Christmas tournament: Scott County Central stiff-arms Charleston

Charleston gave Scott County Central a solid run for its money Wednesday night but could not keep the Braves from reaching another championship game at the Southeast Missourian Christmas tournament.

The Bluejays did the same thing last year, providing the Braves' biggest challenge on their way to the 2009 title.

Top-seeded SCC pulled away from fifth-seeded Charleston for an 84-61 semifinal victory Wednesday. The Braves (9-2) will shoot for a tournament three-peat against third-seeded Jackson at 8 p.m. today. Charleston (7-3) will take on second-seeded Central at 6:30 p.m. for third place.

"You always hope to make it to the finals and then see what happens," SCC coach Kenyon Wright said.

SCC's second straight title last season featured a 12-point semifinal win over Charleston after the Braves trailed by 13 points early. That was their only competitive tournament game.

Scott County Central's LaMarcus Steward and Charleston's Ryan Parham hustle after the ball during the first quarter Wednesday. (Kristin Eberts)

Wednesday marked the Braves' only competitive contest through the first three rounds this year. And competitive is a relative term considering SCC still won by 23 points.

But compared to SCC's first two wins -- the closest by 48 points after the Braves put up 103 and 100 points -- Wednesday's affair qualifies.

"I expected them to play 110 percent. We just had to come back at them 110 percent," said SCC all-everything senior forward Otto Porter, who poured in 34 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and blocked five shots. "It was a physical game. They're strong."

A tight first quarter featured a 16-10 Charleston lead before the Braves went ahead 19-18 by the end of the period.

Charleston never caught back up but stayed within striking distance, trailing just 31-27 late in the second quarter before the Braves ended the half on a 10-4 run to go ahead 41-31.

Scott County Central's Dominique Porter takes a shot as Charleston's Ryan Parham defends during the third quarter Wednesday at the Southeast Missourian Christmas tournament.

"We kept up with them for a while. I thought we could have kept up with them longer, but our shots weren't falling," Charleston coach Danny Farmer said. "Our only chance was to make our shots. You have to make baskets to beat them."

The Bluejays continued to battle valiantly in the second half but could not get the deficit under 10 points.

SCC built several 18-point leads in the third quarter before the Bluejays had one more push left.

Charleston pulled within 61-48 entering the final period and quickly made it 61-51.

But the explosive Braves answered with a 10-0 run highlighted by Porter's steal and dunk. SCC led by as many as 27 points before coasting home.

"You expect a tough game every time you play Charleston," Wright said.

The Bluejays, with no player taller than 6 foot 2, had no answer for the 6-9 Porter, although not many teams have during his brilliant high school career.

"We tried to keep him off the boards," Charleston junior guard Greg Tucker said. "It was a real difficult task. He's real long and he can get a lot of rebounds without even jumping. We had bodies on him. That's just Otto."

Porter scored in a variety of ways, including jumpers, drives to the basket, follow shots and dunks. He has 97 points in three tournament games.

"You're not going to stop Porter. He's relentless," Farmer said. "They're tough to slow down."

But Porter had plenty of help, which has been the case most of the season.

Also scoring in double figures for the Braves were senior guard Stewart Johnson with 21 points and junior guard Dominique Porter with 12 points. Senior guard Trey Johnson added nine points.

"They kind of take the load off me," Otto Porter said. "They're playing their roles."

Tucker paced Charleston with 15 points.

While the Braves will shoot for a three-peat tonight, the Bluejays will try to finish third after placing fourth last year.

"That's our game plan, forget about this and try to win the one tomorrow," Farmer said.

Charleston 18 13 17 13 -- 61

SCC 19 22 20 23 -- 84

CHARLESTON (61) -- Aaron Cassell 8, Maurice Moore 2, Ryan Parham 2, Michael Hull 9, Trey Watkins 2, Greg Tucker 15, Jamaul Gray 2, Claude Armstrong 8, Jerry Carter 9, Darrion Henderson 2, Krushon Scott 2. FG 27, FT 2-8, F 21. (3-pointers: Hull 1, Tucker 1, Carter 3. Fouled out: none)

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL (84) -- Stewart Johnson 21, Trey Johnson 9, Reggie Woodson 6, LaMarcus Steward 2, Otto Porter 34, Dominique Porter 12. FG 32, FT 19-27, F 14. (3-pointers: T. Johnson 1. Fouled out: Woodson)