GATLINBURG, Tenn. – The Cascade Lady Champions (10-3) wrapped up the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic on Saturday, falling 69-59 in OT to North Greene (11-1) to finish 2-1 in Gatlinburg.

Cascade overcame an eight-point halftime deficit in the third quarter, trimming the Huskies’ lead to just one heading into the final frame, 41-40. The Lady Champs held the 2024-25 Class A State Quarterfinalists to just seven points in the third period, and after Jocelyn Laughlin scored 10 of Cascade’s 15 fourth-quarter points, the game headed into overtime tied at 55. 

However, in the extra session, the Huskies pulled away, finishing 6/6 at the free throw line after taking an early lead to outscore Cascade, 14-4, and put the third game in three days out of reach for the Lady Champions. 

Tralyn Southerland led all scorers with 27 points for the Huskies, scoring 13 of them in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. Josie Graham added 16 points with 13 of them coming in the second half alone. 

For Cascade, Jocelyn Laughlin scored a team-high 19 points with 14 of them coming in the fourth quarter and overtime alone. Lizzie Keele finished with 17 points, and Kaegan Young added 12 despite being uncharacteristically held to just two points in the second half.

Early on, North Greene could not miss, nailing four three-pointers and finishing 7/12 from the field overall en route to a 20-13 lead after the opening period. Sutherland connected on a pair of triples as did Eva Leonard to lead the Huskies. 

In the second quarter, North Greene nailed three more three-pointers, bringing their first-half total to seven makes from downtown. Despite this, Cascade was able to stay within striking distance by matching the Huskies’ scoring in the period, 13-13, and head into the halftime locker room trailing 34-26.

To start the second half, Cascade picked up the defensive intensity, holding the Huskies to just 2/11 shooting from the field and seven points total in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Keele led Cascade with seven points in the period as the Lady Champs outscored the Huskies, 14-7, to draw within a single point heading into the fourth quarter before eventually falling in overtime.

Cascade falls to 10-3 overall after the loss, but finishes 2-1 at the Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic with some impressive performances. The Lady Champions will return home on Saturday with a rematch against Moore County. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m LIVE on The Zinger 100.9 and AM 1400.