Bell City, SCC may have just a little too much in common

~ A high stakes game will be played as Scott County Central coach David Heeb faces his former team tonight.

Tonight's Class 1 boys sectional between Bell City and Scott County Central might be the most anticipated basketball game in Southeast Missouri this season.

Ever since Scott County coach David Heeb chose to leave Bell City for his alma mater last year, basketball fans throughout the region have eagerly awaited the meeting of these two teams.

The teams were in the same fields at both the Oran Invitational and Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, but they managed to avoid each other both times. A regular-season game -- ironically scheduled for Valentine's Day -- was cancelled prior to the season. Bell City officials said they were in favor of playing the game.

Thanks to a pair of district championships on Thursday, though, the Class 1 matchup will finally come to fruition.

The game at Central Junior High will tip-off at 8:15 p.m. following a girls sectional between Delta and Scott County Central. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the girls game will begin at 6:30.

"This is probably one of the most talked-about games around that I can remember," Bell City coach Brian Brandtner said.

Despite the lack of an official game between the teams, much has transpired since Heeb decided to leave Bell City.

The teams got the message boards buzzing with a supposed incident during a summer league game, and a Missouri State High School Activities Association investigation was launched to look into undue influence charges against Scott County, although no actions have been taken to this point. The Braves are led by sophomore D.D. Gillespie, a Bell City transfer and the Cubs' leading scorer last season.

Bell City (25-4) enters the game ranked No. 3 in the Class 1 state poll, while Scott County used the district tournament to pull over .500 at 16-13.

"There's been a lot of hype, and a lot of it's negative," Heeb said. "That's a shame. We're just excited to play who we feel right now is the best 1A team in the state."

Added Brandtner: "All this emotion that goes with it, I can't lie and say it's not there. We all feel it. It's anticipation more than anything. I'm ready to play the game instead of talking about the game."

Bell City enters as the prohibitive favorite, having lost just one starter -- Gillespie -- from last year's state final four squad. The Cubs added 6-foot-10 Will Bogan to the squad this year, giving them likely the premiere big man in Class 1. Bogan, who transferred to Bell City last year but was unable to play due to transfer rules, gave an oral commitment to Memphis while playing in his first high school season.

Brandtner said his team's playoff experience should help it deal with the distractions and hype surrounding tonight's game.

"Our kids have been there," Brandtner said. "We've played good teams all year. We've battled. I think we're playing our best basketball right now. Scott County's going to play hard, get after us. They've got some good players."

Added senior Blaine Stewart: "Everyone's been playing this game up. I think we're going to play it like it's a normal game."

The Cubs enter the sectional having breezed through their district. Bell City's lowest winning margin in its three games was 38 points. The four losses Bell City has suffered this season have come to Class 3 district champions Charleston and Doniphan, Class 5 school Jackson and West Memphis, the defending Class 5A Arkansas state champions.

"That's a good thing about this team, with their leadership they bring a business-like attitude," Brandtner said. "We take care of business and prepare for each game like it's their last game."

Bogan has led the team in scoring this season, averaging more than 18 points a game. The Charleston transfer has had little trouble in his debut high school season, creating matchup nightmares for teams throughout the region.

Sophomore guard Nick Niemczyk is nipping at Bogan's heels for the team-scoring lead. Niemczyk took a little time to find his shooting touch after suffering a hand injury early in the season, but he has been a scoring machine over the final two months of the season.

"You want to try to take away 'A', we'll come at you with 'B,'" Brandtner said. "You take away 'B', we'll come at you with 'C'. We have the lineup to do that."

Seniors Jeff Liggins, Stewart, Garrett McIntyre and Kerry Wayne Lasters will look to make their third straight trip to the state final four.

"Our seniors have really stepped up late in the year," Brandtner said. "They're going to be good for us out there to keep a level head. They're [Scott County] going to try to get under our skin and draw fouls. They play hard."

One thing will be certain entering the game: Heeb will be familiar with his opponent. With little roster change for Bell City, Heeb has coached nearly every player that will hit the floor for the Cubs.

"I know what they'll bring out, and they know what I'm going to bring," Heeb said. "If they play how I taught them to play, they'll try to bury me."

That fact will certainly provoke some emotion for both Heeb and the Bell City players, including a group of Bell City seniors who had played for Heeb throughout their careers.

"He coached us for about five years," Stewart said. "It's kind of weird going against him. I think he'll be up for the challenge, and I think we will too."

Heeb said while he will always respect and care for his former players, he will have to just think of them as the opponent.

"It will be the first time I've ever had to root against Jeff Liggins," Heeb said. "That will be hard, but it's my job to find a way for Scott County to win."

In order for the Braves to win they will have to continue to count on a very young, and inexperienced core group of players. Scott County lost much of its scoring and depth from last year's district-champion team. Among the losses were four players who transferred to Sikeston and have since helped the Bulldogs qualify for the Class 4 state final four.

Gillespie, along with fellow sophomore Caleb Johnson and freshman Drew Thomas have led the Braves much of this season. Pershard Owens and Josh Chamberlain, both seniors, and junior Avery Williams have also contributed.

"I'm really proud of these kids," Heeb said. "I knew it was just a matter of time before this group of young kids became the next great Scott County Central team. I think it's happening before our eyes."

Gillespie has been one of the top scorers in the area, averaging more than 22 points a game. Despite being a sophomore, Gillespie has the experience of last year's final four.

"He's really allowed the kids around him to get better," Heeb said. "That's what great players do. The other kids have improved so much, and he's recognized that."

The winner of tonight's game will play in the quarterfinals Saturday at West Plains, Mo. Bell City has failed to reach the quarterfinal round just once during its current streak of five straight district championships, falling to Clarkton in 2003. The Cubs have knocked out Scott County in the sectional round the past two seasons.

Brandtner said with an expected large crowd and a frenzied atmosphere it should be quite a game.

"When it's a game like this, I've seen a lot of crazy things happen," he said. "Each team can win. It comes down to who executes better."