UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Cashion dominates state opener, advances to Class 2A semifinals
LANDON LAGASSE attacks the basket for two of his 19 points in Thursday’s quarterfinal win for Cashion. LaGasse was 4 of 5 from 3-point range as Cashion advanced to the semifinals for just the second time. [Photo by Brad Stone/www.bestone. shootproof.com
History was matched on Thursday night.
But Cashion wants more. The Wildcats finally pushed Latta out of its comfort zone and pulled away for a 50-28 victory in the Class 2A boys basketball quarterfinals at State Fair Arena.
It’s only the second time Cashion has won a state tournament game. The 1996 Wildcats defeated Smithville in the Class A quarterfinals before losing to Frontier the next night.
“We aren’t satisfied,” said Landon LaGasse. “We have eight seniors and we all want to finish together on Saturday.”
“It feels great to get the win,” added coach John Hardaway. “But we’re also past the point where we feel it’s enough.”
Cashion used a 15-4 run in the third quarter to get some distance between itself and upstart Latta, which caught fire in the playoffs, but still entered state with a 12-16 record.
LaGasse hit consecutive 3-pointers on the back end of that run as Cashion turned a modest eight-point halftime lead into a 36-17 advantage.
The treys were the third and fourth on the night for the senior forward.
He also had a three-point play in the first quarter and eventually led all scorers with 19 points.
Jonah Jenkins and La-Gasse combined to give Cashion a 7-0 lead just 90 seconds into the game.
The advantage grew to 12-4 midway through the first before Latta was able to close the gap to 13-9.
The pace stayed in Latta’s favor in the second quarter. It won 29-27 over Boone-Apache in a regional championship and got to state with a 27-20 win against Okemah.
The plodding Panthers were able to hold Cashion to just eight points - six of them on LaGasse 3-pointers - but only scored four themselves.
Latta’s scoring pace stayed the same in the third, but Cashion was able to generate offense with its pressure.
A Jenkins three-point play was followed by a steal and layup by LaGasse. Nick Nabavi’s steal and dish led to an Austin Frazier layup.
LaGasse’s first 3-pointer of the third gave Cashion a 33-15 lead with 3:10 left in the quarter.
He added another with 1:00 to play in the frame.
Latta had a 6-1 run in the fourth quarter, but only got as close as 16 points.
A quick 7-0 run by Cashion, including a three-point play by Frazier, got the lead back to 23 points.
Jenkins added 11 for the Wildcats, who improved to 23-5 and won their 11th straight game.
Frazier finished with eight.
Latta was paced by Tyler Ireland’s eight points.
The Panthers turned it over 16 times, which led to a dozen points for Cashion.
“We defended them with really good pressure without fouling,” Hardaway said. “And we didn’t turn it over ourselves.”
Cashion coughed it up just seven times.
The Wildcats shot 51.4 percent overall.
Outside of LaGasse, the Wildcats were just 1 of 11 on 3-pointers. However, the team shot nearly 70 percent (13 of 19) inside the arc.
“We got great shot selection from everyone,” Hardaway said. “Even when it didn’t go in.”
Cashion played Morrison in the semifinals Friday night (after press time). Cashion beat Morrison 64-55 near the end of the regular season.
Morrison gave up an 18-point lead to defending state champ Oklahoma Union before pulling out a 42-39 win with a threepoint play with 8.2 seconds remaining.