Ephrata defeats Cascade

Lady Tigers light up second half

EPHRATA — The Lady Tigers took a half to get started but once they did, they beat Cascade 50-37.

"I thought we started and ended good," said head coach Missy Bieremann. "But there was this really big lag in between."

Ephrata took the lead in the first quarter.

Kyla Whitaker got the bucket and drew a foul for a 3-point play and made it 5-0 before Cascade could score their first points of the ball game.

Katelyn McDonnell had the final score of the first quarter for Ephrata. McDonnell squared up for a 3-point shot from the corner and drained it.

The second quarter was a dismal one for both teams. Ephrata and Cascade scored just four points each before heading into the locker room for halftime with the score 19-12.

"They (Cascade) play a switching defense that the girls were not ready for," Bieremann said. "They were expected to make reads they'd never seen."

After the half both teams began to pick up their game and push at both ends of the court.

Whitaker scored the first points of the third quarter for the Lady Tigers, again earning the basket and the foul. She got the hoop but missed from the line.

Cascade then went on a 6-0 scoring run to bring the game within one.

Courtney Webb gave the Lady Tigers some breathing room, draining a baseline three to make it 24-20.

Kyndra Purcell had two consecutive layups, one the result of a steal and she earned the other after getting tangled with a Cascade player down low to give Ephrata a 10-point lead.

Cascade put together another scoring run to bring the game within three and was down just four at the end of the period.

It was Whitaker again who opened the quarter with a score. In the fourth quarter she drove hard to the hoop for a layup to make it 35-29.

Webb scored another 3-ball with five minutes remaining.

The Lady Tigers held Cascade to four points in the closing minutes of the game.

Landra Lange had a layup and drew the foul for a 3-point play.

Webb's offense was followed up by some defense from Tonya Joe who earned a steal on the fastbreak.

Whitaker continued to play well, driving down low for the baby hook and a 48-35 lead.

McDonnell scored the final points of the game for Ephrata at the foul line. Both teams lined up for a 1-and-1 trip to the line. McDonnell hit them both for the win.

"Katelyn McDonnell played 20 minutes, that's the most she's ever played," said Bieremann. "She really came out and proved herself."

Whitaker led the team with 20 points. She also had four rebounds and three assists. McDonnell had nine points. Webb had nine points, five rebounds and three assists.