2023 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament: Braves rally, down Meadow Heights in elimination matchup

In the first elimination game of the 2023 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, No. 13 Scott County Central rebounded with a big 66-57 win over Meadow Heights to advance to a consolation semifinal after dropping its upset bid against Notre Dame on Tuesday.

Using its speed and crafty finishing to pull ahead, Scott County Central got a signature win to improve to 5-4, furthering the Braves’ turnaround from last season’s 4-21 finish.

“It's huge for them,” Braves coach Tim Carlisle said. “They just beat their win total from last year. Meadow Heights is strong. They can straight shoot the ball, they’re well-coached.

“Coming in here today and to be able to get a win at the Christmas Tournament, no matter what day it is, is good.”

In a mostly deadlocked first quarter, Meadow Heights jumped out to a 3-point lead with a Bode Conrad 3-pointer late in the period, but Zavior Mize’s triple with time expiring saw Scott County Central exit the first quarter with a 16-15 lead.

Meadow Heights put together an early rally to get back up by three points, but neither team could pull away early as they went blow-for-blow through the second quarter.

In the final minute of the second quarter, Ransom Grindstaff knocked down a big 3-pointer to extend the lead to six, but three late points from the Braves knocked it down to just a 30-27 lead for the Panthers at halftime.

Meadow Heights got a 3-pointer to start the third quarter, but after opening it up with a 6-point lead, Scott County Central opened up a 12-0 lead to storm back and take a 6-point lead of its own at 39-33 with 5:12 left in the frame.

Turning on the burners for an impressive rally, Scott County Central’s big comeback came on the backs of its undeniable third-quarter stretch.

“I told them this morning before we got here,” Carlisle began. “The team that doesn't come out sluggish this morning after playing yesterday is the team that's probably going to win this ballgame.

“I felt like we came out sluggish in the first half, but then we finally turned it on in the second half and were able to play our kind of basketball.”

A late rally from Meadow Heights closed the gap from seven all the way down to a 1-point game at the end of the third, topped off with a buzzer-beating 3-ponter from Mason Mayfield.

Scott County Central benefitted heavily from transition turnovers by Meadow Heights, and the Braves took a 47-46 lead into the fourth quarter after kicking it into another gear early in the third.

Cortavian Banks and Mason Mayfield exchanged and-1s halfway through the fourth quarter before Meadow Heights coach Mitch Nanney signaled for a timeout down 54-53 with four minutes left.

The quick feet of Scott County Central picked off several Meadow Heights passes late, and up five points with a minute left, Namarius Banks-Warren dropped in a clutch and-1 to put the icing on a 66-57 win over the Panthers.

Scott County Central had four players finish in double digits, led by the game-high 19 points of Namarius Banks-Warren. Zavior Mize (17), Cortavian Banks (15) and Asher Britt (11) all chipped in big figures in the win for the Braves.

Braden Hays dropped in 17 points in the loss for the Panthers, with Mason Mayfield’s 12 points finished as the only other double-digit scorer for Meadow Heights in the loss.

Scott County Central’s quickness kept in its game against Notre Dame early, and now it’s paid off with an impressive victory against a scrappy Meadow Heights team.

Now having split a pair of games in the tournament, the Braves will prepare for either No. 9 Oran or No. 16 Delta on Thursday afternoon.

“No matter who we play, we're going to come out and just play our kind of basketball and make our adjustments,” Carlisle said. “We haven't got to see Oran yet, but between the two teams, they’re pretty familiar.

“Delta just beat Oran not too long ago, but that doesn't dictate anything. We're gonna come out and we're gonna play ball.”