THE LATEST LINE: AT SCOTT CITY, RELOADING IS THE KEY WORD

Odds are, Scott City High's boys basketball team won't win the Class 2A state championship this season, although the Rams do have a fine team and could certainly contend for the title.

But, no matter what happens between now and the state finals in Columbia in March, nobody can take away from what the Rams recently accomplished for the first time in school history.

When the statewide basketball poll was released two Wednesdays ago, the Rams stood tall atop the 2A rankings. No Scott City hoop squad had ever before been rated No. 1 in Missouri, the Rams' highest previous ranking being second.

The fact the Rams are No. 1 right now demonstrates just what kind of unbelievable program coach Derek McCord has built.

When McCord took over at Scott City in the early 1990s, the Rams were one of the area's most consistently mediocre teams and that's putting it mildly.

Now, nine years later, the Rams are one of the state's most consistently strong teams, annually winning upwards of 25 games and appearing in the polls just about every week.

Over the last four seasons, the Rams have averaged just over 26 victories, and that's not counting their 19-1 start this year. They've won three district titles in the past four seasons and will be favored to make it four out of five this year.

Now, no matter what standout players the Rams lose to graduation from year to year, the team never seems to miss a beat.

After sensational guard Jon Beck graduated last year, a lot of people figured Scott City would fall back to the pack some. But it hasn't happened.

At Scott City, McCord and his Rams have taken the oft-used phrase of reloading, not rebuilding,' to another level.

And the Rams' ascension to No. 1 in the state is a crowning achievement for a program that just keeps on churning out victories.

* The crowds at the Show Me Center for SEMO basketball games have picked up considerably recently and that should continue this week as the Indians have three home contests.

But nothing figures to match the turnout of Saturday's highly anticipated rematch with Murray State as the Indians close out their regular-season home schedule.

SEMO and Murray will square off at 1 p.m. in a nationally televised game on ESPN2. It would be a shame if the Show Me Center isn't totally sold out for that one.

* Basketball is still going hot and heavy, but that doesn't mean baseball isn't just around the corner.

SEMO is scheduled to open its season Friday at Arkansas. The Indians, second in the OVC last year, should field another exciting team.

* For almost three quarters last Sunday, it looked like just another Super Bowl blowout as St. Louis appeared to have total control.

But what a finish! The play down the stretch elevated the game to one of the best Super Bowls ever.

And what a story as the Rams went from 4-12 chumps one year to Super Bowl champs the next.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian