Champs take aim at district title

Two years ago, the Champions lost three straight postseason games to end their year on a sour note.

It looked like they'd set themselves up quite nicely last season after earning a first-round bye in the district tournament. Unfortunately, they were upset in their first game by Forrest before being embarrassed 44-29 by Bedford County rival Community in the consolation game.

Perhaps this team has something to prove to the rest of the district. They locked up the No. 2 seed for the tournament in Chapel Hill at Forrest High School with a league record of 10-4.

"I hope so," said seventh-year Cascade coach Charlie Pope, who has over 100 career wins to his credit. "I think so, but it's not about me. It's got to be what they want. We've set our goals every year to try to win the district tournament not because we should, but because we want to. We feel like that's a goal that you should set every season because that's a culmination of a season's worth of work. You don't really think beyond that."

One wall the Champs did knock down last season came when they upset District 10-A champion Houston County in the opening round of the Region 5-A tournament to get them their first trip to the semifinals since 2001. They then had talented Clarksville Academy on the ropes before falling by four and seeing their season end with a record of 18-10.

Wins and losses all go out the door Saturday night. Every team reverts back to 0-0. Pope has seen enough upsets to know the importance of reminding his team that anything can happen once the ref tosses the basketball in the air.

"When it's an elimination game, it's do or die," he said. "People have a tendency to play above their heads. You have to expect that in the district tournament."

Cascade (14-10) puts its season on the line against Moore County on Saturday night at 7. The Champs took both regular season games by a grand total of 38 points.

"It's all about matchups," Pope said. "In the first round of the district tournament, you don't take anything for granted. Anybody can beat anybody."

The Champs, who have beaten every team in 9-A at least once, have proven time and time again that they are a tough team to handle if they're attacking the basket and not settling for shots on the perimeter.

After playing one of its best all-around games to date in a win at top-seeded Eagleville last Friday, Cascade saw Tuesday's Senior Night get canceled due to weather. Thus, they'll have an eight-day break before squaring off with the Raiders.

The semifinals and finals of the Region 5-A tournament will likely be in either Cedar Hill or Murfreesboro.