (16 pts). The Royals fall to 2-7 overall as they resume NWL play next week.

Sheridan has the misfortune of playing in the 3A West Valley League, where the Spartans are projected to finish 3rd behind powerhouses Horizon Christian and Dayton. However, Sheridan may benefit from the new RPI system due to its strength of schedule and may even host a first round playoff game. In any event no other 3A league boasts a projected 3rd place team as good as Sheridan, which improves to 7-2 overall before resuming WVL play on Tuesday with a big home game against Jordan Tebbutt and top ranked Horizon Christian.

(L) Sheridan's Taylor Grauer (15) led all scorers with 22 points in Spartan's 3rd place victory; (R) Portland Christian junior Brennan Miyazono (3) led the young Royals with 17 points.

Photos by Bruce McCain

Sheridan vs Portland Christian game photos here