Cascade boys start season off with win

With a frontline of towering returning starters and a summer spent playing basketball together, the Cascade boys basketball team have familiarity and chemistry with each other carrying them into the season.
    "Our team is made up of a great group of guys that genuinely care about each other. They all have a common goal and they are willing to do whatever it takes to help win basketball games," said Coach Paul Fraker.
    Fraker has set the goal for the team to make it to the district playoffs which hasn't been done in the last two seasons. Last season, the record for the team was 5 wins and 15 losses, causing them to miss the playoffs.
    "Our strongest completion is all four teams that finished ahead of us in league last year.  Every team returns quality starters," said Fraker.
    However, he seems hopeful that with the combination of his towering starters - 6'3 Hans Schyler, 6'3 Cole Warnaca and Isaac Cortes who plays bigger than his height of 6' - along with his big expectations for the first year varsity players - Isaiah Dayton, Wyatt Lambert, Bret Fraker and Cam Ostrem - this goal is achievable. That being said, with senior guard Kurt Fraker out with a stress fracture in his foot and a lot of fresh faces on the team, there is some possible difficulties ahead for the team to navigate through.
    "We will have a lot of young players, so we will have to learn on the fly," said Fraker. "We also need to get all players healthy to make a run at the playoffs."
    But with the season underway, Fraker and the team have been preparing both the new players and the veteran players - eager to see where this season takes them.
    "I am looking forward to getting this season started. These players have spent many hours together playing basketball this summer.  I can’t wait to watch them perform," said Fraker.
    The season kicked off with a win for the Kodiaks at their Nov. 27 game against Quincy that ended with a 52-38 score. The boys unfortunately left Naches Valley with an ending score of 63-23, but with a lot of time left in the season to bounce back from the loss.