Short-handed Braves roll past Rams

~ scott County rode Gillespie's 21 points to an 82-48 win for fifth place.

Scott County Central coach Ronnie Cookson wasn't happy with the way his Braves started the game or the way they started the second half.

His team seemed to play just fine the rest of the game.

The legendary coach with 12 state championships and in his second year since coming out of retirement called timeouts early in both halves, and his team responded on its way to defeating Scott City 82-48 to claim fifth place in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

"Coach is always [talking about] listening to him," said guard Bobby Hatchett, who had 12 points in the contest. "Even when we're playing, he's like, 'Ya'll don't listen.' He kept stressing how Caleb [Johnson] and Drew [Thomas] were out, so we had to listen."

Scott County Central's Otto Porter, center, and teammate Charles Freed challenged Scott City's Alex King for the ball.

Caleb Johnson, Scott County's second-leading scorer in the tournament and inside presence, missed the game with a sprained ankle, while Drew Thomas missed the team bus to get to the game, according to assistant coach Lennies McFerren Jr.

D.D. Gillespie scored a game-high 21 points for the short-handed Braves, while freshman Otto Porter stepped into the starting lineup and scored 16. Toby Heeb and Randy Timmons also ended up in double figures, both with 13.

The Rams built a 7-2 lead by getting the ball inside to 6 foot 6 senior Alex King, who had eight points in the first quarter.

King finished with 14 points and teammate Jay Simmons contributed 13.

The rest of the game was a much different story.

"We just had a rough second quarter," Scott City coach Lance Amick said. "We seemed a step slow on everything. I don't know if it was fatigue or what. We're not in the business of making excuses, but we seemed a day late and a dollar short today."

It may have been that Hatchett was just a step faster. The sophomore was all over the court, applying pressure to Scott City players, and the ball often ended up in his hands.

He had listened to his coach.

"They were telling me I should get in the passing lanes because I was quick and I could get a lot of steals," he said. "So that's what I did."

By halftime, Scott County held a 41-18 lead, and the Rams were unable to mount a comeback.

After the game, Cookson had more to tell his team -- It can play better.

"I see them play every day in practice, so I know how good they can play," he said.

If the Braves reach that peak, though, he still might call a timeout to tell them more.

"It's just me," he said. "I'm hard to satisfy."

Scott City 13 5 15 15 -- 48

Scott County 19 22 17 24 -- 82

Scott City (48) -- Jay Simmons 13, Caleb Estes 9, Cody Page 6, Ryan Modglin 4, Jake Campbell 2, Alex King 14. FG 21, FT 4-6, F 6 (3-pointers: J. Simmons 2. Fouled out: none)

Scott County Central (48) -- D.D. Gillespie 21, Toby Heeb 13, Bobby Hatchett 12, Mark Freed 2, Desmin Williams 3, Randy Timmons 13, Otto Porter 16, Robert Jones 2. FG 34, FT 9-11, F 12 (3-pointers: Heeb 3, Williams 1. Fouled out: none)