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Cougars end Bears post-season run
by Norv and Mary Coblentz · Sports · February 22, 2018


An uncharacteristically slow start by the Bears led to their downfall Feb. 15 at Cascade and to the end of their season.


The second-ranked Cougars beat the West Branch boys 61-51 after a first quarter score of 16-5 put the Bears in a big hole.

It wasn’t all bad news in the first quarter for Tom Burger, the Bears’ head coach.

“What I really liked in the first quarter was our patience,” Burger said. “I think Cascade likes to play that way, too. But they’ll speed you up eventually. We didn’t have a game plan to speed them up; we had to go with what we’d been playing and switching defense. We just added a 2-3 zone yesterday. That didn’t work, obviously.

“You’ve got to remember that they’re the No. 2 team in the state. They dictate the tempo. They don’t have any big guys, but they move well without the ball. We’re getting good shots, but they’re not falling. Maybe I’m biased, but it seemed like every bounce of the ball did not go our way until the end, when we’re down by 20 and (cut it to) nine.

“I’ve got to give our kids a lot of credit. They didn’t quit. We were still trying to draw charges late in the game. We didn’t get stupid and try to take cheap shots. Our guys compete every night. I told them after the game they’re going to go far in life because they’re great competitors.”

The opening tip went the Bears’ way, but the Cougars got a defensive rebound and a three-point basket. Cascade got another defensive board, then the Cougars traveled. Beau Cornwell scored, assist Tanner Lukavsky, and the score was 3-2, Cascade. Cornwell got a defensive rebound, then Cascade got another defensive rebound and another three-point basket. The Cougars got another defensive rebound and drove to the basket for an 8-2 score. T. Lukavsky made a three-point basket with an assist by Ted Bridges. Cascade answered with a three-pointer, stretching their lead to 11-5. The Cougars scored two more baskets after a defensive rebound and a block. The second basket was another three-pointer. The Bears took a shot just before the buzzer, but it missed. The score after one quarter was 16-5.

The second quarter was much more evenly played. Cascade scored first, and T. Lukavsky answered with a three-pointer, assist Ben Thompson, for an 18-8 score. Cascade made a three-point basket, then Bridges made a trey, assist Thompson. Cascade fouled on a rebound, and T. Lukavsky made a three-pointer, cutting the Cascade lead to seven. Cascade made a three-point basket, then Thompson scored, assist T. Lukavsky, for a 24-16 score. Cascade scored, Cornwell made a jump shot, and Cascade scored again. Thonpson was fouled on a drive and made the first of two free throws. Cascade got the rebound and made a three-point basket. The Bears turned the ball over, and T. Lukavsky got a defensive rebound as the buzzer sounded. The halftime score was 31-19.

In the third quarter, the Cougars scored two baskets before Cornwell made a basket, assist T. Lukavsky. The Cougars were fouled on a putback try and made both free throws for a 37-21 score. Thompson made a jump shot off a screen by Cade Aspelmeier. Cascade scored, then traveled, then got called for a charge. Thompson took the charge. The Cougars got a defensive rebound and got fouled on a shot. Both free throws were good. Cascade got a defensive rebound and scored again. Trailing 43-23, the Bears took a time out. Cornwell was fouled on a shot and made the second of two free throws. Cornwell got a steal, then T. Lukavsky was credited for a basket when Cascade was called for goaltending. That proved to be the final score of the quarter. Going into the last quarter, Cascade had a 43-26 lead.

In a spirited final quarter, the Bears outscored the Cougars 25-18, but it wasn’t enough. Cascade had the ball to start the quarter, and they scored first. Thompson drove to the basket and scored, then Cascade made a layup. Cornwell made a three-point basket, assist T. Lukavsky, for a 47-31 score. Cascade scored again. The Bears turned the ball over, and Brady Lukavsky stole it back. Cascade got a defensive rebound. Brett Schiele nearly got a steal, but the Cougars scored again for a 51-31 score. B. Lukavsky hit a three-pointer, assist Thompson. Cascade scored, got a rebound, and completed a three-point play for a 56-34 score. Cornwell completed a three-point play. Cascade fouled, and Thompson scored. B. Lukavsky deflected the ball to T. Lukavsky, and Thompson hit a three-pointer. The score was 56-42.

Cascade scored again, and the Bears took a time out. The final couple of minutes consisted of free throws with a couple of three-pointers by the Bears. Cornwell was fouled and made both free throws. The Cougars were fouled and made the first of two from the free throw line. Thompson got the rebound, and Schiele made a three-pointer for a 47-59 score. Cascade got fouled and missed the front end of a one-and-one. Ben Kyllingstad got the rebound. Thompson made the final basket of the game, a three-pointer with an assist by Matt Whaley, for a 50-59 score. Cascade was fouled and made two free throws, then Thompson was fouled on a shot. He made the first of two free throws. Cascade got the rebound and ran out the clock. The final score was 61-51.

“Starts are big,” Cascade Head Coach Jacob Brindle said. “That’s one of our keys. In games where we struggle, we just don’t start well.”

1 2 3 4 T

WB 5 14 7 25 51

Cas 16 15 12 18 61

West Branch stats: Beau Cornwell 5 4-5 15, 1 3-pointer, 7 rebounds, 1 steal; Ben Kyllingstad 1 rebound; Brady Lukavsky 1 0-0 3, 1 3-pointer, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals; Brett Schiele 1 0-0 3, 1 3-pointer, 1 assist; Tanner Lukavsky 6 2-4 17, 3 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals; Ben Thompson 6 2-4 16, 2 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal; Ted Bridges 1 0-0 3, 1 3-pointer, 1 rebound, 1 assist; Matt Whaley 1 assist

Cascade stats: Brock Simon 5 2-2 13, 1 3-pointer, 4 rebounds, 1 assist 1 steal, 2 blocks; Derek Koppes 4 0-0 10, 2 3-pointers, 4 assists; Wil Roling 0 2-3 2, 1 assist; Johnny Supple 5 0-0 11, 1 3-pointer, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block; Reid Rausch 3 1-2 9, 2 3-pointers, 2 rebounds; Gannon O’Brien 3 0-0 6, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block; Logan Otting 2 rebounds, 1 block; Haris Hoffan 3 3-3 10, 1 3-pointer, 6 rebounds, 4 assists; Team 1 rebound