Vikings Cody Pierce (left) and Josh Hull fight for a rebound with Champion Christian Edmondson. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Crowds are entertained. Cheerleaders have reason to yell. Coaches earn a living.

The sport of basketball can be as exhilarating as it gets sometimes. However, no matter how fun a game may be for both sides, somebody has to lose.

That was the unfortunate case on Tuesday night as neighboring rivals Community and Cascade locked horns in the opening round of the District 9-A boys tournament in Wartrace.

After all was said and done, Cascade jogged off with a 51-50 victory to extend their season, while Community is forced to hang up their sneakers for the winter.

"You hate to see those kids' season end that way," Champion coach Charlie Pope said. "They're a class group of kids. They fight hard. They're competitors. I've got nothing but respect for them. I hated that we had to play each other in the elimination round."

The teams split a pair of regular-season contests and the postseason version gave all those in attendance their $5 worth.

"It's really what you expect in a 4-5 (seed) game," Pope said. "It was nip-and-tuck all the way. Anybody could have won it."

Cascade's Cory Phillips (11) attacks the basket after making contact with Community's Cody Pierce. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Rookie Viking coach Jace Bryant's face showed the mental anguish of the moment as his expectations had his young group playing much further into February.

"I was having fun, and I didn't want it to end," Bryant said. "I get emotional during games and those kids know I love them. I thought we were hitting our stride here lately and we'd be a force to be reckoned with."

Justin Stallings finished off an 8-0 Community run with a pair of free throws to knot the game at 45-all with 2:25 to play. Coming out of the subsequent timeout, Cascade's Ricky Hord scored in the paint the next trip down to break the tie for the final time.

"It was crucial not to lose that lead and not to trail and get behind because I knew if we ever got behind them they would shove it down our throat and we would be forced to foul," Pope said.

Hord made a free throw with 47.9 seconds showing to ease the Champs up 50-48. After the Vikes squandered a pair of opportunities to tie it, Cory Phillips sank the decisive free throw with 9.6 ticks left.

Cascade's Jacob Carkuff tries to get a shot off while sandwiched by defenders Wylder Norris (left) and Justin Stallings. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"Two or three plays in the fourth quarter caused it," Bryant said. "Give them credit, their defensive pressure gave us trouble in the last 2-3 minutes and got us out of what we were trying to run.

"We had two chances to tie. We get a walk and a jump ball. That's because we're not strong with it when we penetrate into traffic."

Cascade now faces top-seeded Van Buren County in the 9-A semifinals on Friday night at 6:30 in Unionville. Click here for an updated look at the boys bracket.

"Our rivalry has taken on a life of its own," Pope said. "They've gotten the upper hand on us twice this year. Hopefully, the old saying 'It's hard to beat a good team three times,' holds true."

Following five lead changes, Community was up 12-11 after a quarter.

Cory Phillips completed a three-point play shortly into the second frame to put the hosts ahead 17-14 and they never trailed again. The senior guard came off the bench to drop in four 3s and lead all scorers with 19 points.

Cascade (9-14) broke a 24-all tie on a Ryan Morton basket with 4:50 left in the third quarter, which mounted an 11-0 spurt to give them the largest advantage of the evening.

Stallings put his team on his shoulders in the final period, netting 11 of his team-high 15 points. The junior post also totaled 11 rebounds.

Cory Phillips (11), Albert Hatchett (24) and Ricky Hord (21) fight for a rebound with Vikings Justin Stallings and Zack Haynes (20). (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

The Champs kept pace thanks in part to Jacob Carkuff hitting 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch before fouling out with 58 seconds left. He totaled 11 points.

Each team had their chances to take control at the charity stripe. Cascade made 17-of-29 at the foul line. The Vikes were 9-for-17.

Community's season comes to a close with a final record of 11-12. They are quick to point to the 2008-09 season as their time to finish turning the corner.

"They're going to be a force to be reckoned with next year," Pope said. "They're buying into what Jace is wanting them to do."

"This year has been fun for me as a first-year head coach," Bryant said. "I've learned just as much from them as they have from me.

"Our next year's season starts tomorrow. I want them to be more dedicated than they've ever been. We'll have seven seniors next year."