Cape Central boys basketball team downs Scott City in Christmas Tournament quarterfinal

Cape Central senior Tevyn Wright-Hunt's 3-pointer from the right wing as time expired on the first half of the Tigers' Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament quarterfinal against Scott City gave Central its first lead since the opening minute of the contest, and may have provided he and his teammates with a bit of confidence heading into the locker room.

Scott City's Dylan Keller drives past Cape Central's Austin Parker in the third quarter, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, during the second day of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament at the Show Me Center. Cape Central won 63-48. (Laura Simon)

The shot, which gave the second-seeded Tigers a one-point lead, "didn't prevent them from getting a butt-chewing at halftime," according to coach Drew Church, but Central's momentum, coupled with Church's halftime message, propelled the Tigers to a 63-48 victory over the No. 7 Rams at the Show Me Center on Monday.

"First half we came out a little flat and I thought we were unsure. I think we were a little afraid to attack and a lot that Scott City had to do with," Church said. "I thought we were a little hesitant. I thought the second half we came out with a little more fire and did the tough things -- not necessarily played real well but did some more of the tough things that we're going to have to do in the future."

An Al Young 3-pointer on the Tigers' second possession put them up 3-2, but the lead was short-lived. Scott City held a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and led by as much as 18-11 with 4 minutes, 55 seconds to go in the first half.

Central finished 4 of 9 from 3 in the first half, but Church would've liked to see more patience on the offensive end early. The Tigers were 2 of 5 as they pulled away in the second half.

"Definitely, and that's not us," Church said when asked if he felt his players took too many quick 3s early. "We've got some kids that can shoot this year, but it's not dribble down and shoot. It's off penetration and kick; three, four, five passes where they can get into a flow. I thought we took some quick shots early and that kind of fed into what Scott City wanted us to do. They didn't have to guard very long, got a rebound, got to come down and then they make you guard for 30 seconds and that's kind of tough."

After Scott City went up seven on a jumper by Trent Pobst with 4:55 to go before the half, the Rams were held scoreless for nearly three minutes. They were 2 of 10 over the last five minutes of the second quarter.

Cape Central's Jawone Newell takes a shot around Scott City's Dylan Keller in the fourth quarter, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, during the second day of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament at the Show Me Center. Cape Central won 63-48. (Laura Simon)

A basket by Braden Cox 54 seconds into the second half put Scott City up 24-23, but Young answered with a triple seven seconds later to put Central ahead for good.

The Rams made just two field goals in the third quarter as the Tigers built up a 38-29 lead heading into the fourth.

A free throw in the first minute of the final period cut the deficit to eight, which was as close as the Rams got.

"We couldn't throw it in the ocean," Scott City coach Mark Dannenmueller said. "If we could make a shot -- I thought with everything we had going against us, if we could've just put it in the ocean we would've had a good chance, but we just couldn't convert when we needed to. We were right there the whole game. We've struggled with that this year, scoring, and we've struggled with shots around the basket and so this was kind of our worst nightmare, I guess for this to come up again."

Young led all scorers with 25 points. Jawone Newell and Blake Harris finished with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Central junior Kway'Chon Chisom was absent from the game. He also did not play in the Tigers' tournament opener on Saturday.

Church responded "Not right now," when asked whether Chisom was a member of the Tigers' team. He would not clarify further when asked if that meant there was a possibility Chisom would return to the team.

Pobst led Scott City with 14 points while Dylan Keller added 12.

The Rams (4-3) face No. 6 Scott County Central in a fifth-place semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"I was completely proud of my kids," Dannenmueller said. "My kids played hard, competed. They were put in a tough situation and they battled."

The Tigers (5-5) face No. 3 Notre Dame in a semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"I don't think we're beating anybody tomorrow if we play like we did tonight, and a lot of that's credit to Scott City, but I think our kids realize it," Church said. "I think we came out a little flat. Regardless of who we play I think tomorrow night if you play Notre Dame or Scott County, I think our kids will come ready to go and I think the atmosphere will be there. And after the butt-chewing they took I think they'll be OK."

Scott City 13 9 7 19 48

Cape Central 9 14 15 25 63

SCOTT CITY (48) -- Dylan Keller 12, Trent Pobst 14, Isiah Berry 4, Jordan Kluesner 7, Braden Cox 8, Jaden Kaiser 3. FG 17, FT 11-17, F 20 (3-pointers: Keller. Fouled out: None.)

CAPE CENTRAL (63) -- Al Young 25, Tevyn Wright-Hunt 6, Aubrey Carter 8, Jawone Newell 14, Blake Harris 10. FG 15, FT 15-30, F 16 (3-pointers: Young 2, Wright-Hunt 2, Carter 2. Fouled out: None.)