Free throws? Who needs free throws?

Cascade Middle made just 2-of-15 attempts at the foul line, including 1-of-7 in the fourth quarter, but still managed to hold off a much-improved Middle Tennessee Christian Middle team 37-36 in Wartrace.

Cascade's Jake Pimental sprints past MTC's Chase Smotherman (14) for a layup in the fourth quarter. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"We've actually shot more free throws in the last week than we've shot all year," said Champion coach Mike Edmondson, whose team was a combined 26-for-35 the two previous games. "I guess we'll just go back to what we were doing and just quit shooting them. That's (former NBA coach) Doug Moe's philosophy as the best way to do it."

Things started to look bleak for the hosts after Ivey Starling nailed a 3-pointer to put the Cougars (2-16) up 33-29 with 3:25 left in the game.

Seventh grader Jake Pimental responded by putting the Champs (6-6) on his back with eight unanswered points, including a pair of darts from behind the arc. Pimental's spark left his team up 37-33 with 1:05 to play.

Jared Carkuff netted all of his game-high of 14 points in the first three quarters before gutting it out in the final period with a right eye that was mostly swelled shut after banging it late. Pimental totaled 10.

Starling led MTC with nine points.

Cascade came out stroking early, which allowed them to implement their full-court pressure. A Ryan Adcock trey put them up 16-4 as the first horn neared.

"We put in a new press this week and they ran it really well," Edmondson said. "Then all of a sudden we just went cold and couldn't get into the press."

As dominant as the Champs were in the initial frame, the Cougars roared just as loud in the second, outscoring their foes 15-2 to take a 21-18 upper hand into the locker room.

"We didn't get back a couple of times and gave them a couple of easy baskets," Edmondson said. "They got a little confidence, and here we go, we've got a game.

"Their guards are a lot better than the first time we played them."

Another Pimental 3-pointer eased Cascade ahead 29-28 with 7 seconds remaining in the third stanza.

Middle Tennessee Christian 59, Cascade 26 (G): The Lady Cougars looked like they drank protein shakes instead of egg nog over the holiday break in a dominant performance for their third win over the Lady Champions this season.

"We've hung our hat on our defense all year long and tonight we come out and give up 59 points," Cascade coach Chad Spencer said. "It's the worst defensive effort that we've had all year long."

Hailey Simpson (55) of Cascade gets a shot off before Lady Cougar defender Shelby Beckham arrives. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Madison Hall came out stroking for MTC, nailing three 3s in the first quarter to kickstart a 16-6 frame.

The Lady Champs (9-5) played a respectable second period but still trailed 29-15 at the half.

"I had some kids get into foul trouble so I had to go into my bench early," Spencer said. "We were just out of sync. I guess the holiday caught up with us."

The Lady Cougars (21-3) caught fire again, scoring the first 11 points of the second half to give them plenty of insurance.

Leading 48-22 entering the fourth quarter, MTC emptied their bench but hardly missed a beat and wound up placing 11 girls in the scoring column.

"I had some kids that were just going through the motions that normally don't do that," Spencer said. "If we want to get our program where we want it to go in the future, you can't go through the motions. You've got to find a way to put it all on the line every night."

Hall led all scorers with 16 points thanks to four of her team's six 3s.

"They probably shoot the ball better than our high school girls do," Spencer said.

Haley Edmondson paced the Lady Champs with seven points.

Cascade heads to Lynchburg on Thursday to battle Moore County Middle.