CHS TIGERS GO OUT SCRATCHING TO RIVERVIEW

FARMINGTON -- Despite losing to Riverview Gardens by 23 points less than a month ago, Cape Central High's boys basketball team was determined not be intimidated in the rematch.

And the Tigers weren't, taking the fight to the Rams in the early going of Wednesday night's Class 4A sectional game at the Farmington Civic Center.

But eventually the Rams' talent took over. They wiped out an early seven-point deficit and rolled to a 91-66 victory.

Riverview, which improved to 20-7 with its 12th straight victory, advances to Saturday's 4A quarterfinal round.

Central

The Tigers, who lost in the sectional round for the second year in a row, finish the season with a 21-7 record.

"What can you say," said Central coach Brett Reutzel in marveling at the Rams' talents. "They're a great team. They've got a lot of talent.

"They're deep, big, so athletic. You go 6-8, 6-8 and 6-5 and you're going to have matchup problems."

Riverview's tall and talented front line that Reutzel referred to dominated the game. Brian Jefferson, a 6-foot-8 senior, scored 17 points while 6-5 senior Bryant Robinson had 16 and 6-8 senior Jamel Richardson added 14.

Also contributing for the Rams were guards Mario McIntosh and Kyle Younge, with 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Central got 19 points from Laurence Jackson, 18 from Nathan Owen and 10 from LaVelle Lewis. All are seniors.

"I think beating them (83-60) last time might have played into it a little bit," said Riverview coach Todd Dutton of his team's slow start. "We maybe were unfocused early. But they hit their shots."

Things certainly looked good enough for Central in the early going. Wiping out of their memory -- for the moment, at least -- last month's blowout loss at home to the Rams, the Tigers controlled most of the first quarter.

Central bolted to an early 6-2 lead and later led by six twice -- at 10-4 and 16-10 -- on baskets by Lewis.

The Tigers had their biggest lead, 19-12, on a Will Harris 3-pointer with 1:03 in the opening period.

But then the Rams appeared to wake up. They scored the final six points of the first quarter to pull within 19-18.

Central still led 21-20 early in the second period when the Rams hit the Tigers with a 17-2 run to take control.

Younge -- all 5-3 of him -- nailed a 3-pointer to give Riverview its first lead at 23-21. That started the Rams' onslaught.

The Rams weren't done until they had built a 37-23 lead late in the first half. Riverview settled for a 41-29 halftime advantage.

"We jumped on them early and it looked good," said Reutzel. "I thought maybe they'd get rattled. But they turned it up a notch. It was like a slap in the face. I guess we gave them a wakeup call."

Central was still hanging around early in the third quarter, trailing 47-36. But then a 9-0 Riverview run made it 56-36 and signaled the start of the blowout.

Riverview opened up its biggest lead of the night, 71-41, late in the third period. It was 71-46 after three.

The Tigers managed to pull within 71-54 early in the final quarter but they could get no closer as the Rams cruised into the state quarterfinals.

"After a timeout (early in the game), we got back on track," said Dutton. "We started focusing on playing defense and playing an up-tempo game. That's a key for us."

Despite the lopsided defeat, Reutzel was pleased with his first season as Central's head coach.

"I told the kids they have nothing to hang their heads about," he said. "Anybody in the world would be busting with pride to have this group to work with as a first-year head coach.

"We lose some great seniors who meant a lot to us this year. But we've got some good juniors who will get their chance next year."