December 30, 2013
No. 5 SCC falls to No. 1 Jackson in semifinals
sports@standard-democrat.com CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A day after upsetting Notre Dame in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament quarterfinals, fifth-seeded Scott County Central saw it's title hopes dashed against top-seeded Jackson. Unable to content with the Indians significant height-advantage, the Braves saw Jackson build a 20-point halftime lead en rout to a 72-45 win to advance to the championship game...
By Brent Shipman - Standard Democrat
sports@standard-democrat.com
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A day after upsetting Notre Dame in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament quarterfinals, fifth-seeded Scott County Central saw it's title hopes dashed against top-seeded Jackson.
Unable to content with the Indians significant height-advantage, the Braves saw Jackson build a 20-point halftime lead en rout to a 72-45 win to advance to the championship game.
"Coming into tonight we it was going to be a tall order to beat that team," Scott Central head coach Frank Staple said of the Indians. "It's almost like playing a junior college with their size. What we wanted to do was just compete and try to make it a track meet. I thought we had small spurts where we got out and ran. Overall we just got a little overwhelmed tonight."
Jackson came into the contest with an undefeated record and a starting rotation whose shortest player that stood only an inch shorter than the Braves' tallest (Kendell Blissett, 6-3).
This led to plenty of second-chance opportunities for the Indians off the boards while their defense held Scott Central's fast-break offense in check.
The Indians came out to a roaring 11-3 start to the first quarter and wouldn't let the Braves close back within 10 points the rest of the game. By the end of the period, Jackson built a 23-11 advantage off six points from Blake Reynolds and five each from Braden Wendell and Karson King.
Reeling nine unanswered points to start the second quarter, the Indians continued to add to their lead. Back-to-back baskets from Scott Central's Jaylen Porter and Larandis Banks stopped the bleeding, but a 7-2 Jackson run to end the half sent the Braves into the locker room trailing 39-19.
"The thing about Jackson is not only are they big, they're pretty athletic and their guards are really quick and strong," Staple said. "They can shoot and you can't really key in on one area of it.
"Defensively, you get in a half court set on either side and it's just tough. We struggled with their height."
After allowing the Indians to pull ahead by 26 points, at 49-23, three minutes into the second half, Scott Central put together their best run of the night. Juwan Owens got things going with five-straight points to fuel a 9-0 Scott Central rally to close back within 17 points with 1:24 left in the frame.
Though they never cut their deficit back within single-digits, the run staved off the turbo-clock as the two teams played out the stretch.
Owen's big second half gave him a team-high nine points in leading the Braves, scoring all nine in the final two quarters and seven in the third alone. Banks finished with eight points while Blissett added seven points to his team's cause.
With five players posting double-digit totals, Jackson was led by Reyonolds' 16 points, 12 of which came in the first half. King had 13 points and Josh Duame 11 with Wendell and Brandon Lueders finishing with 10 points each.
Duame and King contributed three 3-pointers each as the Indians finished with seven on the night.
"I was really happy with the way we handled their pressure," Jackson head coach Darrin Scott said of Scott Central. "We got the ball into some good spots and our guard play was really good tonight. When our guards play well our bigs have a chance to get the ball where they need it and be real effective. That was the case tonight."
With the win Jackson moves on to play third-seeded Cape Central for the title tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Show Me Center.
The Braves will play second-seeded Charleston at 6 p.m. for third place.
"Our goal was to play four days in this tournament and we achieved that," Staple said. "We'll have a tough one on Monday and we're just going to come out and try and compete again. We're trying to get ready for March and I think this helps us do that."
SCC 11 8 13 13 - 45
Jackson 23 16 15 18 - 72
SCOTT COUNTY (45) -- Drake Kesler 1, Juwan Owens 9, Trevion Moore 3, Larandis Banks 8, Jeffery Porter 6, Blain Johnson 1, Kendall Blissett 7, Javonta Daniel 6, Matthew Blissett 4. FG 15, FT 6-10, F 12. (3-pointers: Owens, Moore, Banks. Fouled out: none)
JACKSON (72) -- Josh Daume 11, Braden Wendel 10, Garrett Walker 2, Calvin Lysell 8, Karson King 13, Connor Shepard 2, Blake Reynolds 16, Brandon Lueders 10. FG 21, FT 9-11, F 10. (3-pointers: King 3, Daume 3, Wendel 1. Fouled out: none)
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