Haughenbury brothers have been integral to North Linn boys’ basketball success

LISBON — They’re grateful.

Brothers Cade and Tate Haughenbury of North Linn are grateful they’ve gotten the opportunity to play basketball with each other these last two years. In the starting lineup, no less.

They’re grateful they’ve experienced the number of wins they have experienced. They got another one Thursday night over Lisbon, 75-50.

“Growing up with Tate and obviously the rest of the team, we’ve always played on the same team together ever since we were younger: basketball, football, baseball, you name it,” Cade Haughenbury said. “Then getting to high school and having the success we’re having is just amazing.”

Guards Austin Hilmer and Dylan Kurt had 10 points apiece as Class 1A third-ranked North Linn (18-1) built a big, early lead. Junior guard Ben Wheatley had 14 points here.

Then there were the Haughenburys, North Linn’s two interior guys. Senior forward Cade had 14 points and junior post Tate 11 as North Linn won this matchup of division leaders in the Tri-Rivers Conference.

They started together last season, too, for a team that went 27-1, losing in the Class 1A state championship game to Montezuma. They were quarterback (Tate) and running back (Cade) for a North Linn football team that had an undefeated regular season this past fall.

“It’s been good playing with my brother,” Tate Haughenbury said. “We’ve been playing together since we were little. My dad (Luke) always was coaching us. It’s been fun. It was great playing football together this fall in the backfield and stuff. We’ve got a good relationship going, for sure.”

North Linn coaches describe the Haughenburys as quiet kids, though Cade doesn’t necessarily think that’s so for his brother.

“He had the mullet (last season), I’ve never had a mullet,” Cade said.

Tate has had the nickname Cletus bestowed upon him. Cade doesn’t have a similarly cool nickname.

“So I’d say we’re very different personalities,” Cade said. “He’s kind of more of an extrovert. He’s all over the place, this and that. I tried to stay a little more calm and collected.”

The brothers do agree they have formed a good relationship with each other on the court as well as off of it. At one point in the fourth quarter here, they had their own little Haughenbury run.

Tate had an inside hoop, then a free throw. Cade followed that with an inside bucket, Tate scored off an offensive rebound and Cade off a fastbreak.

“I think we read each other really well,” Cade said. “Just growing up and playing basketball together, I’m kind of in a position, I kind of know moving pieces around, I’m ready for where he’s going to flash and stuff like that. That definitely makes it easier because we read each other so well.”

Tyson Scott scored 18 points and Kole Becker 12 for Lisbon (15-4), which has another huge game Friday night against Easton Valley. Lisbon is unbeaten and EV has one loss in the Tri-Rivers East Division with each team having one remaining division game after Friday.

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