MARYSVILLE A chilly free-throw shooting performance nearly cost the Tomahawk girls a win.
The Tomahawks shot 7-for-20 from the line in the first half and 5-for-13 in the third quarter as Cascade started hitting their baskets. By the end of the third quarter, Cascade cut into M-Ps seven-point halftime lead and tied it up a couple of times in the final period.
But in the clutch the Tommies made their shots, holding on for a 48-40 win, Jan. 4, that seemed in doubt until the final seconds when seniors Nicole Peterson and Anna West were perfect at the line to deliver M-Ps first game of the new year.
Britt Harris and Shaelei Lucas led the offense with 18 and 14 points. Senior forward Jessica Masters had six assists.
Foul trouble gave Cascade an early lead but the M-P defense earned it back, holding off any Bruin field goals until late in the first quarter. Junior Kaitlyn Enberg gave the offense its initial spark, turning a steal into a lay-in as part of a 12-4 run in the first quarter that gave the Tomahawks the lead.
The Bruins rallied from a 22-15 halftime score on the back of a combined 15 points from Cascade forwards Olivia Condotta and Spencer Nelson. Cascade got a number of those baskets from the post, where Nelson and 6-1 sophomore Danielle Love challenged Tomahawk standout Harris in the post.
Theyre a great team and match up with us really well, said M-P head coach Julie Martin. Britt Harris had a great game against somebody her height.
Martin attributed Cascades second-half run to successful rebounding.
We didnt block out well in the third quarter, she added. We tried to keep them to 10 boards (for the game).
Harris had 13 rebounds for the Tomahawks, and seven of her 18 points came in the final quarter to maintain her teams lead.
Martin praised the teams mental performance.
My girls were tired. (Harris) really stepped up for us in the fourth quarter. She didnt let them get in her head, she said.
With the win, M-P improved to 3-3 in conference, tied for fourth in Wesco North with last years conference champs Monroe.

At M-P H.S.

M-P 13 9 13 13 48
Cascade 11 4 17 8 40

M-P Lucas 14, Juco 2, West 4, Enberg 4, Peterson 2, Harris 18, Heckendorf 4. Cascade Condotta 8, Love 7, Gross 11, De Los Reyes 4, Nelson 10. Records M-P 8-3 overall, 3-3 in conference. Cascade 5-6, 3-4.