The Orcas Christian School Saints recently traveled to Walla Walla, Wash. to compete in the Walla Walla University Friendship Tournament.

The Saints found themselves in one of the tournament’s toughest divisions, featuring schools with enrollment in the several hundred, (Orcas Christian High School’s enrollment is 29 students.) The Saints answered the call and blazed past their competition to make it to the Championship game, against California’s San Gabriel, which boasts an enrollment of 470 students, and plays games at Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers.

Orcas Christian opened their Walla Walla tournament play with a 46-41 win over Auburn Adventist. Senior Guard, Michael Harris led the Saints with 13 points, while Junior, Cameron Aragon added 12.

“It was a very tough game,” said Harris. “Auburn was very strong on defense and it came down to: moving the ball, taking our time and executing by getting stops on defense, against a great team like Auburn.”

From their opening win, the Saints advanced to the Semi-game against, Walla Walla Adventist Academy Knights. A team that played deep into last year’s State Tournament. The Knights were led by small forward, Zane Browning, who averages close to 30 points a game in the current season.

The Saints and Knights battled back and forth, as each shot was answered. The Saints started to take a slight advantage with their post play under the basketball.  Junior forward, Cyrus Amour proved to be a variable that Walla Walla could not contain. Amour would amass 18 points.  The focus on Amour led to some quality looks from the perimeter from the Saint’s deadly guard combo of 8th grader, Corey Aragon, Junior, Cameron Aragon, and Senior, Michael Harris. Corey Aragon and Harris had 18 points.

“Our game plan was to play solid defense and limit their top scorer,” said Coach, Ryan Davis. “Offensively we were led by our 8th grader, Corey Aragon and Michael Harris who controlled the flow of the game.”

The win landed the Saints in the tournament’s Championship game, in Walla Walla’s state of the art, recently renovated Basketball arena, in front of a crowd of 2000 fans.  This championship game was the first time in the tournament’s history that the entire crowd, unanimously supported and cheered on the Saints against San Gabriel.

The Saints put up quite a fight against San Gabriel, and each basket, spurred a roar from the crowd that shook the building.

Harris again emerged as a difference maker for the Saints, as San Gabriel struggled to contain him. Harris finished with 18 points in the title game. Corey Aragon, showed no fear as he drove the ball with success against the 6’5 and taller, San Gabriel interior defense. Aragon would finish with 11 points and the admiration of everyone in attendance.

“I think we did well with our defense and not getting down on ourselves,” said Aragon. “I loved the crowd we had and they pumped up the whole team. I loved our fans.”

Cyrus Amour was pivotal in securing numerous rebounds, and was effective from mid-range. Junior Ryan Flint boosted the Saints momentum late in the game after he hit a huge three from the corner.

Senior Nick Hodges had his best game of the tournament, as he made several key stops and hit a huge running lay up into the lane, over San Gabriel’s Center.

Despite their tremendous effort, the Saints lost, 62-42 against San Gabriel. The 42 points scored against San Gabriel, was the most any team scored on them all tournament long.