COOS BAY — When Cascade Christian gained the 3A boys basketball state title two years in the past, then-sophomore Austin Maurer made a promise to educate Brian Morse.
“He got here and hugged me and stated, 'Coach, that's one of many three,'” Morse recalled Saturday evening after the Challengers beat Westside Christian 78-59 to win the OSAA/On-Level Neighborhood Credit score Union title at Marshfield Excessive Faculty.
Maurer was a giant a part of the Challengers' third straight title and second straight title over the Eagles. He helped Cascade Christian construct a first-quarter lead the Eagles have been by no means in a position to construct into and teamed with junior Jaren Fronckowiak and freshman Avery Huston to hold the scoring load.
“It's superior,” stated the 7-foot-5 Maurer, who’s headed to Grand Canyon College to play faculty basketball. “I believe we performed as a workforce. We didn't let the second get too large.”
Fronckowiak echoed these ideas.
“We caught collectively as a workforce by way of thick and skinny,” he stated. “Our move tonight was wonderful. Now we have freed an excellent man.”
Fronckowiak benefited from that move early as teammates discovered him open on the wing for a pair of 3-pointers that helped the Challengers to an early 11-4 lead. Maurer additionally hit one from lengthy vary and Cascade Christian led 18-13 by way of one quarter and 32-23 at halftime.
Cascade Christian celebrates its third straight crown.
Westside Christian coach David Henry stated his workforce had a superb sport plan to decelerate Maurer and mount an offense, however fouls bought in the way in which.
“We tried to restrict their transition and we did,” Henry stated. “The most important factor for us is we didn't have sufficient offensive firepower with the foul we bought into.
He added that a couple of unhealthy offensive selections led to poor shot choice that helped dig the opening.
“We traded baskets for a very long time,” Henry stated. “We're not as deep as we have been (in years previous). The nasty drawback – that was a giant deal.”
Will Ficker had a trio of fouls within the first half and Kahlid Hodge had two within the opening quarter.
That left Dax Hanzlik to hold the scoring load, which he largely did, finally ending with a game-high 32 factors. Hodge scored 10 and Kyler Crites 9.
However Cascade Christian answered each Westside Christian run.
“We tried to get defensive stops and rebounds,” Fronckowiak stated. “We knew we might rating.
He hit 5 3-pointers and scored 21 factors for Cascade Christian. Huston added 20 factors whereas Maurer scored 29 on a mix of area objectives, rebounds, dunks and free throws.
Peyton Maurer, Deryk Farmer and several other different bench gamers helped with the passing sport, protection and giving the starters a break.
Henry stated along with his workforce's lack of depth, it's arduous to beat.
“They're nice,” he stated of the Challengers. “They’re additionally very effectively skilled, disciplined and proficient.
Westside Christian was the second runner-up in a row.
Henry stated he was additionally happy with his personal workforce. The Eagles have been co-champions of the Lewis & Clark League with Valley Catholic and De La Salle North Catholic and entered the state event as the highest seed after successful the league event.
They usually have been hungry after shedding to the Challengers in final 12 months's remaining.
“These youngsters considered it for a 12 months,” Henry stated.
Though they have been quick, he added, “I'm happy with them.”
Morse, then again, stated he was thrilled to see his workforce win its third straight crown.
“I'm actually completely happy for them to see these seniors exit on the turf,” Morse stated.
Challengers have been pushed by arduous work every single day.
“We're very demanding in observe,” Morse stated. “We attempt to make our practices harder than the video games. This makes video games simpler.
“It's good to see the arduous work repay.
The challengers assume they’ve the items to make one other run subsequent 12 months.
Fronckowiak, Farmer and Huston all return, and different youthful gamers are enhancing this 12 months.
“We're going to fill within the roles of the gamers we now have,” Morse stated. “Our seniors have set the usual for legacy. They need to comply with it.”
Fronckowiak agreed.
“It begins with the teaching employees,” he stated. “Now we have to belief the coaches and belief ourselves.
However earlier than trying forward, the Challengers took time to have fun.
“The purpose was three,” Austin Maurer stated. “It's surreal.
“It was the final journey. We wished to return in with a unique starvation and go away all of it on the courtroom.”
The consequence was the third crown in a row.
Extra Trophy Video games
Third place: Valley Catholic outlasted Harrisburg 40-37, using a powerful capturing evening from Jack Lidbeck. The senior hit six 3-pointers for the Eagles, however one that may have tied the sport on the buzzer was off the mark.
Justin Han made three free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer within the remaining 4 minutes and Zach Pippin made three of 4 from the road as Harrisburg tried to catch up late. Han completed with 10 factors, Pippin 9 and Luke Jarussi seven for Valley Catholic.
“Coming from a workforce that didn't make the playoffs final 12 months to 3rd place this 12 months, it's arduous to not be pleased with the season,” Pippin stated. “We're trying ahead to subsequent 12 months.”
Lidbeck had 18 factors for Harrisburg and Terren Crabb had 9.
Fourth place: De La Salle North Catholic scored the ultimate 14 factors of the primary quarter, happening a 16-3 run to cruise to a 64-32 win over Burns.
The Knights, who hadn't misplaced within the quarterfinals since 2013 earlier than Thursday's setback to Cascade Christian, bounced again with wins over Dayton after which Burns to clinch one other trophy.
They used their dimension inside in each video games. Max Walker had 15 factors and Jaylen Hill had 14 in opposition to Burns.
Zane Perry-Kozeni scored eight factors for Burns, who gained an influence play at Vale to succeed in the event and additional time win over Neah-Kah-Nie on Friday to succeed in the comfort remaining.
All Match Groups: Making the all-tournament first workforce have been Cascade Christian's Maurer and Huston, Westside Christian's Hanzlik, De La Salle North Catholic's Hill and Harrisburg's Crabb.
The second workforce included Westside Christian's Ficker, Cascade Christian's Fronckowiak, Harrisburg's Lidbeck and Valley Catholic's Jarussi and Pippin.
Harrisburg obtained a sports activities trophy.
