NMCC upends Cape Central 55-49

davidj@standard-democrat.com

NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central coach Travis Day has been trying to get his team to not be so dependent on their all-stater Willie Jimerson. On Friday night, the Eagles listened.

Jimerson, NMCC's leading scorer, didn't start the game and finished with just six points, all free throws late in the contest, but seven others scored as the Eagles downed Cape Central 55-49 on homecoming.

New Madrid County Central's Mikael Walker dribbles the ball against Cape Central on Friday night in New Madrid. (David Jenkins photo)

New Madrid County Central's Mikael Walker dribbles the ball against Cape Central on Friday night in New Madrid. (David Jenkins photo)

"We've been telling them the last couple practices that they can't stand around and watch Willie (Jimerson) get this thing done," Day said. "Good teams aren't going to let you have that because they are going to concentrate on him.

"I think we did well with everyone stepping up and contributing. If we do that night in and night out we have a chance to be a pretty good team."

With Jimerson on the bench, the Eagles took an early 8-2 lead and after a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the first quarter, NMCC led 13-8.

Cape Central closed the gap to 25-23 at the half and gained a 31-30 lead in the third quarter. That lead was short lived as NMCC finished the third quarter on a 9-1 run, helped by a Drew Palmer 3-pointer as time expired to give NMCC 40-32 advantage.

Cape Central made one last run at NMCC, slicing the lead to 47-46 with under two minutes to play but Eagles made their free throws down the stretch to earn the win.

"Usually when they made those runs it was because of our mistakes so we had to clean that up," Day said. "What I liked is offensively we were patient every time and tried to get the best shot every time and when we did that we had good looks."

Asten Newsom led NMCC (5-5) with 15 points and also grabbed five rebounds. Mikael Walker added nine points.

"We've been challenging Asten to be that guy," Day said. "You've got to want to dominate in the paint. At times he got in there and mixed it up with Jamal (Cox) and Asten (Statam) tonight and we have to have that."

NMCC outrebounded the taller Tigers 30-25 on the night as Jimerson and Gage Silman each pulled down five rebounds apiece as well.

"That's what we focus on," Day said of NMCC's rebounding. "We aren't the biggest team around and one guy is not going to be a rebounding threat. We have to have five guys in there boxing out and crashing the boards and I think we did that well tonight."

Cape Central (5-8) was led by Statam's 19 points and 11 rebounds. Jamal Cox added 11 points and eight rebounds.

Cape Central 8 15 9 17 -- 49

NMCC 13 12 15 15 -- 55

CAPE CENTRAL (49) -- Nikylus Thompson 2, Al Young 6, Jalen Reddin 5, Jamal Cox 11, Mikey Jones 6, Andre Statam 19. FG 17, FT 14-24, F 19. (3-pointers: Reddin 1. Fouled out: Young, Reddin).

NMCC (55) -- Willie Jimerson 6, Mikael Walker 9, T.J. Clark 5, Vontre Jones 6, Dre Wilson 2, Drew Palmer 5, Asten Newsom 15, Gage Silman 7. FG 18, FT 16-20, F 17. (3-pointers: Walker 1, Clark 1, Palmer 1. Fouled out: none).

Junior Varsity

__NMCC 42, Cape Central 37__

NMCC improved to 6-3 on the season by defeating Cape Central 42-37 on Friday.

Deondray Jenkins led the Eagles with 15 points while Javarcus Word added 10.

Cape Central 14 7 8 8 -- 37

NMCC 8 18 6 10 -- 42

CAPE CENTRAL (37) -- Caleb Ward 5, Tay Nunley-Bell 7, Kway'Chon Chisom 2, Dontarious Williams 9, Matt Riordan 2, Harris 2, Garrett Jackson 2, Zyshon Mallory 8. FG 15, FT 3-8, F 16. (3-pointers: Williams 3, Ward 1. Fouled out: none.)

NMCC (42) -- Javarcus Word 10, Tyler Sprouse 2, Chris Farr 2, Palmer Campbell 6, Deondray Jenkins 15, Larry McIntosh 4, Grayson York 3. FG 14, FT 13-19, F 14. (3-pointers: Word 1. Fouled out: none).