By Jeremy McDonald
jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
TURNER, Ore.– It wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win to advance.
After a strong first set in their 25-10, 25-20, 25-23 sweep, Cascade was challenged in their next two by La Grande. Having to rally from deficits of 7-2 and 7-0 to pick-up their first first-round win since 2014.
The key in their victory was patience and remaining calm in the face of adversity.
“You just have to stay calm and trust your teammates and just keep pushing to the next point,” Meah Carley said. “Even if it’s 24-10 and you’re down, you gotta keep pushing and fight to the end. I felt like our team succeeded with that because we’ve been down in situations like when we played Sisters. We just have to stay calm and trust your teammates on-and-off the court.”
Staying up as a team will be key, that mental discipline as they are going to host Sweet Home Tuesday. It’ll be the fourth-time that the Cougars have played the Huskies this season, Cascade has won the previous three meetings entering the State Quarterfinals.
“What we need to work on as a team is staying up and not going down. Sometimes when you go down, it keeps going down and you lose a set. Sweet Home, we played them three times so this will be our fourth. We just have to keep battling because I know they’ll want it as much as we do,” Carley said.
Winner of the quarterfinal match-up will punch their tickets to the Final Four at Corvallis High School November 5 and 6.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
JMcDonaldMedia 