SALEM - Undefeated and defending 2A champion Western Mennonite pulled out a thrilling, 71-63, double overtime victory over 3A Cascade Christian, to win the 8th Annual Salem Academy Crusader Christmas Invitational for the second straight year. The Pioneers and Challengers have met in the tournament finale’ three straight years and Friday’s game was as close as possible, before Western Mennonite used a 7-0 run to open the second overtime that sealed the victory.

Defending 3A champ Horizon Christian defeated host Salem Academy, 60-39, in the boys 3rd place game. In the afternoon Consolation final, 3A Valley Catholic had little difficulty putting away 2A Portland Christian, 64-41. Once again, SAC athletic director and boys head coach Pete Potloff treated small school fans to a terrific opportunity to watch some of the best boys (and girls) teams from competing conferences get one final workout before league play begins in earnest next week.

Championship game: Western Mennonite 71 – Cascade Christian 63 (2 OT)

A year ago, Western Mennonite’s Pierre Zook scored 33 points to lead his team to a 78-67 win over Cascade Christian in the SAC title game. Nine weeks later, the 2A POY gave long time Pioneer coach Gary Hull his first ever blue trophy at Pendleton. Friday night, the Pioneers and Challengers met for the third straight year for the SAC tournament championship and Zook was in the gym again – though this time sitting at midcourt watching his former team mates hold off Cascade Christian, 71-63, in a double overtime thriller.

Cascade Christian was actually making its fourth consecutive tournament title game. In the 2008 tournament (actually played January 1-3, 2009), Brian Morse’s squad fell to Portland Christian, 61-46. In 2009, Colton Cochran’s 33 points led Cascade Christian to a 74-68 win over Western Mennonite, despite 19 points from Zook, who scored 71 points in the 3-day tournament. So with Zook and former Pioneer Taylor Branch among those watching Friday night, this year’s Western Mennonite squad displayed the discipline, tenacity and resolve typical of Gary Hull-coached teams, whether led by Zook and Branch, the Martin brothers, Lewis Menges or Mike Woodard. Friday night that mantle may have passed to senior guard Kasey Pederson, whose late-game heroics made the difference in a game that was tied 22-22 at  the half, 34-34 after three periods, 49-49 at the end of regulation, and 57-57 heading into the second and final overtime period.

Each team had its opportunities to win or lose this game in the closing moments of each final period. Both teams had plenty of accolades to hand out and though the schools are in separate classifications, they both have and will benefit from another SAC tournament classic that will surely pay dividends in late February and hopefully early March.

Western Mennonite junior Bradley Branch finished with a game-high 23 points, to go with eight rebounds. Isaac Hess added 19 points, including 8 of 10 free throws. Pederson’s 15 points came at the most critical time, including helping to open a quick 7-0 lead to open the second overtime. The Pioneer’s big three scorers were matched on the other bench. Cascade Christian’s Eric Morse and Alex Miller were the only two players in the game to play the entire 40 minutes, with Morse scoring 18 points and Miller 19. David Sellers, a 6’6” sophomore, added 16 points before fouling out early in the first overtime.

With the win, Western Mennonite remains unbeaten at 10-0 on the season and ranked #2 in the last 2A coaches poll behind fellow TRC rival East Linn Christian Academy. The Eagles and Pioneers are similarly ranked 1-2 in the current OSAA RPI, as TRC fans circle the upcoming January 11 meeting between the two. Cascade Christian slips to 5-4 overall, with two of those losses coming against 4A North Valley (10-1) and 4A Newport (8-1). But the Salem Academy tournament is not the place to inflate one’s W-L record, but to prepare for league play and eventual playoffs. Two years ago, Portland Christian boys lost in the SAC consolation game and left the tournament with a 4-6 overall record. Two months later, the Royals defeated a 27-0 Central Linn team, 54-38, to win the 2A state title.

(L) Kasey Pederson (32) drives for two of his 15 points; (R) Challenger 6'6" sophomore David Sellers scored 16 in loss.

Photos by Bruce McCain

Additional game photos at 2011 SAC WM vs CC 123011 

3rd Place: Horizon Christian 60 – Salem Academy 39

Just under ten months ago, Horizon Christian defeated Dayton, 58-44, to win the 3A state title in Coos Bay. Leading the Hawks that night was the trio of Jordan Tebbutt, Wyatt Houston and Michael Loomis – a junior and two sophomores who combined for 40 points between them. Fast forward to Salem Academy on December 30, 2011. Tebbutt is 60 miles away, playing for nationally-ranked Oak Hill Academy in the championship game of the Les Schwab Invitational televised on ESPNU. The 6’5” Houston is in street clothes, waiting to return next week from surgery that repaired a football knee injury. Loomis sits is warm-ups, nursing a tweaked ankle that will sideline the 6’6” junior for another 2-4 weeks. In other words, this year’s edition of Horizon Christian looks anything but like the team that won the state title in March. But none of that mattered Friday night as veteran coach Dave Brown merely reassembled the pieces of his team remaining for a surprisingly easy 60-39 win over host Salem Academy.

Picking up the slack for the Hawks was senior Cameron Egger, who led all scorers with 21 points. Egger got plenty of support from a pair of sophomores in Parker Belan (10 points) and Conner Marleau (7 points). With the win the banged up Hawks improve to 3-6 overall while awaiting the return of Houston and Loomis, which will dramatically alter the face of Horizon Christian’s lineup. Salem Academy falls to 3-5 overall and 2-1 in Pac West play, which resumes next week. The lone bright spot for Pete Potloff’s team was a strong 16-point performance by 6’4” junior Jake Hall.

(L) SAC's Jake Hall was bright spot in loss with 16 points; (R) Hawks' Cameron Egger scored game-high 21 points.

Photos by Bruce McCain

Additional game photos at 2011 SAC HC vs SAC 123011

Consolation: Valley Catholic 64 – Portland Christian 41

The Valiants and Royals had met three times in the SAC tournament before Friday with Valley Catholic holding a 2-1 edge. Christian McDonald’s five 3-pointers and 24 points overall extended that series lead to 3-1 as head coach Jeff Gallagher’s squad outplayed the Royals in virtually every facet of the game. Portland Christian simply had no answer for McDonald, whose ability to drive as well as hit quick 3-pointers makes him one of 3A’s top offensive threats. Junior Liam Cassidy added 14 points for the Valiants, as only six VC players made the scoring column. Valley Catholic improves to 7-3 overall and 2-0 in LCL play, with a big game against Portland Adventist Academy next Thursday.

Portland Christian continues its sometime frustrating march toward consistency as the Royals alternate between controlled athleticism and dribbling balls off their feet for unforced turnovers. Brennan Miyazono led the Royals with 16 points, followed by Jordan Flikkema with eight. Coach Tony Collopy’s team falls to 4-6 overall – exactly the same record at this point in the season as the 2010 state championship team. The Royals remain 2-0 in NWL play, which resumes next week with three tough road games at Faith Bible, Gaston and Vernonia. That 3-game stretch will reveal if there is any similarity between the 2010 and 2012 teams.

(L) VC's Christian McDonald hits five 3-pointers in win; (R) PC's Jordan Flikkema called for charge on this drive.

Photos by Bruce McCain

Additional game photos at 2011 SAC VC vs PC 123011