Wildcats get tough on boards, get 8-point win at Washington

Without knowing the score, John Hardaway would have had a fairly decent idea of how his Cashion team fared against Washington by looking at another stat.

Rebounds. “They’re always a really physical team that can kill us on the boards,” said Hardaway.

When Cashion made the trip south last Thursday, the Wildcats actually won the rebound battle 30-28.

They also happened to win the game, 48-40.

“Rebounding was really big for us,” said Hardaway as his team entered the holiday break with a 4-3 record and snapped a brief two-game skid.

Also big was Grayson Little, who delivered 16 points and 9 rebounds.

“He had a great game,” Hardaway said.

Cashion held the Warriors to just two points in the first quarter, though it only led by four.

The scoring pace picked up for both teams in the second quarter and Cashion took a 20-16 lead into the break.

The visitors built up some breathing room in the third by outscoring Washington 13-6.

The Warriors couldn’t catch up.

Cashion was 10 of 18 from the foul line in the game. Little made all four of his attempts while Kyle Yowell was 3 for 4.

Yowell scored 11 points to go with 6 boards.

Parker Mitchell added 10 and also led the team with 6 assists.

Brayden Stuemky made three 3-pointers for all 9 of his points.

Cashion held Washington to 33 percent shooting, which included 20 percent (5 of 24) from 3-point range.

The Wildcats made the same amount of field goals inside the arc (16) as Washington and only one more outside of it.

However, Washington attempted just five free throws on the night.

Cashion returns to the court Saturday, Jan. 3, when it hosts Luther.

Harp returns, but 3A’s No. 1 Washington too much for Cashion girls The good news for the Cashion girls is that Jaylee Harp was back on the court.

The bad news is that the Lady Wildcats were playing one of the best teams in the state on its home court.

Class 3A’s top-ranked Washington handed Cashion its second straight loss last Thursday, 61-36.

The defeat moved Cashion to 5-2 on the season.

The first loss came the previous Saturday to Garber in the finals of a tournament.

Early in that game, Harp was knocked out of the game, causing a tense scene for a while.

“She was knocked out, laying limp on the floor,” said coach Andrea Taylor. “That really affected the rest of our girls and they never recovered in that game.”

Harp played “in spurts” at Washington and though she didn’t score, Taylor was happy to have her in uniform.

“She definitely wasn’t 100 percent, but she’s our only senior and we need her,” Taylor said.

Cashion hung early on with Washington and only trailed 15-11 after a quarter.

But then the home team went on a 14-5 run in the second to break the game open. Washington outscored Cashion 21-10 in the third to further extend the lead.

Kelby Beller led a balanced Washington attack with 13 points.

Kate Nabavi, a sophomore, paced Cashion with 12.

Brooke Shafer chipped in 11.