Dominant defense helps Cascade girls stay undefeated

CASCADE - If Cascade is going to take its undefeated record to Des Moines, it will do so on the strength of an unyielding defense.The Class 2A No. 2 Cougars extended their record to 23-0 by holding North Cedar to four points in the first quarter and again in the fourth to eliminate the Knights, 43-29, in a Class 2A girls' basketball regional quarterfinal last night.“I thought we played extremely hard defensively,” Cascade Coach Mike Sconsa said. “In the half court and the full court, I thought we were very active.”Cascade, a state semifinalist last season, remain the lone unbeaten in Class 2A. The Cougars used a quick, aggressive full-court press after baskets and North Cedar defensive rebounds to force the Knights to work hard just getting the ball up the court. As the Knights attempted to run offensive sets, Cascade collapsed to the ball, resulting in hurried shots.“Don't give up anything easy,” Sconsa said.Cascade, which allows just 30.6 points a game, plays West Branch (14-8) Friday at Clarence. Only four opponents have cracked the 40-point mark against the Cougars.“Our defense wins games for us,” said cat-quick guard Abbey Meyer, who finished with nine points.Carolyn Trumm led Cascade with 11 points and nine rebounds.Meyer opened the game with a 3-pointer, and Cascade led from start to finish. The Cougars jumped on North Cedar (10-13) early, harassing the Knights into seven first-quarter turnovers. Bailey Holmes' 30th 3-pointer this season extended the Cascade lead to 24-11 with 1:21 remaining in the half.North Cedar twice trimmed Cascade's lead to four in the third quarter on assists from Jordan Bendixen to Allison Jensen for baskets. After trailing 29-25 late in the third, North Cedar managed just four points the rest of the way.Jensen had a game-high 13 points and 12 rebounds for North Cedar.

AT CASCADE

NORTH CEDAR (29): Jordan Bendixen 4 0-4 8, Alison Malaby 2 0-0 4, Allison Jensen 5 3-6 13, Meranda Thimmes 0 2-4 2, Emily Flockhart 0 0-0 0, Emily Hay 0 0-0 0, Cortlyn Kasik 0 2-4 2, Steph Jones 0 0-0, Beth Vurley 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 7-18 29.

CASCADE (43): Abbey Meyer 2 4-6 9, Holly Hunt 1 3-5 5, Elle Hoffman 2 0-0 4, Mallory McDermott 0 1-2 1, Carolyn Trumm 5 1-4 11, Megan McDermott 3 0-0 6, Claire Molony 0 3-5 3, Katie Soliday 0 0-0 0, Bailey Holmes 1 1-2 4, Riley Takes 0 0-0 0, Katelyn Coyle 0 0-0 0, Lynsey Dolphin 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 13-24 43.

Halftime: Cascade 24, North Cedar 13. 3-point goals: North Cedar 0, Cascade 2 (Meyer, Holmes).

Rebounds: North Cedar 38 (Jensen 12), Cascade 26 (Trumm 9).  

Assists: North Cedar 8 (Hay 2, Bendixen 2, Malaby 2).  Cascade 11 (Meyer 2, Hunt 2, Hoffman 2, Ma. McDermott 2).  

Team fouls: North Cedar 18, Cascade 18.  

Fouled out: Kasic, Ma. McDermott.  

Turnovers: North Cedar 19, Cascade 14.