HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: TIGERS MISFIRE AT HOME

Had Cape Central shot a mere 25 percent from three-point range and 50 percent from the free throw line, it would have won the game.

But below-zero shooting negated an otherwise solid performance by the Tigers Friday night as De Soto defeated Central 69-51 at Tiger Field House.

The Tigers (1-1), making their home debut, made just three of their 33 three-point attempts and made only 12 of their 32 free throws.

"We're better shooters than that," said Cape Central coach Brett Reutzel. "I think we got to rushing it a little bit. We're not feeling the freedom and just relaxing. Two or three kids have the green light to shoot whenever they've got it and I think some are still thinking about it and doubting it. But if we shoot the ball better, we win that basketball game."

The statistics back up Reutzel's claim.

Despite being greatly undersized, Central out-rebounded De Soto 29-27. De Soto committed 23 turnovers, while the Tigers -- who are playing a pressure, up-tempo style this year -- turned the ball over only 11 times.

The Tigers' relentless fullcourt pressure came up with 14 steals, but no player had more than three.

"I'm pleased with where we're at," Reutzel said. "There's a couple things we can do better, but the effort is there."

Central has no player listed on its roster taller than 6-foot-2. But the Tigers have good overall quickness and are very deep.

Their style looked out of control at times Friday night, but the Tigers had a plus-11 turnover ratio.

"We could've handled the pressure better," said De Soto coach Allen Davis. "We turned the ball over more than any team I've had. (That style) worked for them."

Cape Central had 10 players score with Matt Cardin leading the way with 12 points, followed by Chris Cole with 10.

The Tigers basically let the game get away from them in the second quarter when the Dragons (1-0) outscored Central 18-7. The Tigers made only two of seven shots in the quarter and went into halftime facing a 37-22 deficit.

But the teams played evenly in the second half. Central cut its deficit to 11 points twice late in the third quarter but couldn't put enough shots together to break the double-digit barrier. The Tigers also cut the lead to 62-51 with 2:33 to go in the game, but the Tigers missed their final nine shots of the game.

The first quarter, which ended with De Soto holding a 21-15 lead, was a bit of an odd one.

De Soto made nine of its 11 shots from the field, but turned the ball over a whopping nine times.

The Dragons had three players in double figures. Rodney Kelly, who flushed down an impressive two-handed dunk in the first quarter, led the way with 21 points. Dan Parmely and Billy Davis followed with 19 and 16 points, respectively.

* Cape Central's junior varsity collected a 49-42 win over the Dragons. Jay Ruark led the way for the Tigers with 12 points. Josh Aylesworth scored 14 for De Soto.