FAYETTEVILLE, TN – The Cascade Lady Champions started out hot from downtown, but cooled off in the second half as the hometown Fayetteville City Lady Tigers battled back to steal the game in the extra session, 68-66 (OT), on Friday night.

Cascade finished a season-best 11/24 from downtown, but the Lady Tigers’ connected on 13/32 to eke out the two-point win at home. 

The Lady Champs were led by Caroline Parker and Lizzie Keele, each finishing with 14 points on the night. Kaydence Miller and Sophie Ray each finished with 12 points as well, and Keagan Young chipped in with 11 points. However, despite the strong offensive output, Cascade uncharacteristically fell apart on the defensive end, allowing a pair of 20-point scorers for the first time this season.

Caroline Parker (2) passes at Fayetteville. She finished with 14 points on Friday.

Asia Ewing and Kayden Parks each finished with a game-high 21 points as they connected on nine three-pointers between them to complete the comeback. Ellaina Sheriden also chipped in with 10 points of her own, and A’Tricia Clark made a name for herself with 10 second-half points after being held scoreless in the first half. 

Cascade had a golden opportunity to win the game in regulation after Caroline Parker got fouled on a drive to the basket, sending her to the free throw line with 26 seconds left on the clock and the game tied at 59-59. Surprisingly, Parker went 0/2 at the line, leaving the game tied and letting Fayetteville have the final possession of regulation. Parker was 5/6 at the line before that trip, but Kaegan Young’s defense bailed her out and sent the game into overtime after Young blocked Parks’ game-winning attempt at the buzzer. 

In the extra session, Fayetteville found themselves up, 68-64, with less than a minute to go. Parker connected from downtown on a scramble-drill possession to cut the lead back to one point with less than 15 seconds left, but Fayetteville was able to use just enough close to prevent Cascade from getting a shot off at the buzzer. 

To start the game, Cascade got off to a torrid start from downtown, connecting on seven of their first 12 attempts from outside the arc in the first half, enabling them to jump out to a 19-10 lead after the opening frame. In the second quarter, the Lady Tigers began to heat up from the outside themselves, outscoring the Lady Champs, 20-19, to send the game to halftime with Cascade holding onto a 38-30 lead. 

Lizzie Keele (11) goes up for two of her 14 points in Friday's loss.

In the third quarter, the same shots that were falling in the first half quit falling in the period, allowing Fayetteville to make it a four-point game heading into the final frame, 48-44. The Lady Tigers outscored Cascade 14-8 in the third quarter.

In the final frame, Fayetteville outscored Cascade, 15-11, to send the game into overtime tied at 59-59, eventually coming away with the win, 68-66. 

Fayetteville picks up their first win of the year, improving to 1-5 on the season.

Cascade falls to 2-3 after starting the season 2-0, and will host Eagleville on Tuesday night, LIVE on The Zinger 100.9 and AM 1400, starting at 5:45 p.m.