WILD ‘CATS FINISH

A frantic final minute saw Cashion pull out an improbable 52-51 victory in the season opener Tuesday at Chisholm.

Parker Mitchell made three free throws with .3 second remaining to give the Wildcats the game-clinching points, but it was a wild ride to that moment.

The teams battled for much of four quarters as Cashion trimmed an eightpoint deficit after a quarter to two points by halftime.

The Wildcats then took a four-point lead into the fourth.

The game stayed close and was tied 49-49 in the final seconds when Chisholm was sent to the free throw line for a pair of shots.

However, the Longhorns missed both and Carson Gump grabbed the rebound.

Unfortunately for Cashion, Gump’s pass couldn’t be handled by Mitchell and it went into the waiting arms of Cooper Westfahl.

Westfahl’s layup gave the Longhorns a 51-49 lead with just 3.5 seconds left to play.

Cashion coach John Hardaway had used two timeouts to ice the Chisholm shooter at the free throw just seconds earlier, but still had three in his back pocket.

He used one to draw up a play to get the ball quickly across half court, which the Wildcats did before another timeout was called with 2.5 seconds remaining.

With fouls to give, Chisholm fouled Drake Woody with 1.7 showing on the clock.

Cashion then got the ball into Mitchell, who was fouled as he attempted a 3-pointer at the top of the key.

The drama didn’t end there.

Mitchell’s first free throw hit the front and back of the rim before falling through the net, making it a one-point game.

Mitchell missed his second free throw, but Chisholm was called for foul shooter obstruction as two Longhorns were waving their arms and clapping as he shot it.

That gave Mitchell two more foul shots.

He took advantage of the additional opportunity by draining both.

Chisholm’s desperation shot couldn’t find its mark.

Hardaway noted he used all five timeouts in the final eight seconds.

“I try not to burn any early. I only try to use them in the first three quarters to stop runs by the opponent or course correct our own effort or focus,” he said.

“In a close game, you’re going to need them late. If we didn’t have all five of our timeouts, we lose that game.”

Mitchell led the Wildcats with 23 points in his debut. He also had a team-high five assists.

Anthony Wilburn nearly had a double-double with his 11 points and nine rebounds.

Shafer reaches milestone in Lady Wildcats’ win Just one game into the season and Megan Shafer has hit a career milestone.

Cashion’s senior post surpassed the 1,000 career points mark last Tuesday in her team’s 50-34 victory at Chisholm.

Shafer scored 13 points to lead Cashion, which got out to a fast start and cruised to the victory.

The Lady Wildcats led 13-2 after a quarter and extended the advantage to 29-8.

Freshman Kate Nabavi offered a nice debut as she contributed 10 points in the win.

Abby Hobgood added six points while Addison Mc-Cracken, Jaylee Harp and Brooke Shafer scored five points apiece.