Bravettes rout Chaffee to advance in Scott-Miss. tournament

Scott County Central's Abby Ross attempts a layup Tuesday during the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament at Scott County Central High School. (Brent Shipman photo)

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SIKESTON -- They came into this year's tournament as an underdog, but that didn't stop the defending champion Scott County Central Bravettes from opening up this year's Scott-MIssissippi Conference Tournament with a big win over Chaffee.

Led by Michaela Blissett's 23 points while getting five three's from Derien Ditto, the No. 3 Bravettes' pulled away by as many as 31 points Tuesday holding on for a 65-43 win.

"We played as a team and we're starting to come together like we did last year," Blissett said. "Whenever (Ditto) was hitting the outside shot it opened more up for the inside and then we got the backdoor cuts. It was just working for the post players."

While neither team was sharp from the field early it was Scott Central's defense that lead to many of their early runs as the sixth-seeded Lady Devils struggled to adjust to their press.

This included the final 4:23 of the first half when they turned a five-point advantage into a 22-point lead entering the break.

During a 50 second spurt, the Bravettes caused four-straight Chaffee turnovers without the Lady Devils moving the ball past half court. These four turnovers alone turned into eight points as part of a 17-0 Scott Central run.

Chaffee broke up a five minute scoring drought on a Jordan Pruitt basket with 30 seconds to play, but went into halftime trailing 37-15.

"We pride ourself on defense and when it's hitting on all cylinders then we're a lot better team," Bravettes' head coach Matt Limbaugh said. "We've kind of struggled with that a little bit this year. We're still not where we need to be, but it's a step in the right direction for the team in general."

After the break SCC got nine points from Johniqua Fort as part of a 16-7 run in the first seven minutes of the second half. Blissett capped the rally with a bucket following a Lady Devil turnover to give her team their largest lead of the night, 53-22, with 1:11 to play in the third quarter.

On their next possession Chaffee opened their best stretch of the night, scoring six unanswered points to end the period as part of a 16-6 run.

Though the run closed their deficit to 21-points, at 59-38, with just over four minutes to play, Blissett strung together three-straight baskets directly after to ensure her team's trip to the semifinals.

"We've had such a long time without games," Chaffee head coach Darrin Pruitt said. "We've only played one game since (the Lady Devil Classic). So we've had several weeks of just practice, practice, practice. You can only do so much against yourself.

"We did really well against Kelly the other night and we come out here and played hard the second half. We just couldn't get the shots to fall the first half."

Behind Blissett's game-high 23 points, Ditto and Fort had 15 each with all of Ditto's coming from behind the arc. Fort had a pair of 3-pointers to give the Bravette's seven on the night. Abby Ross added seven points to Scott Central's cause.

"We become a lot better team when we have an inside/outside presence," Limbaugh said. "Derien was that outside presence for us tonight. I thought Abby and Johniqua played a lot better too, driving the lane and things like that in trying to give us more options on offense. That's what we've been lacking here the past couple of games."

For the Lady Devils, Julia Sutterfield had a team-high 13 points while going 5 of 8 at the free throw line. Jordan Pruitt finished with 10 points and had two of the team's six 3-pointers.

The Bravettes will face No. 2 Charleston Thursday with a chance to get back to the title game at 8:30 p.m. at Scott Central High School.

The game will be a rematch of last year's championship game where the Bravettes downed Charleston 109-89.

"Charleston is a great team," Limbaugh said. "We got to see them for the first time earlier today. They're a very quick team. and they pride themselves on their press (like we do).

"They get up and they guard, get in your face. We just have to be prepared for it."

CHAFFEE (43) -- Jordan Pruitt 10, Julia Sutterfield 13, Alaine Sexton 3, Carleigh Burnett 2, Hannah Seyer 6, Lindsey Harrell 3, Dakota Pepple 6. FG 15, FT 7-12, F 11. (3-pointers: Pruitt 2, Sexton 1, Seyer 2, Pepple 1. Fouled out: none.)

SCOTT CENTRAL (65) -- Mikaela Blissett 23, Derien Ditto 15, Johniqua Fort 15, Ziaire Davis 1, Maddison Advance 2, Abby Ross 7, LaQuisha Strickland 2. FG 25, FT 8-13, F 11. (3-pointers: Ditto 5, Fort 2. Fouled out: none.)

Charleston 71, Scott City 48

Outscoring seventh-seeded Scott City in each of the first three quarters on Tuesday second-seeded Charleston cruised to a 77-48 win to advance to the semifinals.

With Sierra Frazier and Juwanna Walker scoring six points each in the first quarter the Lady Bluejays opened up a 24-12 lead heading into the second quarter. They'd push that lead to 16-points entering halftime, 37-21, before outpacing the Lady Rams 21-10 in the third quarter.

Frazier finished with a game-high 20 points, including 10 points in the third period. Cheyenne Randle was close behind with 19 points while going a perfect 5 of 5 at the free throw line. Walker was the third Lady Bluejay in double digits with 12 points.

For Scott City, Lyndsie Robert had a team-high 12 points. Anna Kern and Natalie Woods contributed 11 and nine points respectively.

SCOTT CITY (48) -- Lyndsie Robert 12, Anna Kern 11, Natalie Woods 9, Carly Howell 4, Liz Hensley 4, Michaela Kiefer 8. FG 20, FT 8-19, F 11. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)

CHARLESTON (71) -- Natalie Groves 6, Sierra Frazier 20, Keana Horton 4, Frederica Evans 2, Juwanna Walker 12, Cheyenne Randle 19, Chanelle Quinn 2, Alexis Hamilton 6. FG 29, FT 9-16, F 18. (3-pointers: Walker 2, Hamilton 2. Fouled out: Evans.)