Big Richland 3rd wrecks Champs

Cascade's Brian Faust shoots over the top of Richland's Tanner Newton (12). (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

LYNNVILLE -- Rare is it that a basketball game that includes 17 lead changes and eight ties ends up carrying a lopsided result, but Richland accomplished that feat Tuesday night with superb shooting in the third quarter of its 79-56 victory over Cascade.

Tanner Newton's 3-pointer with 2:28 showing in the third quarter capped off a 13-2 Raider scoring run that broke a tie at 41-all, and the hosts never slowed from there.

"Maybe I should have called timeout, but I've always tried to take the approach that if it's near the end of the quarter, we weather the storm and get to the end of the quarter," Cascade coach Charlie Pope said. "Give (Richland) credit, they made several shots right there in a row, and that was the difference in the ballgame."

Richland (6-0) went into the fourth period ahead 63-49 and never allowed its visitors to dip into its lead.

"I think what happened was we just missed some shots, had a few key turnovers, had some guys in foul trouble that we really count on and it just worked against us tonight," Pope said.

A Zack Hitchcock basket 9 seconds prior to the end of the first quarter put Cascade (0-4) up 16-15.

Champion senior Matt Henderson (13) attacks the basket. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Clint Coble drained a pair of free throws with 2 tenths of a second to go in the second stanza to send Richland into the break ahead 38-36.

Newton's 16 points led the Raiders, who placed five in double figures. Cody Jordan scored 15, Chris Jones 13, Kevin Coggin 10 and Coble 10.

Ricky Hord made three 3-pointers and all four of his free throws to lead the Champs with 15 points. Gerald "Happy" Johnson battled foul trouble but still finished with 12 points. Hitchcock totaled 10.

A tough slate in the early going should have the Champs prepared for District 9-A competition, which begins on Friday night versus Huntland in Wartrace.

"The regular season schedule should be designed to get you ready for the postseason," Pope said. "We're a long way away from postseason. That's a talented team; they're good. We showed that when we're playing that we can play with them. I wasn't disappointed. I'm not happy with the outcome, but I'm not disappointed with their effort.

"If five weeks from now we haven't changed things, I'll be disappointed and frustrated. But, it's too early right now to get that way. There's no room for negativity, we've just got to get to work."