COOS BAY – Cascade Christian is two-thirds of the way in which by way of the highest groups within the Lewis & Clark League because the Challengers search their third straight Class 3A boys state title.
The Medford college pulled away from Valley Catholic within the fourth quarter to defeat Valley Catholic 70-57 and earn its second straight championship towards Westside Christian.
The Challengers have been ranked No. 1 within the 3A coaches ballot all 12 months, and Westside Christian is atop the facility rankings.
“I feel they're the 2 finest groups — that's what all people wished to see,” Cascade Christian star Austin Maurer stated.
To achieve the finals, Cascade Christian needed to beat De La Salle North Catholic on Thursday and Valley Catholic on Friday. The 2 faculties shared the Lewis & Clark League title with Westside Christian.
Friday's semifinal was near the fourth quarter, as each time Cascade Christian began to construct a lead, the Valiants struck in time to get again into the sport… till the ultimate quarter.
Cascade Christian led by as many as 10 within the third quarter, however Valley Catholic obtained scorching outdoors, with three 3-pointers from Dylan Trobetsky and one other from Jackson Farris because the Valiants pulled inside 53-48 with eight minutes left.
Valley Catholic additionally scored its first factors within the last quarter on two free throws by Noah Holub, however then Cascade Christian went on a 15-0 run because the Valiants went scoreless for six minutes.
“We had it for 3 ½ quarters and we fell,” stated Valley Catholic incumbent coach John Efstathiou (head coach Jeb Ivey is absent from the event as a result of required firefighter coaching).
Efstathiou was delighted together with his staff's effort.
Valley Catholic's Dylan Trobetzky tries to get round Cascade Christian's Peyton Maurer throughout Friday's semifinal match.
“We had an opportunity,” he stated, earlier than including, emphasizing that he wasn't making a pun, “We performed bravely.”
Valley Catholic stored the sport shut partly by holding Maurer in verify all through the primary half.
“We threw three completely different defenses at him and so they lastly found out get him the ball,” Efstathiou stated.
Maurer completed with 25 factors, however 19 of them got here within the second half.
In the meantime, Jaren Fronckowiak and Avery Huston sparked Cascade Christian's opening two quarters.
“Once they rating, it frees all people up and we will play our sport,” Maurer stated.
Fronckowiak hit 4 3-pointers and scored 15 of his 20 factors within the first half. Huston had eight factors within the first quarter and completed with 15.
“Jaren actually carried us within the first half,” Cascade Christian coach Brian Morse stated. “And Avery hit some huge photographs.
Luke Jarussi had 12 factors to guide Valley Catholic, whereas Trobetsky and Farris every added 11 and Zach Pippin 9.
With the sport clearly out of attain, the staff had one in all its greatest celebrations when Jordan Baumgartner, a senior who not often performs, hit a 3-pointer simply earlier than the ultimate buzzer after his teammates handed the ball thrice to seek out him open. prime of the important thing. Baumgartner alternates with a teammate who attire because the Valiants' twelfth participant, which is the restrict for in-state video games.
“It was actually neat to see them give him the ball and see him knock down the three in his final sport,” Efsathiou stated.
Valley Catholic has yet one more sport, towards Harrisburg. And Cascade Christian has one other title sport with Westside Christian.
Will probably be the Challengers' third straight sport towards the Lewis & Clark League co-champion.
“They're battle-tested,” Maurer stated of Westside Christian.
And they’re coached by David Henry, who performed for Cascade Christian and coached with Morse for a lot of seasons.
“We're actually excited to play them,” Morse stated.
It’s the fifth season the Challengers have performed for the title.
“I really feel so blessed to be within the state championship sport 5 years in a row,” Morse stated. “It's an enormous testomony to what the youngsters and these coaches are doing. However we're not performed but. We’ve yet one more to go.”
