NEW MADRID SHAKES CAPE CENTRAL IN OVERTIME 48-46

The Cape Central Tigers are proof positive that there's a reason why games are played on the court.

Heavy underdogs, the host Tigers battled New Madrid County Central into overtime before falling 48-46 on Friday.

Cape Central (2-10) narrowly missed the huge upset when New Madrid's Byron Minner nailed a 15-foot baseline jumper with one second left in overtime to allow the top-ranked 3A Eagles (8-4) to escape with the win. Minner's basket provided the only points in overtime.

"No one probably gave us any kind of chance at all," said Cape Central coach Brett Reutzel. "Our effort was fantastic. We played our hearts out; just a couple of things here and there and we come out the victors."

With the crowd of about 450 urging them on, Cape Central outscored New Madrid 20-8 in the final quarter. Trailing by 12 points, 38-26, going into the final period, the heart of the Tigers began to take over. Scrapping for every loose ball, taking charging fouls, hitting the boards for putbacks off missed shots, the Tigers clawed their way back.

The Tigers' Chris Cole ultimately hit the game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to knot the score at 46.

Lennies McFerron, New Madrid County Central coach, expected the game to be hotly contested by the Tigers.

"I expect that every time we go out and play people that it's going to be a battle." said McFerron. "When you get labeled as a team to beat, everybody's going to come in with their best game."

In the first quarter, New Madrid shot 8 for 12 from the field and took an 18-13 lead, with 5-foot-9 guard Dereke Tipler netting eight points.

But the Tigers were not about to go away. They closed the gap to 20-19 with about four minutes to go in the second stanza, before the Eagles went on a 7-0 run to take a 27-19 lead into the intermission.

Cole led Cape Central with 15 points, while T. J. Erlacker added 10 and Michael Cox chipped in with eight.

Tipler paced New Madrid with a game-high 17, while Byron Minner and Desmond Sims had nine apiece.