Champs take hard hit from Tullahoma

Cascade senior Taylor McAnally (40) goes up for a shot while closely guarded by Tullahoma's Jordan Millerville. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

CHAPEL HILL-- The workload hasn't lightened up for the holiday season for Cascade and a rusty, depleted roster took another hammering from a Class AAA foe when Tullahoma downed the Champions 58-28 on Friday night in Forrest High School's Thanksgiving Classic.

On the heels of Tuesday's 51-point loss to Franklin County, the Orange and Black knew they would have to showcase a near perfect performance to down the Wildcats. The curtains never rose on the potentially miraculous showing.

"The most disappointing thing about tonight was just an overall lack of passion to do the small things," Cascade coach Charlie Pope said. "(Class) AAA schools are going to hammer you if you don't do all the detailed things obsessively, and that's the message that we're trying to preach. You have to be detail oriented."

Tryston Horton and Chad Rusk shined the spotlights on the Champion weak spots early and often with the pair combining for 13 of Tullahoma's first 16 points.

The Coffee County boys nailed five 3-pointers in the first half, but Cascade (1-2) didn't bow down to the torrid shooting. Brent Ray's basket with 6:21 left in the second quarter shrunk the Champion deficit to 20-13.

The Wildcats managed several second-chance points as halftime neared and went into the break up 33-18.

Champion Ryan Massey (55) reaches for a rebound with Wildcat Shamichael Conley. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"We got to see up close and personal that we've got to rebound the ball with a passion," Pope said. "If we were there, it was great; but passion dictates that you go after it, passion dictates that you hold that box out. You take the hit and count on the officials to do their job."

Cascade managed just five field goals and were 0-for-3 from the foul line over the final 16 minutes, which allowed their opponent to take control. Tullahoma led 47-22 entering the final stanza.

"There were times tonight we played hard, but we weren't playing smart. You've got to put it together. We've got to play hard and smart," Pope said.

Horton led all scorers with 22 points, including a 4-for-4 effort at the charity stripe. Rusk added 11. Both players scored in every quarter.

Senior Taylor McAnally, playing in his first varsity basketball game, paced Cascade with six points.

After finishing up play in the Classic against Richland, the Champs host Webb on Monday night at 7:30.