BELL BUCKLE, Tenn. – The Cascade Lady Champions (7-2) outrebounded Cannon County (3-4) by 16, 34-18, allowing the hosts to go on a 12-2 run and pull away in the fourth quarter for a 59-48 win on Friday night.

Kaegan Young was the best player on the floor, finishing with a double-double consisting of a game-high 22 points with 11 rebounds while dishing out six assists and swiping an astonishing five steals. Her relentless aggressiveness allowed her to go 11/14 at the charity stripe as well. Caroline Parker added 11 points while Lizzie Keele chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds. Keele also hounded Lionettes’ star point guard, Abi Alexander, on defense all game, holding Alexander to just 13 points on 3/9 shooting.

Lizzie Keele (11) fires away from downtown against the Lionettes. Keele finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds in the win on Friday night.

David Smith

“Lizzie stepped up again defensively like she does every night in and night out, and Kaegan [Young], I mean, it’s just another trip for Kaegan Young,” Lady Champions Head Coach Janie Demonbreum said postgame, “She’s such a unique person to watch because she is so selfless and she just does what’s best for all of us most of the time.”

Elly Bain led Cannon County with a team-high 20 points – scoring 10 in each half – but Cascade was able to neutralize her just enough early in the fourth quarter to land its knockout blow. Alexander added 13 points while Braylynn Taylor chipped in with 13 points on a trio of three-pointers.

Early on, both teams struggled to get anything going offensively as the two sides combined for just 12 points by the end of the opening period with Cannon County holding onto a slight lead, 7-5.

Bain began to assert herself in the second quarter, scoring eight of her 20 in the period to ensure the Lionettes were tied with Cascade at 19-19 heading into the halftime locker room. 

Caroline Parker (5) drives baseline against Cannon County. She finished with 11 points in Friday's win.

David Smith

In the third quarter, the Lady Champs came out ready to roll offensively, outscoring the Lionettes, 20-16, to take a 39-35 lead heading into the final frame.

Then, Cascade ramped up the defensive intensity as well generating quality looks on offense, sparking the knockout 12-2 run that all but sealed the victory. Young scored 14 of her 22 points in the second half, Parker netted eight of her 11, and Keele scored six of her 10, all in the final 16 minutes. 

Meanwhile, Suzanna Crews switched onto Bain, holding her to just three points in the fourth quarter as Cascade outscored the Lionettes, 20-13, in the last eight minutes to take home the 11-point victory and win its third-consecutive game for the second time this season already.

Cascade improves to 7-2 overall. They face a quick turnaround, hosting Murfreesboro Central Magnet on Monday night LIVE on The Zinger 100.9 and AM 1400 starting at 5:45 p.m.