In his first season as Orrick varsity boys basketball coach, Joe Cusack saw his Bearcats open and close with losses to programs that, as he put it, “are capable of being state championship teams.” He also saw his Bearcats win yet another district title. In November 2022, Orrick opened with an 81-29 road loss to Lafayette County of Higginsville. The Huskers (27-2) will face St. Pius X of Kansas City in the Class 3 state quarterfinals Friday night at St. Joseph. On Monday, the Bearcats closed with a 75-27 loss to Green City in Class 1 Sectional 7 action at the St. Joe Civic Center. The Gophers (25-4) will face the Jefferson of Conception/South Nodaway co-op Friday afternoon, also in St. Joseph, in the state quarterfinals. The Bearcats (19-9) “ran into a very well-oiled machine” when they played Green City, Cusack stated Tuesday by email. “Hats off to Green City,” he wrote. “They had a very athletic team with great team chemistry. It was a tough end for us, but I am extremely proud…