Salem Academy's Celia James works the ball up the court against Western Christian on Saturday night. (Photo by Andre Panse)

PENDLETON — Celia James had one task Saturday night — guard Western Christian standout Runon Muroya.

The Salem Academy senior did that and more in leading the Crusaders to a 43-29 victory over the defending state champion Pioneers in the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 2A girls basketball final at the Pendleton Convention Center.

It’s the first state title for the Crusaders since 2008.

“This was the year it was a real possibility,” Salem Academy coach Derek Imig said of winning the title. “It’s a sense of pride to hang another bracket on the wall. I was an assistant on that (2008) team. It’s really special. I graduated from Salem Academy and it’s nice to be able to give back.”

The Crusaders finished their season 26-4 and split their four games with the Pioneers (25-4), who saw their 12-game win streak come to an end.

“This is surreal,” James said. “We were very determined. It was all for God. Even if we didn’t win, you put him first.”

James was stuck like glue to Muroya from the tip. Muroya had seven points on the night, but with James shutting her down, Western Christian was out of synch.

“It doesn’t work like that all the time,” Imig said. “Last time, she scored 33 on us. Celia has been a workhorse all year. When you are spending that kind of energy on the defensive end, you usually don’t have much left for offense. She was big for us.

James said guarding Muroya is nothing new.

“I’m always on her,” James said. “She is a great player and fun to play against. The whole team played great defense.”

James finished the game with 16 points, and earned first-team all-tournament honors, as did Muroya.

After leading 16-14 at the half, the Crusaders went on a 14-8 run in the third, including a stretch of six consecutive points by James in a span of 2 minutes to give her team a 26-20 lead.

The lead grew to 30-22 by the end of the third, and soon ballooned to 39-25 with 4:28 left in the game.

Muroya scored four points in the last 3 1/2 minutes of the game, but it wouldn’t be enough.

The game got off to a slow start, and was 2:51 in before Salem Academy’s Sophie Pass finally put the ball in the basket.

Western Christian had back-to-back three-pointers from Muroya and Kinsey Wark to take a 6-2 lead.

Clara Persons hit a three-pointer of her own to pull the Crusaders within 6-5, but Wark drilled another long-range jumper for a 9-5 lead. Pass scored the last bucket of the quarter off an offensive rebound to pull her team within 9-7.

The Crusaders held Muroya scoreless in the second quarter, while James had four points at the other end for Salem Academy, including a basket with one second on the clock, for a 16-14 lead at the half.

Jordyn Copeland added six points and 13 rebounds for Salem Academy, while Parsons had eight points.

Haley Ferry added seven points, seven rebounds and three assists for Western Christian, while Wark and Savannah Newman each had six points.

In other trophy games, Bandon beat Weston-McEwen 47-43 in the third place game, while Central Linn topped East Linn Christian 45-31 in the consolation championship game.

East Linn Christian won the sportsmanship trophy.