By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

TURNER, Ore.–  The 4A Showcase State Final rematch between Cascade and Marshfield lived up to the hype Friday night.

It was one of those old-fashioned barnburners that saw the Pirates edging the Cougars in double overtime 73-68 with the faithful fan bases from the Turner and Coos Bay squads cheering on their squads from the start.

“Bigger crowds, bigger atmosphere, a lot more hype.  It’s a tougher situation but I love it.  I love the energy, it’s created on both ends,” described Ty Best.

Cascade had the slight advantage going into halftime leading 32-25 while holding Marshfield’s Dom Montiel in check in the opening 16 by holding the senior to two first half points.

Montiel started to warm up in the second half, eventually finishing with 15 points.  Pierce Davidson led the Pirate charge thanks to six three-pointers, four in the fourth quarter and overtime.  Helping to spark Marshfield’s comeback after going down 51-41 with 3:45 left in regulation to the Cougars.

Thanks to a 14-4 run, we had ourselves an overtime game and as it looked as if Cascade would fall in the four-minute extra period down 64-59 with 75 seconds remaining, they rallied.

A 7-1 run capped by Best hitting a top of the key three to fend off defeat and sending the game to a second overtime period.

“It felt great, it created energy.  But we just got to maintain that energy,” Best said.

Fatigue was sinking in for both teams.  But both dug deep for the sixth-round with the legs and bodies feeling like it was the 15^th-round of a heavyweight boxing match.

“it was very tiring.  During the second overtime, I couldn’t explode because my calves were cramping,” Kellen Sande said.

Sande hit a go-ahead three thirty seconds into the second four-minute frame to give the Cougars a 68-65 lead.  That was their last basket of the game however as they went cold down the stretch.

The little things added up to the result, the game even for both squads.  But down the stretch it was Marshfield taking advantage of them as they finished the game on a 8-0 run to improve to 4-1 on the season.

And as the Pirates host the South Coast Les Schwab Tournament Thursday, the Cougars have one more home game before the Capital City Classic when they host Gladstone Tuesday evening. 

It’ll be one final tune-up before the Cougars head to Willamette University to open the CCC against 5A Juggernaut in Silverton Friday night at 8:30pm.

“I think just closing out on shooters.  I mean Pierce hit a few big shots.  We played well, they played well and we’ll see them down the road,” Sande said.

Sande finished with 20 points; Best had a team-high 22 points.  Dom Ball and Spencer Horn each contributed nine points each.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald