By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

ALBANY, Ore.–  The press of South Albany Thursday night presented another opportunity for the young Cascade Girls Basketball team here early in the season.

It was the second time that the Cougars were faced with the tough challenge of breaking the press defense, having to do so against Central on December 2 in their overtime meeting that evening.  It was a good learning experience in staying together as a team through the adversity as the Redhawks jumped out to a 25-11 lead on the 4A Cougars to start in the second quarter of this particular match-up.

“It’s going to help us a lot.  We had this same kind of situation against Central, but this time our inexperience showed again.  Not making the right decisions, not playing as a team completely, those last couple of minutes got into our heads.  But it’s going to make us better in the long run,” said Cassidy Crabtree of the game.

Cascade stayed with it too.  They didn’t let the game get away from them as they kept the game within ten points throughout as they looked for that one spark to get them over the hump on the road.  Keeping that confidence high and even getting the game within eight with 4:30 left in the game following a three-point shot by Olivia Bennett before a dry spell halted the promising last push going into the final whistle.  

“It’s great, it’s great to have that hope still and keep the freshman and all the younger girls  in the game, keep their heads up.  And it builds us as a team going through those times, those moments in the game,” Maddie Dustin said of that team’s confidence.  “Just keep playing together and experience is the biggest thing for us.  Playing these games are just going to give us more experience and that’s all we really need.  We have everything, we just need to play more games.”

It was three of six points by the freshman.  Maddie Dustin led the offense with 14 points, Meah Carley had seven points and Crabtree contributed five herself as the Cougs look to rebound Monday against Wilsonville.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald