Zach Cada:
Coach’s son relished the
season,
and how it ended for both
of them
By Bruce Smith
Matchup
Zach Cada grew up watching Borah basketball. It was both
exciting and sad for him to see it end on March 3, 2011. Fortunately, he was
where he wanted to be.
Cada and four other Borah players had just been asked to
come out of the game. They sat on the bench, and leaned back in their chairs knowing
that the Lions had a comfortable lead over Post Falls in the 5A state
championship game at the Idaho Center.
“I didn’t know what to think,” Cada recalled. “We were
looking at each other and thinking, ‘oh my gosh. Is this really happening?
“It couldn’t have ended any better. Once that clock ran
out, we were bumping each other and saying, ‘we did it.’ We were very excited,
but also pretty humble. It wasn’t until they called our names and we shook
hands and got the trophy that we started to bounce.”
Coach Cary Cada felt the same way. The championship was
Borah’s first since 2005, but the third for its coach, who also took home state
titles in 2004 and 2005 when Zach was still in elementary school. Zach was
always a Borah fan, and remembered many winter evenings where he also watched
the Lions play.
Zach played on the junior varsity team last year. This
season was the only team he got to play for his dad.
“Playing for him was a big factor for me,” Zach said. “All
the guys on the team I’ve known forever. The best parts were playing with them
and playing for my dad. I know it meant a lot to him, too.”
Afterward, coach Cada admitted the same thing. Zach was
used primarily as the team’s “sixth man” during the season. He played in almost
every game and averaged 1.3 points per game. His high game was six points
against Coeur d’Alene and five points vs. Boise. There were several times where
he and Nick Reed contributed three-pointers that helped the Lions gather
momentum.
Coach Cada said it was especially gratifying to see Zach
play a bigger role at state.
“Zach had his best games in the last three games of his
career,” coach Cada said. “Winning a state championship with me has always been
a goal for him and, as his father, I couldn't have a more rewarding season: Conference
champions, District champions, 5A sportsmanship award, state champions, school
record 25 wins and all done with my son and some of the finest young men I have
ever had the privilege of coaching.
“Tough to beat.”
A photograph taken of father and son hugging each other
on the court after the championship game said it all.
“I could tell he was holding back tears,” Zach said. “He
usually holds it (his emotions) pretty good.”
Zach said the three state tournament games were his most
memorable.
“Against Coeur d’Alene, we were all pretty nervous and I
hit two three-pointers,” he said. “Against Tikmberline, I had a two-pointer and
I had a layup against Post Falls. I played the best defense of my life and I
had never been more focused in those games.”
The championship also likely ended Zach’s playing career.
He grew up playing sports, but had to deal with various injury issues. As a
senior, he decided to play football again because so many of his friends were
on the team and most were excited about playing for new coach Darren Corpus.
Cada, however, suffered a concussion in a preseason scrimmage and it
drastically limited his playing time.
“I got into one game after that, but it was against
Vallivue,” he said. “That was pretty memorable.”
In that game, Cada played briefly at defensive end, but was
placed directly across from his cousin, Lane Sale.
“That was a lot of fun,” he said.
After graduation, Cada said he wasn’t certain about his
future. The Cada family owns a large ranch near Midvale, and he also spent a
lot of time there growing up.
“I’m more of an outdoors guy,” he said. “I’d like to work
up there and maybe look into going to college.”
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