FAYETTEVILLE - A simple glance at the win-loss records doesn't indicate the amount of growth the Cascade Lady Champions have shown under first-year head coach Kendall Hampton.

While the season came to a close on Monday night in the first round of the District 8-A tournament at Fayetteville in a 74-40 loss, Hampton and her Lady Champions feel the groundwork laid in a year plagued with pandemic-related pauses and the ability to persevere can only yield big dividends in the coming seasons.

"We had a lot of good moments in almost every game we've played where we've cut a lead, we've had a great lead in the beginning, we've played great offense or great defense or almost a perfect four minutes or so. We've got to learn how to be able to find that and channel that for the whole game," Hampton said.

Cascade had to combat the size in the post Fayetteville utilized, but just couldn't match the production down low.

"They really controlled the boards and that really hurt us. We are a really undersized team compared to most of the teams we play," Hampton said.

Having stretched the lead to double figures early in the second quarter, Lani Jones was fouled on a made basket and converted the free throw attempt for the three-point play, which jump started a 9-0 run over a near 2:30 of game time. That run cut the Lady Tiger lead to jut four points by the 2:07 mark in the frame.

After a Caroline Stone made shot with 2:07 left in the first half, Fayetteville closed the quarter on an 11-0 run to stretch the lead to 15 points by the half.

Cascade was never able to reel the lead back to single figures again.

While points were tough to come by at times for Cascade, one Lady Champion who made the most of her final game was senior Maddie Crosslin, who posted a game-high 17 points, including five made treys.

"Looking towards the future, we've got everyone returning but Maddie. And Maddie played the best game she could tonight. If you're going to end your season, that's definitely the way to do it," Hampton said.

During the course of the season, Crosslin developed into a reliable perimeter shooter and provided the Lady Champs with the needed leadership, both on and off the court.

"She (Crosslin) has been by default who they all look to because she was the sole senior. She has stepped up for us when we've needed and has been someone to push us in the right direction. She has improved so much this year, each and every game. You always want every player to have more time. She's definitely one I wish we had another year with," Hampton said.

Throughout the season, Cascade had to overcome shortened rosters, injuries, COVID-related pauses, all of which can make building a program even more difficult.

Still, Hampton feels the groundwork laid in 2020-2021 has been key for building success in the coming seasons.

"It's a lot of teaching how to play the game, how to read defense and just spacing on the floor and they've figured that out for the most part this season. Next year going in, we've got that foundation laid where hopefully we can come in and focus more on being able to execute," she said.

Cascade 10 12 11 7 - 40

Fayetteville 19 18 18 19 - 74

Cascade: Maddie Crosslin 17, Lani Jones 10, Caroline Stone 7, Jordan Green 4, Makenna Lamb 2.

Fayetteville: Hannah Litaker 15, Gracie Hoagland 13, Hannah Griffin 12, Zanaria Robinson 8, Isabella Martin 7, Sheneka Nance 7, Amarie Thomison 6, Elexis Humphrey 4, India Bryson 2.

3-Point goals: Cascade (6): Crosslin 5, Jones; Fayetteville (7): Hoagland 3, Griffin 2, Martin, Humphrey.

Halftime score: Fayetteville 37, Cascade 22.