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All for one Cascade Christian's Ben Dunn (3) is part of a tight senior class and a close-knit Challengers team that opens the Class 3A state tournament in the quarterfinals Thursday against Santiam Christian. [ANDY ATKINSON/MAIL TRIBUNE] Tuesday Feb 27, 2018 at 2:00 AM Kris Henry Mail Tribune @Kris_Henry Prior to the first minute played, Brian Morse had every confidence that his Cascade Christian boys basketball team could reach the Class 3A state tournament in Coos Bay. All the intangibles were there, according to Morse, the Challengers just needed some time to let it all come together. Fast forward and it seems Morse was right on all fronts as his sixth-seeded squad enters Thursday’s state quarterfinals against No. 3 Santiam Christian (21-5) playing as well as they have all season. Tipoff for that game will be 8:15 p.m. at Marshfield High. The Challengers stand 18-9 overall after winning six of their last seven games and boast a balanced attack led by seniors Joel McLemore (14 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.0 steals per game), Ben Dunn (13 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Tyler Cochran (12 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3.5 spg). “I was hoping we would’ve won a lot more of those close games we lost in December,” Morse said Monday, “but really the thing now is we’re kind of battle-tested and starting to peak as a team. I really think this team is playing well right now and has a perfect opportunity at the state tournament to hopefully make a splash.” With several of Cascade Christian’s key players coming off a long football season that resulted in winning the 3A state championship, the Challengers could be excused for a slow start to this basketball season. They went 6-5 in a tough December schedule that saw them play several of the state’s top teams as part of four tournaments, only one of which was at home. Besides Western Mennonite (No. 1 in the 2A power rankings) and 3A leaders De La Salle North Catholic (No. 1), Dayton (No. 2), Santiam Christian (No. 3), Horizon Christian (No. 5), Catlin Gabel (No. 7) and Coquille (No. 8), Cascade Christian also played three of the top four 1A programs in Pacific, Sherman and Hosanna Christian. “I always know we’re going to be in the state quarterfinals or semis or finals (in football), so I don’t schedule anything until the second week in December,” said Morse, in his 30th season at Cascade Christian. “So that means a crazy month with four tournaments and so many on the road, but I think it really does help us.” Where it helps is showing the Challengers what they will need to do to contend with the state’s best, but that’s only a small piece of the puzzle. “I figured it out by how many hours we’ve spent in practice and games and on the bus or in hotel rooms or whatever during road trips,” said Morse, “and the game times are only 19 percent of our time spent together in a season. The other 81 percent is spent in practice and doing team activities and all the fun things we get to do as a team, like laser tag or miniature golf tournaments.” What that has done is help foster a family atmosphere for a highly athletic group that entered high school with deep bonds stemming from pre-kindergarten at Grace Christian School through competitions at the YMCA, Manny League or AAU levels. “They’ve all played together for a long time and they’re really good friends, they do so many things together all the time,” said Morse. “There are nine seniors in this bunch and they’re just a close-knit group. They get along very well together and you can see it in the way they pass the ball.” That togetherness has helped the Challengers take a team-first approach in all they do on the court. “It really gives us a much better chance of winning because they all get along and there’s no animosity with the guys on the team,” said Morse. “There’s no complaining about this guy getting the shot or anything like that, it’s just all about the team.” After his team romped past St. Mary’s earlier this year with balanced scoring, Cochran was quick to add: “We try to pass up a good shot for a greater shot, that’s kind of our motto.” When the Challengers knocked off Coquille for the second time on Saturday to reach the 3A state tournament, Dunn spoke of why his team has been so successful. “We work together to make it happen,” said Dunn. “It’s not just one person doing everything, we have a lot of guys who contribute.” And that trust goes a long way, well beyond the aforementioned senior trio. Kyle Reece missed the middle part of the season with an injury but has returned to provide steady energy to go with 6.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.0 steals per game, while fellow seniors Cristian Flores Alatorre and Haiden Schaan have been joined by sophomore Kiegan Schaan to do all the little things necessary to put the Challengers over the top. Where all this has helped is provide patience and trust on both ends of the floor for Cascade Christian, which has proven it can be diverse in its attack. “We do like to push the ball and if we can get a fastbreak we’re going to go for it,” said Morse, “but if not we work ball around and try to get the best shot we can. It just keeps the defense guessing. Really in the games where we have done well is when they make that extra pass. We always say that the longer the possession goes, the better chance we have at scoring.” Familiarity with their opponents at the state tournament will be another benefit for the Challengers, who lost 52-48 to Santiam Christian on Dec. 22 and expect another chore Thursday in trying to slow down 6-foot-6 junior Zach Baugher, his 6-4 freshman brother Josh Baugher and 6-foot guard Grant Carley. “We hung with them and only lost by four last time,” said Morse, “and I feel like it will be a good test for us again. Obviously we’re putting all of our cards on the table for that one.” — Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry