The last two years at Willamette University in Salem, Cascade Christian and Horizon Christian of Tualatin have faced each other in the 3A state playoffs.

In 2008, the Hawks outlasted the Challengers in overtime in the state semifinals before losing to Regis in the championship game.

Last year, Cascade Christian beat Horizon Christian for the 2009 3A state championship. Next Thursday night (3/4) in Salem, these same two teams will square off for the third year in a row in the 3A state quarterfinals, with the winner having the inside track to this years state championship.

Fourth ranked Cascade Christian will play second ranked Horizon Christian at 8:15pm Thursday night (3/4) at the Sparks Center on the campus of Willamette University in Salem.

CHALLENGERS HOST 1st ROUND STATE PLAYOFF GAME SATURDAY NIGHT (2/27)

Fourth ranked Cascade Christian will play host to the Pac West Conference's #3 seed, the Toledo Boomers Saturday night (2/27) at 5:00pm at the Pavillion.

The winner will move on to Willamette University and the quarterfinals of the Oregon 3A state playoffs.

MORSE APPROACHING MILESTONE!

With a 55-52 win Tuesday night (2/16) over the 6th ranked 5A team, the Ashland Grizzlies, Cascade Christian head coach Brian Morse moved one step closer to 400 wins in his coaching career.

The 2-time Oregon state coach of the year, Morse now has 398 career wins, and is not only the schools all-time winningest coach, but one of only a handful of coaches in the state of Oregon to flirt with 400 wins.

In 22 seasons at the helm, Morse has built the Challengers into one of the powerhouse programs in the state. His 2 state titles in 3 years put him in rare company, and Cascade Christian's 104-12 record over the past four season give them a winning percentage of nearly 90%.

In addition, the defending 3A state champions have won 5 straight league titles and haven't lost a league game since the 2006/2007 season when they claimed their first Oregon state basketball championship.

Before beginning his coaching career, Morse was himself an All-League basketball player in High School, helping to lead the Challengers to their first state playoff appearance in 1984.

Cascade Christian begins the post-season Saturday night (2/20) at 7:00pm at home against the Sunset league's #2 team, either the Glide Wildcats, or the Coquille Red Devils. The winner of that game will be the Sunset league's #1 representative to the 3A Oregon state playoffs.

CHALLENGERS ADD TWO GAMES TO SCHEDULE!

With two spots open in their 2009/2010 basketball schedule, second ranked Cascade Christian added two tough opponents to their lineup.

On Saturday afternoon February 6 at 3:30pm, the Challengers will travel to Oakland HS to take on the fourth ranked Pirates of Dayton.

Then on Tuesday (2/16) at 7:00pm, Cascade Christian will face the tenth ranked team in the 5A ranks, the Ashland Grizzlies.

CHALLENGERS WIN 30TH STRAIGHT SUNSENT LEAGUE GAME!

With a 58-42 win Tuesday night (1/12) against #10 Glide, the defending 3A state champions ran their streak of league victories to 30.

Third ranked Cascade Christian (13-1) will host Gold Beach Friday night (1/15) at the Pavillion in Medford.

FAST START CARRIES #3 CHALLENGERS PAST BANDON

(Mail Tribune Article 1/9/2010)

Cascade Christian didn't allow ninth-ranked Bandon any opportunity for anupset in an important early-season Sunset League boys basketball game Friday.

The Class 3A No. 3 Challengers blitzed Bandon from the opening tip and surged to a 28-0 lead midway through the second period en route to a 65-46 home victory.

Bandon (8-3, 2-1 Sunset) came into the contest tied with Cascade Christian and Glide atop the league standings at 2-0.

"We wanted to come out of the blocks hard," Cascade Christian veteran coach Brian Morse said. "We knew it was going to be a top league match. We got our fastbreak going and we were getting offensive putbacks."

Colton Cochran provided the Challengers with an effective all-around game. The senior post scored eight points to go with seven rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks.

"Cochran was penetrating the key and finding the open guy down low for a layup," said Morse. "He does a great job crashing the boards."

The Challengers (12-1, 3-0) outrebounded the Tigers, 36-17. Cascade had 18 offensive boards, with Cochran getting all seven of his rebounds on the offensive glass.

Wes Litton and Ben Joffer paced the Challengers with 12 points each. Litton also had a team-high eight rebounds.

BANDON (46) — Lemerande 0, Gag. Gant 0, Gar. Gant 8, Mack 11, K. Freitag 2, J. Freitag 4, Winchell 0, Santos 6, Jackson 12, Murray 1, Bennett 2, Berry 0. Totals: 17 11-18 46.

CASCADE CHRISTIAN (65) — Litton 12, Joffer 12, Siliga 7, Wipf 7, Morse 6, Marshall 4, Sosey 4, M. Smith 0, A. Smith 0, Hoffman 2, Rasmussen 3, Cochran 8. Totals: 29 3-6 65.

Bandon 0 10 16 20 — 46

Cascade Christian 20 18 12 15 — 65

3-point goals — Bandon 1 (Mack 1), Cascade Christian 4 (Siliga 1, Wipf 1, Joffer 2).

JV result — Cascade Christian won

CHALLENGERS OPEN WITH A WIN!

The defending 3A state champion Challengers opened the 2009/2010 season in Phoenix on Thursday afternoon (12/10) with a 73-58 win against 4A Sutherlin in the first game of the Phoenix Invitational.

MORSE HONORED AS 3A COACH OF THE YEAR!

Cascade Christian head coach Brian Morse won his 2nd state title in 3 years in March, and on Tuesday (3/31) was named the Oregon 3A Coach of the Year.

This is Morse’s 2nd state COY award to go along with his 2 state titles and a 3rd place finish at last year’s state tournament in Salem. In addition, Morse now has 374 career victories and a .702 winning percentage in 21 seasons as the Challengers head coach.