Lady Champs stay with AAA foes until 2nd half

Cascade's M.K. Potts puts up a shot under the basket. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

If girls high school basketball games were only 20 minutes long, the Cascade Lady Champions would be in good shape. Unfortunately, the contests last 32 minutes.

The Lady Champs were hanging right with Class AAA visitor Franklin County until midway through the third quarter before the Lady Rebels kicked into high gear and stormed to a 69-43 victory.

"We came out, we stuck to our game plan, switching up our defenses," Cascade coach Chad Spencer said. "Their press wasn't really bothering us, we were executing our offense and getting great looks. We were patient, we weren't forcing stuff. We were hanging right there with them."

A bucket by M.K. Potts drew Cascade to within 37-32 with 4:05 left in the third quarter. The Winchester girls answered with a 17-1 run and held their hosts scoreless for 7:29.

Julia Zimmerman was unstoppable behind the 3-point arc, especially in the final period. The Lady Rebel sank four of her seven 3-pointers in the frame en route to a game-high 25 points.

"We lost sight of our game plan with Zimmerman, and she's a catch-and-shoot player who's absolutely a great shooter," Spencer said.

"We got hung under some screens and she made us pay for it."

Caitlin Cunningham gave the Lady Champs fits in the post, totaling 19 points. Brittany Trussell added 10.

Potts and Tiffany Gibbs paced the Orange and Black with 10 points apiece.

Franklin County was up 17-13 at the end of the first quarter. A pair of free throws with 39.7 seconds showing by Shelby Nelson drew Cascade to within 30-24 at the half.

Cascade takes a couple days off for the holiday before they jump into the Rotary Thanksgiving Classic in Maury County. They face Wayne County at Whitthorne Middle School on Friday afternoon at 1:30. On Saturday, they battle Giles County at Columbia Central High School at 2.

"We're a small, country school, and we've got to want to overachieve every time we step on the floor," Spencer said. "For the most part, the Xs and Os we're doing a pretty good job with. It's the self esteem part of basketball that I'm having trouble with."