Cashion squads have productive weekend
CASHION FRESHMAN Lauren Jenkins pushes the ball up the floor against Thomas while coach Andrea Taylor directs traffic in the background. [Photo by Brad Stone/www.bestone. shootproof.com]
Based on scores and amount of time played each night, Cashion’s weekend went from toughest to easiest.
But there was nothing easy about it.
The Wildcats wrapped up their third win in as many nights Saturday when they thwarted Class A No. 17 Thomas, 66-55 at home.
That came after they went on the road Friday and were pushed in a 57-52 overtime victory at Wellston.
And that game was preceded by Thursday’s double-overtime win at 2A No. 1 Dale (story in the Jan. 17 edition).
By the time the weekend was over, Cashion boasted a 12-1 record.
Wellston was 7-4 entering the contest, but Cashion was the first ranked team it had seen all season.
“For whatever reason, they always play us tough, especially over there,” Cashion coach John Hardaway said.
His team was up by 10 points after a quarter, but that was cut in half by halftime. It was just a one-point game entering the fourth.
Cashion eventually pulled away - just enough - in the extra frame.
Vance Raney was 6 of 10 from 3-point range and led the team with 20 points.
Austin Frazier and Jonah Jenkins scored 13
Thomas led the Wildcats at halftime but a 21-10 spurt in the third quarter allowed Cashion to take control.
“They’re just massive inside,” Hardaway said of the Terriers, who feature Camden Billy and Aden Kelley, the same duo that gave Cashion’s football team fits on the offensive and defensive front lines.
Billy had 13 points and seven rebounds while Kelley added 12 points and nine boards.
However, they were offset largely by Landon LaGasse’s 16-point, 12-rebound effort.
Frazier also scored 16 while Jenkins scored 15 and Raney 11.
Lady Wildcats close out with 2 straight wins
Cashion’s girls went 2-1 in the same stretch as they picked up wins on the final two nights.
A big third quarter helped the Lady Wildcats to a 51-31 victory on Friday at Wellston.
Up by 12, Cashion went on a 15-2 run after the break.
Brook Shelly scored 13 points to lead the balanced attack that saw six players score at least five points.
Neeley Tilley-Bedick added eight and Issy Reeves seven.
Against Thomas, Cashion controlled the final three quarters in a 35-26 victory.
After falling behind and scoring just four points in the first quarter, Cashion led 13-10 at halftime before outscoring the Lady Terriers 11-8 in each of the final two quarters.
Lauren Lamb paced the team with 13 points while Tilley-Bedick scored 11.
Cashion was 94 after the victory and has won six of its last eight games.