Bell City survives big comeback by Braves

POPLAR BLUFF -- The Bell City boys basketball team is not ready to turn over its title as the region's premiere Class 1 squad just yet, as the Cubs escaped a huge comeback Tuesday to win 65-63 against rival Scott County Central in the state sectional.

The Braves, owners of a state-record 12 state titles, have fallen to the Cubs in the sectional the past four years. Bell City (26-4) will face Billings (25-4) in a quarterfinal Saturday at West Plains.

Bell City built an 18-point lead with 7:21 remaining in the fourth quarter before the Braves rallied. Scott County used a 22-5 run over the next 5 minutes to cut the lead to 56-55 with 2:35 remaining.

"We knew they had some runs in them," Bell City coach Brian Brandtner said. "We talked about that. It was just a bigger run than we were hoping for. Toby Heeb got on fire and knocked down some shots. We turned the ball over too much."

Heeb kept the Braves in the game with four second-half 3-pointers. At one stretch in the fourth quarter, Heeb sank three straight 3's to narrow an 18-point gap to 51-44 with about 5 minutes remaining.

Scott County Central junior Toby Heeb took a shot against Bell City's Phillip Gross during the Class 1 sectional game Tuesday night at Poplar Bluff High School. (Kit Doyle)

Thanks to a hounding Scott County press, the Cubs started to wilt down the stretch. Scott County junior guard D.D. Gillespie was especially tough on the press, scoring 11 points over the final 4 minutes, mostly off steals.

"You just have to take your hats off to them," Brandtner said. "Early in the third quarter, I thought they were winded, done, but then they hit some big shots and got energized."

Cubs junior guard Nick Niemczyk hit four of five free throws over the final 2 minutes and pushed the lead to 64-60 with 19.3 seconds remaining. Drew Thomas answered with an off-balance 3-pointer with about 6 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 64-63.

Melvin Johnson hit one of two free throws on the other end, and Caleb Johnson's desperation 3 from beyond midcourt hit the side of the rim as time expired.

"It looked like it was going to be on," Scott County coach Ronnie Cookson said of the final shot. "He's hit some from that far out."

Added Brandtner: "I knew it was going in. I know Caleb, and he's capable of [hitting] that."

Bell City led nearly the entire game, with Scott County's lone lead at 4-2 early in the first. The score was 9-8 midway through the first, but Bell City went on a 9-2 run to go ahead 18-10 after one quarter.

By halftime, Bell City had matched its biggest lead with a 14-point edge at 32-18.

"You can't play against people like that not ready to play," Cookson said. "They have a strong ballclub. I wish them all the luck in the world. We're a lot better than we played the first half.

"We just didn't play our game. We were trying to do stuff we weren't supposed to be doing and it killed us."

Senior center Will Bogan was too much to handle for the Braves. The 6-foot-10 Bogan had already recorded a double-double by halftime (15 points, 14 rebounds) and finished with 27 points and 21 rebounds.

"He's really turned it up when we needed him," Brandtner said. "Since the [Southeast Missourian] Christmas Tournament -- it is a two-way street: you have to get it to him, and he has to get open -- he's been dominant in big games."

Niemczyk added 18 points, including eight points down the stretch, for the Cubs, winners of 21 straight since the start of that holiday tournament.

"Any time we're in crunch time, we want the ball going through Nick," Brandtner said. "He's such a smart basketball player."

Marty Dames and Phillip Gross added eight points apiece for Bell City.

Thomas led the Braves with 20 points. Gillespie added 17 points, Johnson had 14 and Heeb had 12. The Braves did not have a senior see action on Tuesday.

"I was tickled to death how hard the kids played for me," said Cookson, who filled in for coach David Heeb, who decided to sit out the season after a Missouri State High School Activities Association suspension was going to sideline him for the second semester."I enjoyed the second half," Cookson added. "I wish all the luck in the world for them."

Bell City 65, Scott County Central 63

Scott County 10 8 15 30 -- 63

Bell City 18 14 17 16 -- 65

SCOTT COUNTY (63) -- Drew Thomas 20, D.D. Gillespie 17, Caleb Johnson 14, Toby Heeb 12. FG 27, FT 3-8, F 19 (3-pointers: Heeb 4, Thomas 2, fouled out: none)

BELL CITY (65) -- Will Bogan 27, Nick Niemczyk 18, Marty Dames 8, Phillip Gross 8, Melvin Johnson 1, Austin Segers 3. FG 24, FT 13-22, F (3-pointers: Niemczyk 2, Gross 2, fouled out: none)