Gold Beach weathered an explosive first quarter by Bandon to upend the defending Sunset Conference boys basketball champions 69-63 on Tuesday.

Hugo Treinen netted a team-high 18 points, Garrett Craig added 13 and Jeffrey Knox 10 for the host Panthers, who outscored the Tigers 35-26 in the second half after trailing by three at the break.

“The kids are really excited. It was a big win for them,” said Gold Beach coach Jerry Ross.

The victory overshadowed a stellar night for Bandon’s Max DeVillers, who poured in a game-high 24 points. Teammate Archie Garrett finished with nine.

Challengers win big

Fueled with Jeremy Cheney’s 18 points, top-ranked Cascade Christian coasted to a 72-36 win over Glide on Tuesday.

The visiting Challengers ignited for 38 points in the first half and pulled away with 19 more in the third quarter.

Elliot Standish and Levi Bonnell finished with nine points apiece for the Wildcats, while Christian Clark added seven.

Cascade Christian, the conference newcomer, got 17 points from Jarrod Hess and 16 from Scott Morse. The 2007 Class 2A champions improved to 7-0 on the season.

Bobcats tip Vikings

A big start gave way to a big finish for Myrtle Point.

The Bobcats turned an 18-3 first quarter lead into a 61-46 nonleague victory over Siuslaw on Tuesday.

Myrtle Point got a large part of Garren Hitner’s 19 points and Scott Clark’s 15 in the second half to pull away. Teammate Evan Rice joined them in double figures with 10 points.

The visiting Vikings tallied 22 points in the second quarter and got a team-high 14 from Jacob Mitchell, 10 from Henry Gray and eight from Drew Rainwater.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Panthers elude Tigers

Gold Beach mounted a strong finish to outlast Bandon on Tuesday.

The Panthers outscored the visiting Tigers 17-11 in the fourth quarter and escaped with a 53-40 win to open league play.

“It’s always great to open league with a win at home, but it wasn’t easy,” Gold Beach coach Jim Hulslander said. “Bandon always plays us tough and they did that tonight.”

Katherine Zuber and Molly Hockema both scored in double figures for Gold Beach, with Zuber posting a game-high 17 points and Hockema 14.

The Panthers clung to a 20-13 lead at the half but pulled away late in the final period.

“It was pretty close up until then,” Hulslander added. “I was impressed with how hard Bandon played.”

Becky Butler led Bandon with 14 points, while Briana Valentine added eight and Melinda Torres and Julie Baker seven.

Challengers rally

Glide’s four-point lead going into the fourth quarter wasn’t enough to keep Cascade Christian down.

The visiting Challengers outscored the Wildcats 13-7 in the final period to nab a hard-fought 44-42 victory Tuesday.

Alena Cesaro finished with 10 points, Kierstin Barlow scored nine and Chelsey Cason eight for conference newcomer Cascade Christian, which led 23-19 at the half.

Glide took the lead with 16 points in the third quarter and was sparked by Cassie Garrison’s 12 points and dual eight-point efforts from Kristen Nelson and Kayla Schiermeister.

Bobcats down Vikings

While the other Sunset Conference teams battled Tuesday, Myrtle Point made the most of a nonleague tuneup.

The Bobcats held visiting Siuslaw to single-digit scoring in each of the first three quarters and cruised to a 63-29 victory.

Sam Sanders led the way for Myrtle Point with a game-high 21 points, while Kylee Fischer chipped in 14. Krissy Johnston and Meghan Ross added eight points each for the Bobcats.

Siuslaw mustered 13 points in the final period and got eight from Kay Robertson and seven from Alexis Reavis.

Myrtle Point plays another nonleague game on Saturday at Douglas and won’t open league play until Jan. 2. Siuslaw hosts Mazama on Thursday.