Champs halt late-charging Cougars

Cascade Middle struggled from the floor all evening but tough defense and clutch play to close the game proved to be the difference in their 28-21 win over Middle Tennessee Christian on Thursday night in Wartrace.

Champion Trent Turner (30) streaks to the basket. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Thomas Park's acrobatic bucket in the paint pulled the Cougars (3-2) to within a point with 2:21 left in the game.

Champion Trent Turner provided some breathing room with a field goal at the 1:36 mark. That sparked a 6-0 run to close the game and secure the victory.

Jared Carkuff led all scorers with nine points for Cascade. Turner followed with seven and Ryan Adcock canned a pair of 3-pointers.

The visitors led 5-4 after a quarter before the Champion defense clocked in to hold the Cougars scoreless in the second frame and carry a 14-4 upper hand into the half.

Middle Tennessee Christian's Chris Beasley gathered some momentum for his squad with a 68-footer at the buzzer as the third stanza closed. The miraculous shot closed their deficit to 19-13.

Park led the Cougars with eight points.

Middle Tennessee Christian 25, Cascade 6 (G): The Lady Champions were a mere two possessions away from tying the score heading into the second quarter down 10-4. However, their offense was shut out in the second and fourth frames.

"(Middle Tennessee Christian) played a pretty good, tight defense," Cascade coach Maurice Carkuff said. "We had two good days of practice, I was pretty excited about tonight.

"We were just tentative about shooting and passing. I think the passing hurts us worse than the shooting sometimes because we never get into that position to get a good shot."

The Lady Cougars carried a 14-4 upper hand into the half and a 21-6 advantage into the fourth.

Despite their troubles putting the ball in the basket, the Lady Champs (2-4) continue to play solid defense.

"The last two games we've given up 21 and 25 (points), which is no big deal, but we've scored 15 and 6," Carkuff said. "We're not scoring enough points to win ballgames.

"I really thought last week was something to build on. I guess we're in the down cycle right now though, especially scoring."

Lauren Ware led Cascade with four points.

"Crystal Johnson came in and really hustled when she got her opportunity. But, I don't think it's a hustle thing. We're tentative and lack a little experience."

Brooke Miller scored a game-high eight points for Middle Tennessee Christian.

These same two schools wage battle on the hardwood again on Monday night in Murfreesboro.