Flying high

Eagles close out regular season with 77-47 win over SCC

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- If New Madrid County Central was looking for momentum heading into the playoffs, they couldn't have asked for better results in their final few weeks of the regular season

Just two days after knocking off the No. 1 team in Class 4, Sikeston, the Eagles closed out their campaign with a 77-47 win over Scott County Central on Thursday to push their winning streak to three games.

"Every run they made we were able to stop it and answer it," NMCC head coach Travis Day said of the Braves. "That's what you want to see going into the playoffs here.

"It's been a good regular season for us, 16-7. We just need to work on some more stuff and keep getting ready."

Scott Central's (12-13) only lead of the night came on a game-opening 3-pointer from Jaylen Porter, who went on to score the Braves first 10 points. NMCC (16-7) countered with a 10-0, three minute run and never looked back.

Four first quarter 3-pointers helped the Eagles to a 25-14 lead by the end of the frame. With a minute left in the first, that lead expanded to 18-points. It was only an 8-0 run by Scott Central in the final minute that kept them within 10 points, at 36-26, entering the break.

It didn't take long for the Eagles to reestablish themselves after the half with a short jumper from Willie Jimerson kicking off a 12-4 NMCC run to start the half. They took advantage of a turnover to answer with back-to-back baskets and close their deficit to 14. By the end of the third frame, the Eagles pushed back out to a 57-40 lead.

"Turnovers kind of killed us," Scott Central head coach Frank Staple said. "We made a few bad decisions. Against a good team like that, two or three bad decisions can turn a 10-point lead into a 20-point one."

NMCC did eventually hit the 20-point threshold, opening the fourth frame on a 6-2 run to go up 63-40 with 5:54 to play. Two of the next three baskets belonged to the Braves closing them back within 19-points.

But soon after, NMCC stormed away to a turbo-clock victory.

After Tyler Masters' basket made it 65-46 with 3:58 to play, the Eagles held the Braves without a field goal the rest of the way. During the final four minutes, NMCC closed out on a 12-1 run taking their first 30-point lead with just under a minute to play.

"In spots we were good and in spots I thought we were just being lackadaisical," Day said. "We stopped playing our game at points and started getting wild like they want us to get.

"When we start doing what we work on we was able to build on our lead."

NMCC's effort was led by a game-high 14 points from Jimerson, with 11 of those coming in the first half. JaShawn McDaniel had 13 points, including four of the team's five 3-pointers on the night, while Darrin McGloson added 12 points to his team's cause.

Delontre Haney had 11 points and Mikeal Walker was the fifth Eagle to hit double-figures with 10 points.

"That's what we need," Day said of all the contributors. "Willie didn't have the greatest night, but other guys stepped up. That's what you have to have for the playoffs. That's what I wanted to see, can we get other guys to contribute at the times we need."

Day added," We've played six games in two weeks and went 5-1. I couldn't ask for anything better, but the thing is we have to carry this momentum over into the district tournament."

For Scott Central, Jaylen Porter had a team-high 12 points on 4 of 11 shooting while grabbing five rebounds.

Jeffery Porter, Larandis Banks and Tyler Masters had 10 points with Jeffery Porter coming down with a team-high six boards, two assists and three steals. Masters had five rebounds.

"We just really wanted to come out and compete tonight," Staple said. "I like the way we did in the first half. The second half not so much. But, we just have to have a short memory because we have Bell City to open districts on Saturday."

NMCC 25 11 21 20 -- 77

Scott Central 14 12 14 7 -- 47

NMCC (77) -- Willie Jimerson 14, Armondo Thatch 6, Mikeal Walker 10, JaShawn McDaniel 13, Delontre Haney 11, TJ Clark 2, Corey Guest 7, Darrin McGloson 12. FG 29, FT 12-15, F 17. (3-pointers: McDaniel 4, Guest 1. Fouled out: none.)

SCOTT CENTRAL (47) -- Chris Brown 2, Larandis Banks 10, Jaylen Porter 12, Tyler Masters 10, Kendall Blissett 1, Jeffery Porter 10. FG 19, FT 5-16, F 14. (3-pointers: Porter 2. Fouled out: none.)