It’s always throwback time when Forrest and Cascade meet in any sporting event and Friday night in front of a packed house in Chapel Hill, the two squads met for a doubleheader with the Lady Rockets taking a 53-40 win over the Lady Champions in the opening game of the twin bill.

It was the third win in a row for Forrest in the decades old matchup that is in the last year of non-region play as the district rivalry will be renewed next season when the 2021-2022 TSSAA realignment begins.

In somewhat of an oddity, the 2006 state champion Lady Rockets and Lady Champions will be in a four-team Region 4-AA District 7 that also includes another longtime rival in Community, plus newcomer Grundy County (1998 state champions).

“I'm really excited to have ourselves and Cascade back in the same district,” Forrest coach Corey Bishop said. “This is a great rivalry and a lot of mutual respect for both schools.”

“The games will only intensify once we are back together next year.”

The other half of the region in District 8-AA is loaded with Music City powerhouses East Nashville Magnet School (2016 state champions), KIPP Nashville Collegiate School, LEAD Academy, Pearl Cohn, RePublic High School, Stratford High School, and Whites Creek High School.

Cascade managed a 4-0 lead to start Friday night’s game until the Lady Rockets went on a 10-0 run behind five points by senior Laura Mealer, who led all scorers in the contest with 20 points.

Forrest kept the pedal on the gas and finished the first quarter with a bang as Megan Mealer stole the rock and raced in for a buzzer beating layup and a 17-8 first quarter lead.

“We thought the girls came out ready to play and their defensive intensity and toughness helped stretch the lead out in the first quarter,” Bishop said. “It shows they had the right mindset going into the game, and we are very proud of that as a staff.”

The Lady Rockets’ paced slowed a bit in the second quarter with the defensive intensity causing a lot of turnovers and missed shots as both teams scored in single digits with Forrest increasing its lead to 11 points at 26-15 at the half.

Laura Mealer made it a 14-point game when she buried a 3-pointer to start the second half, setting the tone that Forrest was not going to let up.

Cascade did manage to cut the lead to eight points just past the midway point of the period before Laura Mealer showed why she might be the best player in the district as she went on another seven-point rampage to end the third quarter, giving the Lady Rockets a big 41-26 lead entering the final eight minutes of play.

“Mealer is playing great basketball, we think that she could end up playing at even a higher level by seasons' end,” Bishop said. “We are excited about the progression of her game, but most importantly, leading this team with Carissa Curtis.”

The Lady Rockets managed the game all night and managed the fourth quarter as well, coming away with the 15-point point win.

“I think we have a pretty solid team,” Bishop said. “Each player on our team does a fantastic job at practice and being great teammates.”

“It doesn't matter the situation, they all pull for each other. We really like the attitude of this team.”

Addison Bunty had another solid night, along with Macyn Kirby as both guards had nine points apiece and they both nailed one 3-pointer.

Kirby showed her true grit several times as she had a pair of rebound and put-backs from the guard position.

“It's not typical for your best offensive rebounder to be your point guard, but Macyn Kirby gives 100 percent every time she is on the court,” Bishop said. “She has stepped into a huge role this year, and handled it with tremendous poise and confidence.”

Alex Davenport ended up with seven points, Megan Mealer had four, and Sam Hopkins and Carli Warner had a deuce apiece off the bench.

Cascade 8 7 11 14-40

Forrest 17 9 15 12-53

Cascade (40): McKenna Lamb 13, Jordan Green 7, Landry Jones 6, Abrielle Presley 5, Annabelle Calvert 4, Maddie Crosslin 3, Caroline McKamey 2.

Three-Point Goals (2): Jones, Presley.

Free-Throws (16-for-23): Lamb 6-for-10, Green 5-for-5, Jones 3-for-4, Calvert 2-for-2, McKamey 0-for-2.

Forrest (53): Laura Mealer 20, Macyn Kirby 9, Addie Bunty 9, Alex Davenport 7, Megan Mealer 4, Sam Hopkins 2, Carli Warner 2.

Three-Point Goals (4): Laura Mealer 2, Kirby, Bunty.

Free Throws (12-for-22): Laura Mealer 6-for-9, Davenport 4-for-5, Warner 0-for-4, Kirby 2-for-2, Ryann Lewis 0-for-2.

Halftime Score: Forrest 26, Cascade 15.