Tough defense leads to Cascade Middle win

Cascade's Alyssa Hoover lays in a shot after driving baseline. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Following years of struggles it appears as though Cascade Middle's girls have turned the tide on Forrest Middle. The Lady Champions downed the Chapel Hill visitors 30-18 on Thursday night to finish off a regular season sweep.

After holding a slim 7-5 advantage at the end of the first quarter, Cascade (5-1) got eight second-quarter points from Elora Skuce to aid in a 12-2 run that ended with Andrea Pigg finding Alyssa Hoover open for a bucket just before the buzzer.

"Elora's streaky," Lady Champion coach Chad Spencer said. "When she gets hot, she can shoot the 3 as good as some high school kids. She's got a quick release."

The Lady Rockets (4-5) were held to only one field goal in the first, second and fourth quarters.

"We spend, primarily, every bit of 75 percent of our practice working on defense -- sliding, getting in right position, talking, helping," Spencer said. "Some of these kids are so smart, they catch onto it easy.

"It's been awhile since I've had a team where I can tell a girl when she's got three fouls, 'Hey, be careful,' or 'Y'all need to switch' and they've got enough basketball savvy to switch and pick up the other man who's not as aggressive on offense. We did it tonight on two different occasions. Kelsey Parker and Haylee Simpson both did it."

Skuce finished with eight points, Simpson had seven and Haley Edmondson six.

Forrest managed a solid effort at the free-throw line, sinking 6-of-8. Their efforts from the field were dissipated by Cascade holding them to one shot on several possessions.

"We rebounded the ball exceptionally well to be smaller than them. I think we were smaller than them at every position except one," Spencer said.

Mandi Conley's six points led the Lady Rockets.

Forrest 44, Cascade 31 (B): The Champions outscored the visitors 17-13 in the middle two frames and inched back to within 24-22 following a Hunter Seibers basket with 2:10 left in the third quarter.

Jesse Barnes goes up for two points for the Champions. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Rockets (8-1) answered the bell by closing out the period with five unanswered points.

Zach Horvath put his brothers in blue and white on his back in the final quarter, notching nine of his game-high 21 points to stretch out their upper hand.

Will Holt's seven points paced Cascade (1-5). Cole Claxton and Jake Pimental both contributed six.

Forrest carried a 16-5 lead at the end of the first quarter and were up 22-13 at the half.

Cascade takes a week off before heading to Lynchburg to battle Moore County on Nov. 20.