Gotell Buzzer-Beater Keeps Cascade Unbeaten


Gotell Buzzer-Beater Keeps Cascade Unbeaten
By Steve Dion

Friday- January 15th 2016 Boys 4A Wesco
Cascade High School 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Kamiak 12 17 18 12 59
Cascade 13 20 14 14 61


Cascade senior Drew Magaoay

Reginald Scodeller Gymansium at Cascade High School was buzzing Friday night as the last two Wesco 4A teams undefeated in league play met to determine divisional dominance. Kamiak showed their advantage in the paint early with an interior combo of Coleman Grayson and Gavin Patrick who jockeyed for post presence and finished high-percentage buckets. Drew Magaoay countered for the Bruins with 14 first half points. Additionally, the Cascade defense which stepped up all night was kickstarted by Brennen Hancock who blocked several shots which led to transition scoring.

Christian Clausen began his lights-out shooting display for Kamiak by draining four from downtown in the first half. The junior guard matched that total in the final two quarters for a team-high 24. He helped erase a growing deficit and the Bruins took a four point lead to the locker room.

Kamiak’s combo of Grayson and Clausen continued to rack up their scoring totals in the third frame gradually swinging momentum in the Knights’ favor. The Bruins ability to get to the free-throw line and earn points from the stripe was an integral component of their third quarter offense. A wild series of back-and-forth possessions in the final thirty second of the third frame set up a highly anticipated final frame as the crowd filled the gym with excitement.

Entering the final quarter in a 47-47 deadlock, the Bruins took the lead on a 7-0 run only to be outdone by eight unanswered points by the Knights. With one minute remaining in regulation, the scoreboard read 59-59. A series of possessions for both sides resulted in no points and the threat of overtime looming. Hancock was set to inbound with 4.6 seconds remaining from near midcourt. Averting a five-second call, he tossed it in to an open Isaiah Gotell. The senior forward drove to the baseline, elevated, drew contact, hoisted up a shot. Nothing but net! The massive Cascade student section rushed onto the floor as the home team defended their home court and undefeated league record.

The Final Score
Cascade 61, Kamiak 59.

Top Performers:
Cascade
Drew Magaoay- 22 points
Isaiah Gotell- 18 points (game-winner)

Kamiak
Christian Clausen- 24 points (8 3-pt FG’s)