The Cascade bench celebrates a play in the Cascade vs. Junction City girl’s basketball game at Junction City High School on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2015. Cascade won the game 61-43.
JUNCTION CITY – Being No. 1 in the state at midseason has pluses and minuses.
On the good side for Cascade High School’s girls basketball team, there are going to be no easy games.
On the negative side for the Cougars, there are going to be no easy games, even though some look easier than others.
No. 1-ranked Cascade defeated Junction City 61-43 on the road Tuesday night after leading by as much as 28 points in the third quarter before most of its starters were subbed out of the game for good.
Being No. 1 in the OSAA’s power rankings brings one level of pressure, but being No. 1 in the coaches’ poll is something else to live up to, and Cascade has so far.
“So we know that it’s going to obviously be helpful if we can stay (highly ranked) because we get better seeding and everything, but it’s kind of a downfall because we have that target on our back now and everybody’s going to want to play us, everyone wants to beat us,” said Cascade senior Alyssa St. Peter, who scored 12 points and had six assists.
“We’re going to see everybody’s best game. I think that helps us, too, because it’s going to push us all season. We’re not going to have everyone being lazy.”
Cascade’s 11th consecutive win moves the team to 11-1 overall.
The Cougar loaded with sophomores after placing third in state a year ago is this high up at this point in the season is unsurprising.
“I think that it makes us want to not lose because we don’t want to lose our spot, and all of the teams want to beat us, so it makes us pumped up to play them,” said sophomore Kelsey Molan.
Cascade’s Peighton Williams (21) looks to pass the ball in the Cascade vs. Junction City girl’s basketball game at Junction City High School on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2015. Cascade won the game 61-43.
But Tuesday’s game also showed how important point guard Halle Wright is to the team.
The sophomore superstar scored 19 points and was hardly challenged when she was on the court, shooting 8 of 9 from the field.
Late in the first quarter, though, she picked up two quick fouls while playing defense on the perimeter and had to come out of the game with Cascade up 18-6.
“I’m definitely confident when I come out of the game,” Wright said. “We’re definitely deeper than we were last year, especially with our six sophomores playing together basically since seventh grade. When I come out, I know they can compete with intensity out there.”
Without Wright in the game for four minutes, the Cougars struggled to find their flow offensively, though they still played remarkable defense.
When Wright returned with six minutes to go in the half, Cascade went on a 13-0 run and went up 32-10.
The 5-foot-11 Wright is that stellar of a player.
“She was obviously phenomenal last year, but I think she’s facing a new challenge this year because a lot more people know more about her so we’re seeing a lot more things like box-and-1’s, trying to take her away,” St. Peter said.
“For her to still be putting out the offense that she is, I think that just kind of shows how good she really is. I think she could have done that last year, too, but we see it more this year.”
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
Cascade 61, Junction City 43
Cascade: Halle Wright 19, St. Peter 12, Wilson 7, Miller 6, Molan 6, Cade 4, Bangert 4, Mack 3, Haddix, Williams, Loukojarvi. Totals 22 14-27 61.
Junction City: Katarina Thompson 15, Evans 9, Graton 9, Thompson 4, Norris 4, Ohman 2, Mehlbrech, Ward. Totals 15 14-20 43.
|
CAS |
19 |
19 |
17 |
6 |
— 61 |
|
JC |
6 |
11 |
10 |
13 |
— 43 |
3-point goals: Cascade 3 (Wright 2, St. Peter); Junction City 1 (Graton).
NOMINATIONS NEEDED
Do you know someone who should be nominated for the Statesman Journal’s fan voting awards to be announced during the Mid-Valley Sports Awards?
Courage Award: Recognize an athlete who exhibited leadership during difficult or sensitive times.
Heart and Desire Award: Nominees for this award are the ones who show up and give maximum effort and support the team, even if they are sitting on the sidelines.
Comeback Player Award: Honors an athlete who returned to competition from an injury or other situation that forced him or her to miss significant playing time.
Fan Experience Award: Recognizes the area’s most outstanding school sports environment, shining a spotlight on the bands, cheerleaders, dance squads and fans.
Let us know at MidValleySportsAwards.com. You can also buy tickets to the first Mid-Valley Sports Awards show on June 7 at the Salem Convention Center.