CLASS 5A SECTIONAL: CENTRAL BOYS TANGLE WITH RIVERVIEW

By all accounts, the Riverview Gardens Rams are one of the more physically talented high school basketball teams in the entire state.

The Rams displayed those talents to Cape Girardeau Central just a few weeks ago when they routed the Tigers 83-60 in a Feb. 7 game at the Tiger Field House.

Central coach Brett Reutzel acknowledges that the Rams are indeed an ultra-talented squad that should rank among the finest in Missouri.

But Reutzel seems far from overwhelmed by Riverview as he prepares Central for tonight's rematch. The teams will meet in a Class 4A sectional game at the Farmington Civic Center (8 o'clock tipoff).

"They have an extremely talented team," said Reutzel. "They have two 6-8 kids and one 6-5 kid who is their best player. They're very athletic and can do a lot of things.

"But I felt like we didn't play well at all the last time we played them. We didn't shoot the ball well, we threw the ball away. I feel like we can play with them, there's no doubt in my mind. We just have to play smart and be focused."

Riverview faced a rugged early-season schedule that accounted for the bulk of its losses. The Rams have been on fire in recent weeks, winning 11 straight games to improve to 19-7. They are ranked among the top teams in the St. Louis area and the state.

Bryant Robinson, who stands 6-feet-5, leads the Rams in both scoring and rebounding, averaging nearly 20 points and 10 boards per game.

Mario McIntosh averages almost 17 points per game while the Rams also get plenty of help from two 6-8 players -- Brian Jefferson (15.5 ppg) and Jamel Richardson (10.5 ppg).

The up-tempo Rams, who thrive on pressuring their opponents into countless turnovers which they turn into easy baskets, score an average of 76 points per game.

"They like to press you. They just like to take the ball from you right underneath your basket," Reutzel said. "They'll put three guys right up there to where you're inbounding the ball. The key for them is to get on runs out of their press. They key for us will be to limit our amount of turnovers."

Central, which has a 21-6 record, is led offensively by a trio of seniors. Nathan Owen averages 20 points per game while LaVelle Lewis and Laurence Jackson each contribute about 11 points per contest.

The Tigers were able to thrive on plenty of forced turnovers themselves as they captured a district title last Thursday by hammering Jackson 77-49. Reutzel figures that game should give Central plenty of confidence.

"We really played a good game and I'm hoping that will be a little bit of a confidence boost for us," he said. "I thought we played one of our better games of the season and it's going to take that kind of performance against a team as talented as Riverview Gardens."

Human nature being what it is, Reutzel is hoping that maybe the Rams will be a bit overconfident tonight. That wouldn't be surprising, considering the way they toyed with the Tigers in the last meeting.

"You would hope they might be a little overconfident playing us," said Reutzel. "But I know that Todd (Dutton) is a really good coach and he'll try his best not to let that happen, just like I'm going to try my best to get us to believe we can beat them, even though they got us good last time."

Let the mind games begin.