Kaleb Kelso goes up for a reverse layup late in the game against Cornersville in Tuesday night’s opener. He finished with 21 points. (Post Photos by Chris Siers)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
BELL BUCKLE — Kaleb Kelso provided the fireworks from the perimeter and Jason Cullum hit an impressive 7-of-8 attempts from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to help the Cascade Champions lock down their first win of the season against Cornersville on Tuesday.
Cascade closed the game with a 21-point fourth quarter to take the 61-55 win over the Bulldogs.
Cornersville’s Ayden Campbell and Canaan Bennett provided an impressive showcase on the offensive end of the court, combining for 43 points.
No lead felt safe at any point in the opener, with Cascade feeling out a new starting rotation for the 2024-2025 season.
Cascade’s Jason Cullum was at his best for the Champions attacking the rim and driving the paint.
He went for eight points in the opening frame, but it was Cornersville’s Canaan Bennett who lit it up from the perimeter, while Ayden Campbell provided the bulk of the dirty work in the paint.
Bennett hit four treys in the first half, while Campbell totaled 12 points through the first two quarters.
After a basket by Cullum gave the Champs a 20-15 lead with 6:50 left in the first half, Cornersville went on a 13-3 run to take a 28-23 lead with two minutes left in the second period.
But even holding a five-point lead, a baskets by Tyler Rodgers and Cullum close the gap to a one-point margin by halftime.
The seesaw affair continued through the third quarter until Kelso drilled a corner 3-pointer with 1:40 left in the third to give Cascade a 38-37 lead.
The two teams swapped control of the lead three more times over the following 40 seconds until Bennett hit a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left to put the Bulldogs up 42-40 at the end of the quarter.
But Kelso and Cullum would not be denied.
While Kelso connected on 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions and gave Cascade a two-point lead with just over five minutes to go, it was Tyler Rodgers’ 3-pointer with 4:49 left in the game that gave the Champs the lead for good.
Cornersville cut the Cascade lead to one possession two more times over the following three minutes, but with time dwindling, it was the Champs’ effort at the free throw line that iced the game in the season-opener.
As a team, Cascade shot 10-of-14 tries at the charity stripe, with the Champs making 8-of-10 tries in the fourth quarter alone.
Kelso and Cullum were the offensive heroes for the Champs as the only two to reach double figures for the hosts.
Campbell’s 23 led all scorers for Cornersville.
The Champs continue a busy week on Thursday at Huntland before closing against Coffee County on Friday night.
Cornersville 15 13 14 13 — 55
Cascade 18 9 13 21 — 61
Cornersville: Ayden Campbell 23, Canaan Bennett 20, Gage Lovell 6, Hayden Grover 3, Conner Lankford 2, Jacob Cowtemanche.
Cascade: Jason Cullum 21, Kaleb Kelso 21, Tyler Rodgers 7, Tyler Barrett 5, Noah Watson 4, Henry Stone 3.
3-Point goals: Cascade (7): Kelso 4, Cullum, Barrett, Rodgers; Cornersville (7): Bennett 6, Lovell.
Halftime score: Cornersville 28, Cascade 27.
