The Lebanon Tornado seventh-grade basketball team won its first tournament of the year last weekend at Crescent Valley High School. The Tornado defeated Keizer of Salem 42-28 in the championship game.

The Tornados were led by Jessie Sipos, who was voted tournament MVP, but the team had strong performances by all of its players. The team is made up of starters Jenna Morch, Ashley Jiles, Maci Benedict Cianna Dickey and Ellie Phillips. Lauren Carroll, Rachel Wolfenbarger, Tianna Saunders, Marisa Stubbs and Sipos came off the bench and contributed to the squad's success at Crescent Valley.

The tournament was the first of the year for the Tornado. The squad will continue play in Eugene in another Oregon Amateur Basketball tournament in early December. Other Lebanon teams playing in Eugene will be the Lebanon Rain and Lebanon Thunder.

Tornado coaches are Doug Phillips, Chris Jiles, Mike Morch and Cory Carroll.