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Champions outlast Watertown

By WILL CARTER - For the T-G
Posted 12/14/21

For three quarters Friday night, the Cascade Champions held onto a strong lead before seeing it dwindle to single digits in the fourth quarter due to poor shooting and turnovers.

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Champions outlast Watertown

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For three quarters Friday night, the Cascade Champions held onto a strong lead before seeing it dwindle to single digits in the fourth quarter due to poor shooting and turnovers.
Cascade entered the fourth quarter with a 14-point lead, but Watertown’s Purple Tigers fought back. The Champs hung on for a 47-39 win.
Champions coach Chris Lawson was happy with the win, but emphasized the importance of being consistent for the duration of the game.
“We did a much better job finishing quarters, but we have yet to play consistently an entire game,” Lawson said. “In the third quarter, we had ten possessions in a row that were negative because of either a turnover or bad shot. That’s where we have to get better.”
The opening frame started with a lid on the basket as both teams were scoreless for the first three minutes of the contest.
Led by senior Justis Carter’s six first quarter points, the Champions started their run offensively.
Carter finished with 15 points on the night.
Junior Lucas Clanton joined Carter as the only two in double figures for the Champions with 12, but five others added to the final score.
“Eventually we will have three or four different ones that will put up double figures. We’re not there yet, but we will be dangerous if we can get there,” Lawson said. “We’re still trying to figure out the pieces of the puzzle and who can produce for us.”
Cascade opened the second half with another run offensively leading to a 17-point lead near the middle of the third quarter.
Thomas Gentry connected on two of his three shots from the arc in the quarter with Jayden Gulick adding one of his own.
Gentry and Gulick finished with nine and three points respectively.
But the Champions’ firepower began to run out in the final frame putting up only eight points to Watertown’s 14.
“Sometimes our mindset changes, and we try to make tough passes. We make the game harder than it has to be. We have to learn how to play with a lead instead of taking the first shot they give us,” Lawson said.
Even with the home-court win, Lawson once again cited a lack of consistency for Cascade’s struggles.
“To win tough games and any game, it takes consistency across the board,” Lawson said. “You’re not going to be able to be bad for two minute stretches and beat good teams. That’s where we have to grow.”
 
Watertown  5   9   11  14 — 39
Cascade   11  13  15    8 — 47
Watertown: Brady Rawes 10, Will Hackett 10, KJ Wood 8, J.J. Goodall 5, Kier Priest 2, Jackson Thomas 2, Marcus Reynolds 2.
Cascade: Justis Carter 15, Lucas Clanton 12, Thomas Gentry 9, Saebyn Burris 4, Jayden Gulick 3, Chance Brown 2, Isaac McElroy 2.
3-Point goals: Cascade (6): Gentry 3, Clanton 2, Gulick; Watertown (5): Rawes 2, Wood 2, Goodall.
Halftime score: Cascade 24, Watertown 14.