Cashion state bids fall 1 win short

Cashion found itself in familiar territory.

Unfortunately, it was an all-too-familiar result.

After winning two elimination games, the Lady Wildcats were downed 60-51 by No. 6 Riverside Saturday in a Class 2A area consolation championship game at Bridge Creek.

The win moved Riverside to state.

Cashion, meanwhile, fell one win shy of the state tournament for the second straight year, the third time in the last four years and the fourth time since 2020.

Jaylee Harp scored 24 points in her final game in a Cashion uniform.

Cashion’s lone senior helped her team keep pace throughout, but after the game was tied through one quarter, Riverside outscored Cashion in each of the final three.

Brooke Shafer added 14 points and Kate Nabavi 7 as Cashion saw its season end with a 19-12 record.

The team put itself in position with Friday’s 59-28 dismantling of Watonga in the consolation semifinals.

It was Cashion’s second win over Watonga in these playoffs with the first being a four-point affair in the district.

Like the first playoff meeting, Cashion built a lead, but this time didn’t let most of it slip away.

Watonga was outscored 30-7 in the middle two quarters.

Shafer led the way with 16 points while Tinley Meier scored 15.

Harp added 10 points.

No. 2 OCA denies Cashion 2nd straight upset

Oklahoma Christian Academy had just enough to hold off Cashion for a second time in these playoffs.

The second-ranked Eagles denied Cashion’s repeat appearance at the Class 2A state tournament by downing the Wildcats 52-46 Saturday in a 2A consolation championship at Bridge Creek.

It was OCA’s second win over Cashion in the playoffs with the first being a 20-point handling a week before in the regional championship.

This time OCA couldn’t pull away.

The Eagles were up a point at halftime and by three after three quarters.

Grayson Little led Cashion with 15 points and 8 rebounds as the Wildcats finished 19-11 on the season.

Parker Mitchell scored 13 and Kyle Yowell 10.

Cashion landed in the consolation final by upsetting No. 11 Christian Heritage on Friday.

The Wildcats used a big third quarter to help them down the Crusaders 62-59.

Down 10 at the half, the Wildcats outscored CHA 22-11 in the third quarter, then held on in the fourth.

Brayden Stuemky and Yowell scored 16 apiece for Cashion while Mitchell