By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
TURNER, Ore. Prior to tip-off of their game with Stayton Tuesday night, the Cascade Girls Basketball team had an opportunity to honor an All-Time Basketball great in a special way.
Mark Stevens, who coached at Cascade for 32 years, winning a State Championship in 2011, a 58-56 victory over La Salle Prep and had State Runner-Up Finishes in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2016 and 2018. Not to mention, the 583 career wins his teams earned between 1991 and 2022 had led to this moment Tuesday night in having the court named after him:
Mark Stevens Court.
“It’s an honor. I’m just so pleased to be around these people, and that’s why you keep coming back to do it,” said Stevens. “I don’t know if I can really put it into words. It’s a fabric of me. My wife went to school here, and my eldest daughter played for me. They were in my corner 24/7, and it’s a huge commitment. Talk to anyone who coaches basketball. It’s a long season.”
Current Head Coach Nick Randall, who took over the program following Stevens departure, knew the task it was to fill those shoes and carry this Cascade Basketball tradition. Something he learned under Stevens coaching with him prior to taking over the program.
“His 32 years of service are what separates him from everyone else,” Randall starts. “He dedicated his life to the students and young adults at this school, not only teaching basketball but setting so many on the path to success once they left the “small school out in the cornfields” as they say.
“Sacrificing birthdays, anniversaries, any sort of vacations during the winter time since 1989. His work ethic was unmatched, and he demanded not only your best on the court and in practice but that you never sacrificed your integrity in doing so. My four years coaching with him, he showed me so much and really helped me understand what it was to be a cougar. He deserves this honor, and honestly, our school will never be able to pay him back for what he gave to this community.”
Unfortunately, on this evening, Stayton spoiled the festivities as they pulled away from Cascade.
The Eagles led 9-7 after the first quarter after a physical first quarter. From there, Stayton opened the second quarter in a 12-0 run and led 21-12 at halftime.
The Cougars kept it to about that ten points spread, but the Eagles defense didn’t let Cascade get any closer as they took the game 41-28 to remain undefeated.
It was the first win at Cascade for Stayton since the Covid-Shortened season in 2021 and second since the 2018-2019 season.
“We talked in the huddle that we can do this. We were working as a family, we were hyping each other up, giving each other encouragement, and it really worked out for us,” said Stayton’s Kathryn Samek about that second quarter swing. “We haven’t won here in a while, and that was our motivation, we really wanted to beat Cascade. We’ve been practicing our defense, we’re getting one percent better every day and working as a family, so it was really great for us.”
Kathryn Samek led the Eagles with 19 points with Kenzi Hollenbeck scoring 16. Olivia Bennett and Cassidy Crabtree each scored six to lead Cascade. The Cougars will be at Newport on Friday, Stayton will host Sweet Home on Friday.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
