MTC outlasts Cascade Middle in OT

Cascade's Hunter Seibers gets a shot off in the paint between MTC defenders. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Sometimes you never see the fight in a team until they've been backed into a corner and banged around a bit.

Cascade Middle spotted Middle Tennessee Christian Middle 10 unanswered points at the start of each half on Monday night, only to battle back each time. It took an overtime period but the visiting Cougars were able to outlast Cascade 46-42.

Despite the teams coming off a holiday break, it was a solidly played basketball game. The Champions had merely a pair of three-hour practices over the course of Friday and Saturday to prepare, but they showed one of their best efforts this season.

"I didn't think we showed any rust at all. I was really pleased with the way we came back," Cascade coach Mike Edmondson said.

MTC bounced out to a 13-3 lead in the first quarter thanks largely to Derrick Spears netting 11 of his game-high 18 points. The Champs (3-10) responded with 12 unanswered points of their own and took a two-point lead on Jesse Barnes' basket with 3:19 left in a second stanza that included four ties and four lead changes.

Cascade entered the midway point in front 21-19 following a pair of free throws by Cole Claxton with no time on the clock. They didn't lead again.

The second Cougar 10-0 burst came at the start of the third period. A Claxton basket with 1:48 to go in the frame capped off a Champion run of seven straight points.

"We changed defenses there and they got a little confused and we battled back," Edmondson said.

"I was proud of the way they battled. That's the biggest thing. We've just got to learn to pay attention to the little details at the end of the game."

The teams advanced to the fourth with MTC toting a 33-28 edge.

Sharp-shooter Will Holt sent the Wartrace/Bell Buckle faithful into a craze when he netted a 3-pointer to knot the score at 40-all with only 7 seconds left in regulation.

Chase Smotherman's three-point play keyed the Cougars in overtime to help them clinch the victory.

Holt finished with 12 points. Hunter Seibers followed with 10 and Bryce Clinton nine.

MTC 34, Cascade 19 (G): The Lady Champions had their foes on their heels halfway through the second quarter, trailing just 11-9.

Lady Champ Haylee Simpson (55) attempts to make a basket over the top of MTC's Savannah McIntyre. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The Lady Cougars showed their might soon thereafter by scooting on past with a 13-3 spurt. Cascade didn't threaten again and MTC stayed unbeaten at 24-0.

"You can tell we haven't played a game in awhile," Lady Champion coach Chad Spencer said. "We've had some really good practices over the break. We shot a terrible percentage from the free-throw line.

"We've got people trying to learn new positions because of injuries. That's kind of gotten us out of sync a little bit. We're trying hard. We've just got to get better. I wish we could play a team like that every night."

The MTC defense swarmed the hosts all evening, holding Cascade to a total of seven field goals, including none in the fourth quarter.

Alexa Middleton tallied at least one field goal in each frame and paced the Lady Cougars with 13 points.

Andrea Pigg's five points led the Lady Champs.

MTC was up 17-9 at the half and 26-17 moving to the final period.

Cascade hosts Moore County Middle on Thursday night at 6.