TERRIERS REJECT TIGERS' COMEBACK BID 63-46

Cape Central's game against Carbondale Tuesday night was like a bad first date.

When Central finally got to Carbondale's doorstep and worked up the nerve to make a move, the Terriers slammed the door in its face.

After getting off to a poor start, Central clawed its way back to within five points late in the third quarter before Carbondale went on 20-6 run to claim a 63-46 victory.

The Terriers improved to 8-3 on the season, while Central dropped to 2-7.

"I thought in the fourth quarter we established a tempo and played with more intensity," said Carbondale coach Jim Miller.

Beginning at the 1:10 mark of the third quarter, Central went on a 6-0 run to cut Carbondale's lead to 39-34. For the first time in the game, the crowd came alive and the Tigers had the momentum.

But Carbondale scored on its next seven possessions, which included two thunderous dunks by T.J. Silas. During that span, the Tigers scored only two points.

"I thought that part in the third quarter was crucial," said Central coach Brett Reutzel. "But they turned their intensity level up. We made a run, but they answered it."

After failing to score on their first four possessions, the Tigers quickly found themselves in a 6-0 hole. But after the first three minutes of the game, the teams basically traded baskets in the first quarter and Carbondale led 18-11 after the first quarter.

Carbondale pretty much kept Central at arm's length until the Tigers' run. The Terriers led 30-19 at halftime, but never led by more than 12 until late in the fourth quarter.

As in several of Central's losses this year, the Tigers didn't shoot well. Central hit 18 of 56 shots total, including four of 13 from three-point range.

"Size is a lot of that," said Reutzel of his vertically challenged team.

Conversely, Carbondale hit 57 percent of its shots, including seven of its eight attempts in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers won the turnover battle, however. Central turned the ball over 11 times compared to the Terriers' 21.

"I think we've got a pretty good group of ball handlers," said Reutzel. "Again tonight we got what we wanted in them committing turnovers. But they just killed us on the boards."

Central had just 12 rebounds as a team.

"It wasn't a pretty game to watch," Miller said. "But we knew coming in it wasn't going to be easy. You have to give them credit. They could've folded a couple times there in the first half, but they maintained their composure."

Michael Cox, who played about 12 minutes, scored 11 points to lead the Tigers.

Silas scored 18 points for Carbondale, followed by Jashun Spearman with 13 and Maurice Gibbs with 10.

Carbondale won the junior varsity contest 60-40. Jay Ruark scored 14 points to lead Cape Central.