LaGasse does it again for Cashion
Buzzer beater sends Wildcats to state, brings back memory of football heroics
THE PASS - Cashion’s Jonah Jenkins sends a pass downcourt to Landon LaGasse (foreground) in the waning seconds of the team’s area title game. LaGasse caught the pass and made a layup as the buzzer sounded to give the Wildcats a dramatic 48-46 win agai
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES Cashion coach John Hardaway (far right) and players begin to celebrate after the official counts Landon LaGasse’s game-winning bucket in last Friday night’s area title game with Mangum. The win sent Cashion to the Class 2A state t
Ice Cube famously rapped about having a good day.
He’s got nothing on Landon LaGasse’s junior year.
For the second time this school year, LaGasse provided heroics in an epic Cashion win.
This time it was his layup as the buzzer sounded Saturday to give the Wildcats a thrilling 48-46 win over Mangum in their Class 2A area championship game at Chickasha High School.
The win vaulted Cashion to its second straight state tournament after having not made it since 1996 prior to last year.
“I’ve never been a part of anything like that at all,” said Cashion coach John Hardaway.
His Wildcats were on the ropes after giving up an eight-point fourth quarter lead.
Mangum had possession in the final second with the game tied.
LaGasse got his hand in Lamar James’ path as James let loose a 3-point shot with six seconds left.
The shot rimmed out and fell into the hands of Jonah Jenkins, who, in one motion, flung a two-handed pass to LaGasse, who had flashed downcourt.
“I just knew that I didn’t have much time and that I needed to get to the basket as fast as I could,” LaGasse said.
He took two dribbles and laid it up with his left hand.
The ball left his fingertips with .4 second showing on the clock, then crashed through the net as the buzzer sounded.
LaGasse mustered a two-arm flex before he was mobbed by teammates and coaches.
It was the same flex LaGasse displayed at Pawhuska on Dec. 11 when he caught a 52-yard touchdown from Ben Harman in the Class A state football semifinal.
The score came with 3:28 to play and - after an extra-point-proved to be the game-winner in Cashion’s 7-6 win over the Huskies before they went on to win the state championship the next week.
Just three months later, LaGasse delivered another iconic play in a Cashion uniform.
“It feels amazing and I get goosebumps thinking about them,” LaGasse said.
“It’s what every little kid dreams of and I’ve just been blessed to be given these opportunities.”
LaGasse had nine points and 12 rebounds overall.
He a 27-22 halftime lead after falling behind early.
The lead was eight points in the fourth quarter before Mangum began its comeback.
The Tigers tied it with 1:11 left.
Jenkins missed a driving layup just 10 seconds later and turned it over with about 30 seconds to play, which gave Mangum a chance at the last shot.
So the Tigers thought.
LaGasse released as soon as James let his shot go.
Jenkins didn’t hesitate after his rebound and found LaGasse in stride.
“Everyone will remember that finish for all time and they should,” Hardaway said. “But Jonah’s board awareness and pass was just as impressive.”
It was Jenkins’ fourth assist of the game to go with 15 points.
Vance Raney led the Wildcats with 18 points, which included five 3-pointers.
He also pulled down five rebounds.
Among those sprinting to celebrate with LaGasse after his heroics was Hardaway.
“It’s been a while,” he said of the last time he ran full speed that quickly. “But it was worth it.”
This is the fourth time Cashion has qualified overall. All have been since 1994 and half of them the last two years.