Cashion Team Preview

<p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <p>The calendar has flipped to November and it’s time to start talking high school basketball in Oklahoma! Over the last month, we’ve sent out questionnaires to all of the top teams across the state, to get as much information for our month-long preview series as possible to get you ready for this season. Who are the top players, who could have a break out year, who will be the top contenders when March rolls around and we’re all “gold ball chasing”? We have those answers and plenty more with our team by team previews! Stay tuned to Prep Hoops Oklahoma throughout the month for more individual team previews and more preview content that is on the way!</p> <hr /> <h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>CASHION WILDCATS</strong></h3> <hr /> <h4><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></h4> <p>Cashion’s Wildcats, who finished last season’s state quarterfinal run 21 wins to four losses, has been on the hunt for Gold Ball the past couple years. The stars could align this season, as coach John Hardaway returns virtually all of his players from two tournament teams.</p> <p>"[We’ve] been to state the last two years, 2020 and 2021," Hardaway said. "Most of our guys started or played on both of those teams."</p> <p>Last season, the Wildcats picked up a win on the road against 2A No. 1 Dale 60-59 on Jan. 14.</p> <p>Cashion was eventually downed in the quarterfinal game by Howe 37-47.</p> <p>What the Wildcats will have this year that they didn’t have last year is an appearance in the Tulsa Public Schools Tournament of Champions, which returns for the first time since 2019 on Dec. 27-29 (more on that later).</p> <p>After the winter break, Cashion will have two January tournaments: the Three Rivers Conference Tournament the 7th-9th and the Cashion County Line Tournament the 20th-22nd.</p> <p>Cashion won the conference tournament last year in a 48-41 win against No. 6 Hennessey.</p> <p>In the Cashion County Line, however, the Wildcats were upset by Clinton 56-37 last winter. This year, the tournament features Clinton again, as well as Dale and Oklahoma Christian School, all formidable opponents for the wildcats.</p> <hr /> <h4><strong>KEY RETURNING PLAYERS</strong></h4> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1164863" first="Vance" last="Raney"]</strong> - Sr. SG</p> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"> <li>2021: 15p, 4.4r, 41 3p%</li> </ul> <p>Raney returns for his finale at Cashion, and he will be relied upon for the same leadership contributions, both on the scoreboard and in the locker room, as he was last year.</p> <p>There aren’t many players in rural basketball that can deliver a variety of offensive scoring moves quite like Raney, and many teams won’t be prepared for that. He has impressive feel for the floor, is capable of scoring with either hand, has a catalog of crafty finishes, and is sharp as a nail. He shoots the ball well in quick-release situations, too.</p> <p>Where Raney has continually improved, perhaps more than any other aspect, is his passing. Raney showcased last summer his vision for the floor and playmaking skills at-speed.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1164862" first="Jonah" last="Jenkins"]</strong> - Sr. PG</p> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"> <li>2021: 11.9p, 4.4 apg</li> </ul> <p>The first cousin and counterpart of Raney, it’s just as much Jenkins’ team to lead this season. After scoring almost 12 points-a-game and adding four-and-a-half assists, Jenkins has solidified himself as one of the most efficient all-around guards in small-school ball.</p> <p>The senior plays especially well off Raney, with whom Jenkins has teamed in grassroots basketball; these guys have played with each other year-round for a while, and they have a great feel for each other and for their Wildcats teammates.</p> <p>Jenkins is a scrappy, high-energy guard who will be instrumental in close situations or when Cashion needs a late bucket. Whether it’s with his own mid-range shot or by distributing the ball, the Wildcats can always count on Jonah.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1142031" first="Austin" last="Frazier"]</strong> - Sr. G</p> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"> <li>2021: 12.6p, 5.1r, 3.2a</li> </ul> <p>The third to Cashion’s three-headed monster, Frazier, will be the Wildcats’ leading scorer plenty of nights.</p> <p>The slashing specialist has a good first step and understands well how to create balance issues for opposing defenders. He has a nice crossover and many of the necessary tools to finish at the rack, including the floater, sharp angles, and finishing through contest.</p> <p>Frazier is also a solid passer, rebounder, and defender for Cashion.</p> <p><strong>OTHER KEY RETURNERS</strong></p> <ul style="list-style-type: square;"> <li><strong>Landen LaGasse</strong>, Sr. - <em>8.4p, 7.5r in 2021</em></li> <li><strong>Nick Nabavi</strong>, Sr - <em>2.9p, 3r in 2021</em></li> <li><strong>Trey Tichenor</strong>, Sr. - <em>5.0p in 2021</em></li> <li><strong>Brycen Hogan</strong>, Sr. - <em>2.8p</em></li> <li><strong>Jackson Vandruff</strong>, Jr.</li> </ul> <hr /> <h4><strong>NOTABLE</strong></h4> <p>The harsh T.of.C. schedule, which regularly features defending and/or soon-to-be state champions from multiple classes, will challenge the Wildcats. In 2018, for example, four teams from the T.of.C. field -- 6A Booker T. Washington, 5A Tulsa Memorial, 4A Kingfisher and 3A Kingston -- would go on to win their respective titles that spring. Another team, Fort Cobb-Broxton, finished runner-up in Class A. The remaining teams, Putnam City West, Hugo, and Whitesboro, all made it to the State Tournament.</p> <p>Needless to say, the T.of.C. promises for stiff competition each year, and 2021 will be no different.</p> <p>Aside from Cashion, here are the teams competing at this year’s T.of.C. and their finishing statuses from last season:</p> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li>Class A champion Hydro-Eakly</li> <li>3A champion Crossings Christian</li> <li>4A quarterfinalist Victory Christian</li> <li>5A quarterfinalist Tulsa Memorial</li> <li>6A Jenks</li> <li>6A quarterfinalist Owasso</li> <li>6A champion Del City</li> </ul> <p>Needles to say, Cashion has its work cut out, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing; one could argue that playing in the T.of.C conditions teams, especially of the smaller classes, for the post-Winter break schedule. After all, teams like 2019 Kingston, which eventually won the Gold Ball by a 30-point margin, only finished as consolation champions in the T.of.C.</p> <p>It’s highly doubtful the Wildcats will meet any foe as capable as who they’ll see at the T.of.C., and that’s really a good thing for them.</p>