Second-half surge not enough for Lady Champs

After trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half, Cascade's girls fought back with possibly their most impressive quarter of the season in the third period to take the lead on No. 8 Middle Tennessee Christian on Tuesday in a battle for second place in District 9-A.

M.K. Potts bucketed 11 of her game-high 20 points in the torrid third for the Lady Champs.

A pair of baskets by Tiffany Gibbs to start the fourth quarter put Cascade in front 47-39 with 7:23 left.

"Tiffany and M.K. played their hearts out," Lady Champion coach Chad Spencer said. "What they did in the third quarter was unbelievable. I'm very proud of them.

"Trena (Bowman) was getting on the boards. We made a run and showed all kinds of heart."

Unfortunately for the home team, it was all downhill from there. The Lady Cougars closed the game with a 22-3 run and left town with a 61-50 victory.

"We just lost the momentum, and again we missed too many free throws," said Spencer, whose team was 9-for-19 at the foul line.

Of MTC's 23 fourth-quarter points, only six came on made field goals. They 17-of-24 foul shots in a span of seven minutes.

Cascade was whistled for 31 fouls altogether, bringing their total for their last two home games to 57.

"We do foul too much," Spencer said. "We've got to get down in a defensive stance. We've got to do a better job of stopping penetration. They know that's our weakness."

The loss drops Cascade to 14-8 overall and 8-4 in District 9-A.

"My girls have got heart," Spencer said. "We've turned it around more than any other team in our district from year to year. Other than Forrest losing some seniors, nobody else lost anybody. I'm proud of how hard my kids have worked."

Kate Mullins scored nine of her team-leading 15 points in the first period for the Lady Cougars (20-3, 9-3). Sara Sims tallied 14 points, including 8-of-12 at the charity stripe. Katie Dunn made 11-of-16 at the foul line and totaled 13 points. Alex Martin contributed 12.

Gibbs scored in every quarter and followed Potts with 16 points. Bowman hauled down 12 rebounds.

Mullins banked in a field goal at the buzzer and converted the three-point play on the foul line to give the visitors a 22-9 advantage after a quarter.

Cascade closed the second stanza with eight straight points to slim their halftime deficit to 29-21.

Friday night's matchup with Watertown will be the last regular season home game for six Lady Champions as they celebrate Senior Night.

"I'm going to coach as hard as I can coach. I want my girls to play as hard as they can play," Spencer said.

Tip-off is at 6.