2023 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament: Central’s Murray scores big to put away Scott City

Marquel Murray’s big day helped lead the Cape Central Tigers past the Rams of Scott City in the first quarterfinal of the 2023 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament. Murray had 16 points in the first half alone as he and the Tigers used balanced offense and defense to earn themselves the 90-52 victory.

Scott City drew first blood with a two-point bucket, but a quick 10-0 run by Central quelled any momentum of the Rams. The Tigers used their speed to build up the lead, stealing and dunking on seemingly every other Rams' possession.

Central took a 25-9 lead into the second quarter. Head coach Drew Church said he thought the quarter went well, but there are some things to work on.

“I thought in general, we did a good job of sharing the basketball. I feel like a lot of guys did some good things on offense in terms of being under control and being in the right spots,” Church said. “We just have to continue to clean some stuff up on defense.”

In the second, Scott City began the quarter on a 9-8 run and used a timeout to talk some things out on the offensive end. The Rams figured out some offense as they put up 18 in the quarter, but this time Central’s height made a difference as the steals began again. Murray put in two more threes as the Tigers held a 41-27 lead at halftime, Church said he has given the team a boost since he’s been back from injury.

“He’s just a guy that can spread the floor, and he's shooting it well. He beats people off the dribble and just his athleticism. He does affect shots,” Church said. “Having him back along with Matayo[Rivers] and Max[Vogel] has been great for us. I think they'll continue to get better the more and more games they get under their belt after being out for six months to a year.”

In the third, Central relaxed on defense, but the offense continued to roll with Rivers, TySeanDre’ Edwards and Jaydon Reynolds, each scoring in double figures. Scott City started knocking down threes, but it just was not enough to keep up with the Tigers, Church said they have to clean up defense on threes.

“We have to be able to contest threes. Any open threes where there aren't contests are unacceptable,” Church said. “I thought they knocked them down well, but that's just stuff we have to continue to work on.”

Cape Central will get the winner of Notre Dame and Woodland at 6 p.m. Thirsday in the semi-finals, while Scott City will get the loser of the same game at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Cape Central's Marquel Murray (4) scores a slam dunk during a December 27, 2023 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament game between the Cape Central Tigers and the Scott City Rams at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Cape Central defeated Scott City, 90-52.Photo Courtesy of Carrie Trovillion - Freelance Photographer

__CAPE CENTRAL 90, SCOTT CITY 52__

Cape Central 25 16 30 19 — 90

Scott City 9 18 17 8 — 52

Cape Central (90) — Marquel Murray 25, Tyson Williams 17, Jaydon Reynolds 16, Tyseandre’ Edwards 14, Goliath Morris-Young 6, Max Vogel 5, Camron Hughes 3, Matayo Rivers 2, Antonio Sims 2. FG: 39. (3-pointers: Murray 5, Reynolds 2, Vogel 1, Hughes 1)

Scott City (52) — Mark Panagos 10, Brenden Beussink 9, Luke Umfleet 9, Brenden Walton 5, Jaylen Rulo 5, AJ Hayden 5, Kaden Lowery 5, Jackson Gloth 3, Max Snider 1. FG: 19. (3-pointers: Beussink 3, Lowery 1, Rulo 1, Umfleet 1, Walton 1)