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Challengers pull off momentous upset End 45-game win streak by defending state champ PENDLETON -- Loren King had a feeling those close games this season with Lost River and St. Mary's would pay off someday. That day came Tuesday when his Cascade Christian girls basketball team upset top-ranked City Christian, 50-46, in the first round of the Class 2A state tournament at Pendleton High. The Challengers (21-8) outscored the defending champions 18-10 in the fourth quarter to pin the first loss on City Christian and snap the Lions' 45-game winning streak. "That's a huge win for us," said King, the Cascade Christian coach. "Everybody here is talking Cinderella story." The Challengers (21-8) will take on seventh-ranked Santiam tonight at 9 in the second round at the Pendleton Convention Center. Santiam beat Heppner, 45-29. King said the key to his team's upset was its calm demeanor as the game remained close and the clock dwindled down. "It was tight back and forth most of the game," he said. "Most of our games have been that way this season, so the kids weren't bothered by it at all. They kept their composure on it, whereas City Christian wasn't really used to it." Senior Christine McCandless scored seven of her team-high 13 points in the fourth-quarter surge. Sophomore Kristen Salamone notched six of her eight points and junior Janelle Conley had five of her nine during the critical stretch. Becky Bracelin scored a game-high 17 points to lead City Christian (25-1), but the Lions couldn't match Cascade's heady play in the final period. "I think it was kind of a new experience for them to have somebody that close at the end of the game," King said. "They didn't really know how to handle it." City Christian also seemingly forgot how to cash in at the foul line. The Lions made only two of seven in the fourth quarter and four of 15 for the game. Cascade junior Kelly Clarke added 11 points for the Challengers, while senior Katie Longan weaved her way through City Christian's vaunted press without a problem. "She just did a great job for us," said King. "Their press is almost legendary this season, and she handled it rather well." CASCADE CHRISTIAN (50) -- McCandless 13, Salamone 8, Clarke 11, Roos 1, Conley 9, Bostwick 5, Flood 3, Gettman 0, Longan 0, Ennis 0. Totals: 21 6-10 50. CITY CHRISTIAN (46) -- Bracelin 17, Nashif 13, Biesemeyer 2, Damazio 6, Malmin 1, Crary 7, Gama 0. Totals: 21 4-15 46. Cascade Christina ........................................10 14 8 18 -- 50 City Christian ...............................................12 13 11 10 -- 46 3-point goals -- Cascade Christian 2 (Flood 1, Bostwick 1). Fouled out -- Clarke. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA