PENDLETON — Knappa had years of history on its side entering Friday's game. Cascade Christian was looking to make some of its own.
The third-ranked Challengers did just that by erupting for a 61-34 victory over the Loggers in the semifinals of the Class 2A state boys basketball tournament at the Pendleton Convention Center.
The win moves Cascade Christian (24-4) into the school's first-ever state basketball championship game tonight at 8:30.
Cascade Christian's football team won its first state title in the fall by defeating Southern Cascade League opponent Bonanza in the championship game.
The hoops team wants to follow suit against SCL rival St. Mary's, which downed those very same Antlers, 54-47, in Friday's other semifinal.
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Shipley knocked in 15 points in the first half as SCL co-champion and No. 1 seed Cascade Christian steam-rolled to a 36-10 lead at the break.
Knappa (19-10), the Northwest League champion, owns six state championships. The Loggers are the state leader in that category at the 2A level.
But on Friday, Knappa had no answer for the Challengers' size, athleticism and defensive ferocity.
"There really were no adjustments to be made," said Knappa coach Craig Cokley, who last led the small town just outside Astoria to a state crown in 1999. "I didn't have an answer in my black pen for what we could do to slow them down.
"They're deep, athletic, and if we played them 10 times, I don't know if we'd win one. Cascade Christian is certainly the best 2A team we've played this year."
Shipley rattled in eight points in the first quarter, including a tough, twisting jump shot to close the period with the Challengers up 16-5.
Josh Heidegger opened the second period with a breakaway hoop and Jeremy Cheney knifed in for a pair of baskets to hand Cascade Christian a 22-5 advantage that prompted a Knappa timeout.
The onslaught was just beginning, however, as Heidegger buried a jumper, Rickey Fite converted a three-point play and Shipley banked home a fastbreak runner for a 29-10 lead.
Shipley again ended the quarter with a last-second 2-point dagger that capped a 12-0 run and put the Challengers well on their way to tonight's title tilt.
"I was feeling it and my teammates were getting me the ball," said Shipley. "Everybody had a hand in this win. Everybody."
That includes his twin brother Daniel Shipley, who didn't score a point but, once again, was the backbone of a defense that forced 16 turnovers and limited the Loggers to 3-for-20 shooting in the opening half and 13 of 37 overall.
Daniel Shipley held his primary target, shooting guard Ryan Isom, to three points and a 1-for-8 effort from the field.
"I know I don't get much credit because I don't score many points," said Daniel Shipley. "But I love having the job of stopping the best player on the other team. It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it. And I'm glad it's me."
Challengers coach Brian Morse was quick to assign credit for his team's offensive outburst.
"We knew offensively we could light it up," said the coach. "And the big thing that got our offense going was the defense.
"Daniel's a big part of that. It's nice knowing you have a closer like him that forces the other team's best player away from the hoop and disrupts their offense. Hopefully, we can carry that over to tomorrow night."
Cascade Christian did suffer one bad break when starting 6-foot-5 sophomore post Scott Morse twisted his left ankle in the fourth quarter. Morse spent the remainder of the game with an ice bag on the ankle. His status for tonight's contest is unknown.
Before the injury, Scott Morse grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and equaled Andrew Shipley and Heidegger with three assists.
Cheney chipped in with 10 points and six boards, and had four of the Challengers' 21 offensive rebounds. Heidegger had eight points and eight rebounds.
Sophomore Jesse Moreland was the lone Knappa player in double figures with 12 points.
KNAPPA (19-10)
R. Isom 1-8 -0-0 3, P. Isom 0-2 0-0 0, Aho 2-6 0-2 4, Bokor 1-2 1-2 3, Riffe 2-6 4-6 8, Moreland 5-11 1-2 12, Gjovik 1-1 0-0 2, Montgomery 1-1 0-0 2, West 0-0 0-0 0, Boardman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-37 6-12 34.
CASCADE CHRISTIAN (24-4)
Morse 2-5 0-0 4, Cheney 5-10 0-0 10, A. Shipley 9-14 3-3 25, D. Shipley 0-0 0-0 0, Heidegger 4-14 0-0 8, Kinney 0-2 0-0 0, Wipf 1-4 0-0 3, Duchien 1-2 0-2 2, Joffer 1-4 0-0 2, Davis 1-4 0-0 2, Ayala 1-1 0-0 2, Fite 1-2 1-1 3. Totals: 26-62 4-6 61.
Knappa 5 5 11 13 -- 34
Cascade Christian 16 20 14 11 -- 61
3-point goals — Knappa 2-14 (R. Isom 1-8, Riffe 0-2, Moreland 1-4), Cascade Christian 5-11 (Morse 0-1, A. Shipley 4-6, Wipf 1-3, Joffer 0-1).
Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483, or e-mail kgoff@mailtribune.com
