TIGERS USE BALANCE, OVERTAKE SIKESTON

Brian Ellitt did all he could to help usher Sikeston to its first SEMO Conference victory, but Travis Williamson's sharp shooting in the clutch clipped his effort.

Williamson, a 5-foot-10 junior guard, scored six of his 19 points in the final 2:20, and Cape Girardeau Central won its homecoming game 68-65 Friday night. The game was Central's last of the regular season at Tiger Fieldhouse.

Chris Bergerson, a 6-5 senior forward, added 19 points before fouling out. Ross Conner finished with 12 points and Aron Meystedt had 10. With Ellitt stealing the show, the Tigers (9-13, 2-3 SEMO Conference) needed the balance.

Ellitt, a strong, athletic 6-5 sophomore, had 29 points and 14 rebounds on 11 of 13 (85 percent) shooting.

But the Bulldogs (6-14, 0-4) turned the ball over 25 times, including eight blown chances in the fourth quarter.

That aided in Central's comeback from a 59-50 deficit with 4:36 to go. Bergerson made two free throws with 2:44 left to tie the game 61-61. After Sikeston's Shawn Barnett made two free throws, Williamson hit a key 3-pointer with 2:20 remaining to give Central its first lead, 64-63, since late in the third quarter.

After the teams swapped free throws, Williamson made 1 of 2 from the stripe with 17 seconds to go, giving the Tigers a 66-64 advantage. Sikeston's Brandon Barnes, who tallied 10 points, then made 1 of 2 free throws with 7 seconds remaining, making the score 66-65.

One second later, Williamson made two from the stripe, putting Central ahead 68-65. With 6.9 seconds left, Sikeston inexplicably opted to drive toward the goal when it needed a 3-pointer to tie the game.

"When you're down nine with four minutes to go ... and your record is 8-13 and you don't quit, I think that says a lot about the character of your kids," said Central coach Brett Reutzel. "I was real proud of them. We did just enough good things to win."

Sikeston coach Fred Johnson refused to comment after the game.

Ellitt, who was averaging about 14 points and nine rebounds entering the game, showed that he owns a world of potential.

"Sikeston posts up quick and swings the ball quick," Reutzel said. "(Ellitt) may be a little bit stronger than Jeff (Walter, Jackson High's 6-5 center), and I know he's quicker. He's a good basketball player. He's awesome."

But Ellitt's effort couldn't make up for all of the lost opportunities.

"When we went to our press in the fourth quarter, and our pressure hurt them, which really surprised me," Reutzel said. "I didn't know if they would be pressable or not."