CHARLESTON - The Blue Jays (3-3) used 18 points from freshman Ashton Farmer to defeat Caruthersville's Tigers (7-2) Friday night. Jordy Mixon and Kewain Gant both chipped in with 14 for Charleston in the 83-67 win.
"I thought we played well tonight," said Charleston coach Danny Farmer. "Things began a little fast, but we did finally get things going our way."
Charleston used a nine point run to jump out to a 13-7 lead early in the contest. Gant led the drive with back-to-back jumpers.
After leading at the end of the first quarter by six, Charleston allowed the Tigers to comeback on threes from Chris Springer and Bryant Rodgers.
Rodger's triple came with 5:23 left in the first half and it tied the game at 24.
The Blue Jays quickly recovered, scoring seven straight points. Three of the seven came on a trey from Deshaundry Hamilton.
Caruthersville kept attempting the long ball, but fouls were the Tigers downfall as they gave up nine free throws in the final three and a half minutes of the second quarter. Lezcano Dean was the recipient of four of the stripers as he hit three and but in a bucket with 2.1 left in the half to give the Blue Jays a 10 point lead at 45-35.
Springer owned the third quarter as he scored 11 of his game high 30 points in the frame. Springer's show was to little avail though as the Tigers were only able to cut Charleston's lead to nine to begin the final quarter.
Charleston and Caruthersville continued to swap blows until Dontay Clark went to the line for the Blue Jays. Clark went 4-4 from the line to put Charleston up 14 and out of Tiger reach.
"We played horrible tonight," quoted Caruthersville's head coach Kevin Williams. "We didn't guard anybody. We didn't box out and we didn't get back on defense.
"The good thing is that we are 7-2 right now and that we learn that when we go on the road that things are different, and that's good. It doesn't get any easier for us."
Caruthersville's junior varsity picked up a 48-27 win over the Blue Jays' jayvee. Plessie Ellitt led the Tigers with 18 points.