Cascade boys basketball team loses heartbreaker at home against Chelan

The Cascade Kodiak boys basketball team played another close game against Chelan on Jan. 3 at Cascade High School. The Goats jumped on the Kodiaks in the first quarter 17-9. Cascade came roaring back in the second quarter, outscoring the Goats 20-9.
Cascade led 29-26 at halftime.
The Kodiaks opened up a seven point lead in the third quarter, but the Goats were able to trim that lead to two by the end of the quarter, 42-40. In the fourth quarter, Chelan wasted no time tying the game, then taking the lead 52-48 with just over two minutes remaining.
A pair of Isaac Cortes free throws tied the game at 52-52. Then Cole Warnaca fouled out. Chelan took the lead 53-52 on a Quinn Stamps free throw with 51 seconds to go. Cascade came back with a play to Hans Schlyer who scored on hook shot with 19 seconds remaining. Cascade led 54-53.
Chelan took a timeout, then came down court and missed a shot, but the ball was knocked out of bounds by Cascade with 11 seconds remaining. Chelan’s Dawson Roberts scored his only basket of the game with 3 seconds to go, giving the Goats a 54-55 lead.
Cascade fouled and Chelan scored a free throw to make the final margin 56-54.
“It seems like every time we play Chelan it comes down to the wire. We have to learn how to win and learn how to play down the stretch. We executed a play where we got Schlyer the ball on the block and he scored it. We jut didn’t get the defensive stop that we needed on the other end,” said Cascade Head Coach Paul Fraker.
Jose Mendoza led the Kodiaks with 16 points. Waranca and Schlyer had 10, Cortes 9.
“I liked the way we have different guys stepping up. We almost had four guys in double figures. It has been awhile since we’ve done that. It’s nice to see some balanced scoring. I thought we really shared the basketball,” Fraker said.
Chelan out-rebounded 21-20. Cascade shot 45 percent from the field versus 38 percent for Chelan. Key to the Kodiak defense was defending Chelan’s sharpshooter Connor Wilson, who finished with only six points.
“Raul (Mata) started the first quarter on Wilson. That is the guy who has been hurting us the past couple years. We held him to six points. Jose did a great job defending him for the next three quarters. He had a lot of high energy,” Fraker said. “Stamps really stepped up. He had 19. Had nine in the first quarter. We have to work on not fouling because teams are hurting us on the free throw line.”
On Jan. 5, Cascade played at Omak, losing 60-34. More than anything, they were doomed by a dismal shooting second half. Omak lead 18-12 in the first, then 33-22 at half. The Kodiaks managed only 12 second half points.
“Their size gave us some trouble. We only shot 23 percent from the field. We were 3-for-16 from three. Rebounds were 43-36 for Omak,” Fraker said. “Offensively we just have to get better in practice. We have to find ways to score. We’re not scoring enough to stay in games.”
Fraker said the fact they are a young team is no longer an excuse.
“We can’t use that as a reason. I just don’t know. If I knew, I would fix it,” Fraker said. “Chelan was a deflating loss. We didn’t finish well. It’s hard to keep moving in the right direction when you don’t win games.”
With the loss, Cascade dropped to 0-6 in league and 2-10 overall. Cascade played at Cashmere (3-2, 6-6) on Jan. 9. Results were unavailable before press time.
“Cashmere looked good against Omak. We better come ready to play and compete for four quarters. We need to play some basketball and make some shots,” Fraker said.
On Thursday, Cascade hosts 2B Bridgeport. On Saturday, they play at Cle Elum. Next Tuesday, they play at Okanogan (4-1, 9-3).
Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.