A HUGE congratulations to our Boys High School Basketball Team! The Knights were successful in Baker City over the weekend and brought home the State Title for 1A Boys Basketball! Thanks to all our players, coaches and fans who made this such a memorable season!
From the Oregonian (http://highschoolsports.oregonlive.com/news/article/4089873742263341451/portland-christian-columbia-christian-bask-in-championship-afterglow/)
Knights take 1A title: No. 5 Columbia Christian, plagued by injuries this season, used five players to beat No. 1 Wallowa 47-40 in the Class 1A boys final Saturday night in Baker City. It was the first title for the Knights, who were runners-up in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
"I probably had one practice where I had every one of my players healthy," said coach Jim Flint, who completed his 15th season at the school. "They're a pretty tough-minded group. I knew we had a lot of potential. We just kept getting better all year."
Missing three starters, the Knights (23-7) lost their first two games by a combined 66 points. The starters returned and they built momentum for state before losing key reserves to injury.
But senior wings Braden Mueller and Derek Poole and 6-6 senior post Michael Hickman excelled at the tournament as Columbia Christian defeated No. 7 Powder Valley 76-51, No. 3 Mohawk 44-39 and Wallowa.
Mueller, Poole, Hickman, junior post Levi McDonald and junior guard Johnny Stefan played all 32 minutes against Wallowa. With his team trailing 30-24 in the third quarter, Hickman made a three-pointer and Mueller hit three consecutive jumpers during a 9-0 run as the Knights took the lead for good.
Mueller had 19 points and eight rebounds and Hickman added 17 points and 11 rebounds in the final. For the tournament, Mueller scored 57 points and Hickman had 36 points and 34 rebounds.
"One of the keys for us was just the ability to get stops," Flint said.
Watch the full game here: http://www.osaa.tv/events/10028.
Click here to order a State Championship t-shirt: http://www.columbiachristian.com/pages/knight-apparel/