Post Photo by Chris Siers Kaegan Young squares up the Fayetteville defense and sets up the Cascade offense. She led all scorers with 20 points.
By Chris Siers
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
BELL BUCKLE — Cascade coach Janie Demonbreum has said for a while her team is growing, both in the weight room and with their maturity.
That maturity helped Cascade (3-5) find a way to rally past a pesky Fayetteville Lady Tiger (3-3) team on Friday night.
After six, fourth-quarter lead changes, it was the savvy play of Cascade’s Kaegan Young to help the Lady Champs knock off Fayetteville, 57-52.
“It’s the maturity. We talked about how everyone has to find their place and reason for being on this team. It was a total team effort. We ended up getting a few 3’s we normally don’t get them from. Their basketball I.Q. has grown so much in the last year, they know what to do in a tight game,” she said.
Entering the fourth quarter, Cascade held a 38-36 lead over the Lady Tigers, but Fayetteville eventually took the lead on a 3-pointer by Kylian Simpson to put the visitors up one with 6:29 left in the game.
The two teams swapped control of the scoreboard five more times over the following three minutes until Sophie Ray powered her way to the rim with 3:39.
Ray’s basket put Cascade on top for good, although Fayetteville continued to threaten the Lady Champs’ lead.
Working the ball to Young’s hands, Cascade was able to execute enough free throws in the final minutes to fend off Fayetteville for its third win of the season.
As a team, Cascade connected on 6-of-12 attempts, with Young making good on five free throws.
While it was the usual cast of suspects with Young and Ray leading the Lady Champs in scoring, Cascade got some timely scoring that helped the Lady Champs scrap their way back into the game.
Trailing in the third quarter, Laina Carter drilled a 3-pointer with 1:41 left in the quarter to tie the game at 34.
Anna Clanton also hit a key triple in the fourth quarter as well.
But it was Young who knocked down 20 points to lead all scorers.
“Kaegan Young is a special, special player. She puts in a ton of work in the offseason. She has as many lessons as she can handle in the week to get better for this program. She’s our silent leader. She leads by example,” Demonbreum said.
Ray added 18 and scored her career 500th point in the win as well.
As important as a win is, the way Cascade was able to win was equally as important for Demonbreum as finding a way to hang on for a win in the fourth quarter will pay dividends as the Lady Champs inch closer to the district schedule.
“It’s just going to make us better for when we get into district time. I’ve been part of some really close teams, but there are a few of these girls who have come together like glue,” she said.
Cascade was back in action on Tuesday night with another road game at Huntland.
The Lady Champs close the week on Friday against Moore County at home.
Fayetteville 18 9 9 16 — 52
Cascade 13 10 15 19 — 57
Fayetteville: Kayden Parks 17, Elly Bain 12, Trinity Dixon 11, Teftsia Erving 5, Kylian Simpson 5, Kalli Morris 2.
Cascade: Kaegan Young 20, Sophie Ray 18, Kaydence Miller 6, Laina Carter 5, Anna Clanton 3, Hailey Giel 3, Suzanna Crews 2.
3-Point goals: Fayetteville (5): Parks 2, Dixon, Simpson, Erving; Cascade (3): Young, Carter, Clanton.
Halftime score: Fayetteville 27, Cascade 23.
