Jackson handles Cape

CAPE CENTRAL -- Early on it looked like records and past performances could be set aside when rivals Cape Central and Jackson tangled Tuesday.

Cape Central controlled the early action to build a 12-2 lead in the first three minutes, but Jackson withstood the Central rush to hand the Tigers a 68-39 defeat in a SEMO Conference matchup at Tiger Field House.

"It's a great rivalry," said Cape Central junior guard Jay Ruark. "We came out pumped up."

But as hot as they were early, the Tigers cooled just as quickly, going almost eight minutes without scoring while the Indians regrouped to take a 24-12 lead midway of the second quarter.

"We just needed a timeout," Jackson senior forward Lance Bollinger said. "We got one, then after that we were ready to play and we took care of business."

Jackson, going inside for easy baskets or fouls, took a 30-17 lead at halftime after outscoring Cape Central 16-5 in the second period.

"We weren't worried," Jackson team captain Seth McDowell said of Central's early burst. "We just had to get over it and come out and play our game."

Bollinger and McDowell shared scoring honors for Jackson with 16 points each. The second half was more of the same as Jackson continued to roll, outscoring the Tigers 38-22.

The win for the Indians (14-9, 3-4) dropped the Tigers to 4-17 and deeper into the conference cellar at 0-6.

Cape Central was led by Ryan Delph with a game-high 18 points and Anthony Harris with 12.

Jackson sophomore center Tyler McNeely scored 12 and Nathan Brown 11.

McDowell, also a member of the Indians' football team, said he felt the same intensity in both sports about the Central-Jackson rivalry.

"You just can't come out rah-rah in basketball," McDowell said. "You've got to be more calm."

As for getting up for Cape Central? No problem.

"It's Cape," McNeely said. "That's all I've got to say."

EAST PRAIRIE - The Portageville Bulldogs won their 11th straight game since Christmas with a 72-45 road victory over East Prairie on Tuesday.

"We didn't play too bad, but East Prairie really played their tails off," said Portageville head coach Jim Bidewell. "Their kids played as hard as anybody we've played against. We just had the horses, but they made us work for what we had to get."

Portageville (19-2), ranked No. 5 in Class 2A, got 21 points out of Eric Booker and 12 out of Jordan French.

East Prairie (3-12) was led by Chris Wheatley's 17 points and Matt Boyer's 16, including five 3-pointers.

The Bulldogs host Gideon on Thursday and Charleston on Friday. Both games are scheduled for 6 p.m.

KENNETT -- Travis Siebert scored 20 points as Notre Dame posted an impressive SEMO Conference road victory Tuesday night, 58-46 over Kennett.

Scott Wittenborn and Doug Schaefer each added 10 points for the Bulldogs, who improved to 16-6 overall and 5-2 in league play.

Kennett fell to 15-8 and 2-5.

MARBLE HILL -- Jared Ritter scored 20 points and Andrew Jenkins added 15 to lead Advance (14-7, 4-3) to a Stoddard County Conference victory.

Woodland (9-10, 0-4) got 19 points from Luke Johnson and 12 from Travis Benfield.

OAK RIDGE -- Clayton Ruesler scored 18 points, Adam Hahs had 10 and Jeff Cowan 10 to lead Oak Ridge (7-13, 2-1) in Mississippi Valley Conference play.

Joey Bell had 11 points for Meadow Heights (11-8, 2-2).in the loss.

CRYSTAL CITY -- St. Vincent broke a late tie and posted a Jefferson County Conference victory. Matt Wengert led the Indians (8-8, 2-6) with 13 points. Adam Bockman added 12 while Tyler Wengert and Andrew Prost had 11 each.