Submitted photo

The St. Bernard’s eighth grade boys peaked at the right time this season, picking up the level of their game over the last two weeks on their way to winning the AA Division at the Crescent City Jaycees Boys Basketball Tournament over the weekend.

The Crusaders outscored their three tournament opponents by a combined 55 points, including a 60-51 win over River Oak in the championship game.

St. Bernard’s Liam Dyer averaged 30 points in the three tournament games, including nailing an impressive 10 3-pointers in a semifinal win over Redwood, and he was named tourney MVP.

Teammates Carson Costa and Tyler Hinrichs were each also named to the all-tournament team.

The Crusaders finished the season 11-6, but they played their best basketball of the year down the stretch on the way to winning the tournament they had circled on their calendar all season long.

“This is the tournament we were aiming for all year,” head coach Zach Costa said. “We peaked at the right time.”

Submitted photo – The players celebrate their championship win on Saturday.

The roster also included Ayden Mai-Salhi, Blake Santos, Chase Bickmore, Garret Shanahan, Isiah Herbst, Kohlton Hall, Luke Brunton, Sawyer Katri and Trenton Hagler, and the players were “laser focused” heading into the tournament, according to the coach.

“We played a tough schedule. We played some big schools, and I think that helped,” Zach Costa said. “It was nice way to finish their eighth-grade season.”