Post Photos by Chris Siers Jason Cullum battles for loose ball possession in the second half. He finished with 13 points for Cascade. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
CHAPEL HILL — Just five Cascade Champions scored against Forrest in Friday night’s District 9-2A matchup, but four of the five went for double figures and Cascade was able to hand the Rockets the 64-54 loss.
Cascade raced out to a 9-0 lead in the first quarter before the Rockets found their first basket and Cascade held firm control of the scoreboard through much of the first half.
After relying on full court defense that pressured the Rockets into a slew of mistakes, the Champions were able to create several baskets in transition.
Henry Stone steps back and pulls up for a jumper. He finished with a team-best 19 points on Friday. (Post Photo by Chris Siers)
Forrest eventually shook off the rust and after Cascade built a 15-5 lead in the first, the Rockets exploded for 21 points in the second quarter.
Five Rockets penciled their name in the scoring column, with Andruw Myers totaling seven points to lead the way.
But Cascade’s offense never let off the throttle.
Kaleb Kelso had the hot hand and drilled three 3-pointers in the quarter and led the Champs with 11 of the team’s total 19 points.
By halftime, Cascade held a 34-26 lead.
Both offenses struggled to maintain the consistency of the second period and combined for just 17 points.
Kelso hit another 3-pointer and Jason Cullum added four points as well.
But like the second quarter, the fourth was full of fireworks, this time with Cascade closing the game on a 20-19 run to secure the 10-point win.
Henry Stone scored 11 of his team-high 19 points in the fourth quarter to help the Champs fend off a pesky Rocket squad that refused to lay down.
In addition to Stone’s 19 points, Kelso finished with 17 and Cullum added 13.
Cooper McElroy added 11 points as well.
Cascade was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line and sank nine 3-pointers, with Kelso hitting five.
Forrest’s Tristan Goad was one of two Rockets to hit double figures and finished with a game-high 22 points.
Cascade 15 19 10 20 — 64
Forrest 5 21 7 19 — 54
Cascade: Henry Stone 19, Kaleb Kelso 17, Jason Cullum 13, Cooper McElroy 11, Tyler Rodgers 4.
Forrest: Tristan Goad 22, Andruw Myers 15, Jon Hightower 10, Jean Astolfi 4, Matthew Yeager 3.
3-Point goals: Forrest (4): Myers, Goad, Yeager, Hightower; Cascade (9): Kelso 5, Cullum, Stone, McElroy, Rodgers.
Halftime score: Cascade 34, Forrest 26.
