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Varsity 541 NEWS NOW Democratic convention update: Moro, Moran, Talbert for interim ... Rogue Eagles' RC air show returning for 38th year ... 2 Hermiston coaches dead in apparent murder-suicide; teen's body found ... Democratic convention update: Moro, Moran, Talbert for interim ... Rogue Eagles' RC air show returning for 38th year ... 2 Hermiston coaches dead in apparent murder-suicide; teen's body found ... PREP BASKETBALL St. Mary's tops Challengers for top seed Crusaders get big games from Vinyard, Crennen Comment By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt MailTribune.com By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt Posted Feb. 20, 2016 at 8:50 PM Updated Feb 20, 2016 at 10:17 PM By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt Posted Feb. 20, 2016 at 8:50 PM Updated Feb 20, 2016 at 10:17 PM --> St. Mary’s 56, Cascade Christian 36 RECAP: Connor Vinyard has 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks and Michael Crennen adds 13 points and 11 rebounds for St. Mary’s, which ... » Read more X St. Mary’s 56, Cascade Christian 36 RECAP: Connor Vinyard has 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks and Michael Crennen adds 13 points and 11 rebounds for St. Mary’s, which has won eight straight. UP NEXT: Class 3A state playoffs, next Saturday. » Social News They’ve had some ups and downs during the 2015-16 boys basketball season, but the St. Mary’s Crusaders are now exactly where they want to be. With the postseason coming up, their timing couldn’t be any better. Connor Vinyard recorded 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, and Michael Crennen added 13 points and 11 rebounds as St. Mary’s defeated Cascade Christian, 56-36, in the Southern Cascade League district title game at St. Mary’s High on Saturday. With the triumph, the Crusaders (19-6) sealed the conference’s top seed and are assured a home game next Saturday during the opening round of the Class 3A state playoffs. Their opponent had not been determined by press time. The OSAA was expected to post the bracket by 9 this morning. The Challengers (19-7) claimed the league’s other automatic berth into the 16-team state bracket by finishing second in the SCL. They’ve advanced to the state playoffs 11 straight years. Vinyard and Crennen — the SCL co-players of the year — offered up their usual production and the St. Mary’s defense shined on Saturday, St. Mary’s head coach Greg Conway said. His squad held the Challengers to their lowest scoring output of the year. St. Mary’s Hunter Rothfus finished with eight points, seven rebounds and four steals, and Kele Eaton had seven points and five assists while helping to limit Cascade Christian standout Carson Cochran to seven points. “We have had some great individual defenders throughout the season, but tonight it was team defense,” said Conway, who was named the SCL coach of the year. “Our off-ball help was excellent and Kele played outstanding defense. Our defense was stellar tonight.” The SCL regular-season champion Crusaders, who have now won eight straight, had to overcome some adversity this season. Before the year even started, Conway stepped in for St. Mary’s head coach Eric Guyer, who experienced health trouble that prevented him from returning to the hardwood. Add to it that earlier this winter, Crennen suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of six contests. St. Mary’s won its first seven games of the season before losing five of its next seven. “We started off really hot at the beginning of the season and kind of hit the midseason blues,” Conway said. “Mike got hurt, and we had some games we should have won and weren’t as focused. When Mike came back it took a game or two, but now we have a flow and are playing as a team. Every single guy is contributing.” On Saturday, the Crusaders jumped out to a19-11 lead after the first quarter and held a 29-18 edge by halftime. St. Mary’s outscored the visitors, 13-6, in the third. “We came out slow in the third quarter the last time we played them, but we came out this time and executed well,” Conway said. “That was the difference maker.” Cascade Christian and St. Mary’s split their regular-season series. “I was worried about (St. Mary’s) being rusty having not played in a little over a week, and making sure our emotions were in check with the rivalry,” Conway said. “We came out focused.” Joel McLemore led the Challengers with 10 points. CASCADE CHRISTIAN (36): Palmer 2, Crowl 0, Wheeler 1, Morse 3, Schaan 0, McLemore 10, Hadley 6, Flores Alatorre 1, Cochran 7, Winter 6. Totals: 12 6-13 36. ST. MARY’S (56): VanValkenburg 0, West 7, Kuitert 0, Rothfus 8, Wyant 0, Conway 0, Eaton 7, Yaeger 3, Bramscher 0, Vinyard 18, Crennen 13. Totals: 24 5-8 56. Cascade Christian;11;7;6;12;—;36 St. Mary’s;19;10;13;14;—;56 3-point goals — Cascade Christian 6 (Morse 1, McLemore 3, Hadley 2), St. Mary’s 3 (West 1, Yaeger 1, Crennen 1) . Reach reporter Dan Jones at 541-776-4499, or email [email protected]. Find him online at twitter.com/danjonesmt By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt MailTribune.com By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt Posted Feb. 20, 2016 at 8:50 PM Updated Feb 20, 2016 at 10:17 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction Schedules & Events --> Recent Scores --> Prep Notebook Kris Henry Challengers make it back on top in softball Winning the Southern Cascade League title seemed like a pretty bold goal this spring considering the recent history of the Cascade Christian... 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