Loss drops Lady Champs in 9-A standings

Cascade's Jessica Popp wrestles for a loose ball with Middle Tennessee Christian's Caroline Riley (40). (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

MURFREESBORO -- A chance for Cascade to solidify itself in the District 9-A standings and get over the hump against a rival fell by the wayside as it blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and lost 46-40 to Middle Tennessee Christian on Tuesday night.

"We're a young team and it show when it comes to the end of ballgames," said Cascade coach Chad Spencer, whose team lost in overtime at district-leading Forrest on Friday even though it led by five with only a few minutes remaining.

Haley Edmondson's 3-pointer put the Lady Champions in front 38-28 with 5:14 to play. But, several key turnovers that resulted in transition baskets helped the Lady Cougars get back in the game.

Jessica Popp's bucket with 3:54 to go left Cascade ahead 40-31, but they didn't score again.

"We made some youthful mistakes with 3-second violations and ill-advised passes that wound up in the fourth row of the bleachers," said Spencer, who's never had a team beat the Lady Cougars. "Stuff like that will get you beat, and we're a prime example.

"If you're up by 10 in the fourth quarter and you get beat, a large part of it goes on my shoulders. I've just got to rethink my offense and the kids I've got taking shots. We don't have that killer instinct to put people away, especially good teams.

Lady Champion Tiffani Grogan (5) drives baseline against Lady Cougar Ashley Sadler. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"I give credit to (MTC) for not giving up. They could have folded, but they didn't."

MTC (16-7, 7-5 9-A) was clutch at the foul line, making all 10 attempts in the fourth quarter. The Lady Champs (15-8, 7-6) didn't hit make a free throw in four attempts the entire second half.

"They drove the lane on us, and we fouled them. We can't get kids to slide over and take charges," Spencer said.

Its play down the stretch was hardly indicative of the first 28 minutes for Cascade.

Elora Skuce's third trey of the first half capped of a 13-0 scoring run that put the Lady Champs up 26-15 midway through the second quarter.

A steal and a layup by M.K. Potts put the visitors in front 29-21 early in a third stanza in which their lead never got smaller than five.

Lady Cougar Alex Martin rides the back of Lady Champion Jessica Popp during a jump ball call. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"I couldn't ask them to play any better than they did the first few quarters," Spencer said.

The Lady Cougars' 15-0 spurt to end the game was highlighted by a 3-point play via Alex Martin that gave them a 42-40 upper hand with 1:26 on the clock.

Martin poured in 10 of her game-high 20 points in the last period. She also sank all four attempts at the charity stripe. Kate Mullins netted eight of her 17 points in the opening quarter.

Potts totaled 17 points, with 11 of those coming in the first frame. Skuce wound up with 12 points despite being held scoreless the second half.

Cascade's goal of finishing in the top three in the District 9-A standings is all but lost after this one. Their district season finale is Friday at Eagleville at 6.

"We've got to find an identity," Spencer said. "Our younger kids have been playing all year long. I won't make an excuse for them being freshmen anymore. They're going to have to work hard and get better or we won't be playing any in the postseason."