Prep boys basketball: Jackson 48, Cascade 34

Published 10:19 pm Thursday, January 8, 2015

EVERETT — Jackson outscored Cascade 17-6 in the fourth quarter to pull away and earn a 48-34 victory in Wesco 4A boys basketball action Thursday night.

“It was sort of a defensive struggle,” Jackson head coach Steve Johnson said. “No one could really get into a great rhythm offensively. I was really proud of the guys, we got a couple stops and made a couple baskets. We responded with resiliency and played good defense.”

After allowing 11 points in the first quarter, the Timberwolves held the Bruins to single digits in each of the final three quarters on way to their sixth victory of the season.

“I think we did a nice job forcing them to shoot up and over us,” Johnson said. “We also limited their offensive rebounds and they had very few put-backs, and they didn’t get a lot of transition points. We made them earn everything in the half court.”

Jackson guard Sam Saufferer was the only player to score in double digits, finishing with 15 points, including two 3-pointers.

The Timberwolves held Brevin Brown and Isaiah Gotell, Cascade’s leading scorers, to nine and eight points, respectively.

“We got to them in the areas where they like to shoot,” Johnson said. “They can make some shots and they had some open looks and missed. The bottom line is: We battled them and tried to take them out of spots where they like to score.”

Jackson remains the only team in the Wesco 4A with an undefeated conference record. The Timberwolves face Kamiak, which trails the Timberwolves by one game in the standings, on Tuesday.

“We have to continue to grow and improve, but I think this win gives the guys some perspective of where we can be,” Johnson said.

At Cascade

Jackson1210917—48

Cascade11896—34

Jackson—Frank Rossi 2, Dolan Tierney 7, Ian Willgress 0, Brian Brown 8, Markus Sullivan 0, Yegor Gorbenko 6, Connor Marschall 0, Ethan Hammond 2, Parker Manalo 0, Sam Saufferer 15, Colton Faddis 8. Cascade—Trevon Blackmon 0, Brevin Brown 9, Cameron McGrath 8, Isaiah Gotell 8, Brennen Hancock 3, Justin Gordon 5, Tre Poole 1. 3-point goals—Saufferer 2, Gordon 1. Records—Jackson 5-0 league, 6-4 overall. Cascade 3-2, 5-4.