Bell City clinches share of regular-season crown

~ The Cubs improved to 6-0 in the SCAA with one league game remaining.

The Bell City boys basketball team clinched at least a share of the Stoddard County Activities Association regular-season title with a 74-47 victory at Bloomfield on Friday night.

The Cubs this week will set their sights on winning the conference tournament.

Bell City, 12-3 with four straight wins, is 6-0 in league play with just Dexter remaining on its conference slate.

"That feels real good," first-year coach Brian Brandtner said following Friday's title-clinching win. "We want it to win it outright and we'll get our chance, but one of our main goals is to win the conference and we've already clinched at least a tie for that. So we're pleased with that.

"If we keep rebounding the way we are right now -- we're really owning the glass -- and if we keep that up, we're going to win a lot of games."

Bell City outrebounded Bloomfield 30-9.

But Brandtner also had to give a little tough love to his team, which trailed 13-8 in the first period Friday.

"I told them they were getting ready to come out of the game and some other guys that were going to play harder were getting ready to come in," Brandtner said. "I guess they got the message. We seemed to come out and play a little bit better."

Sophomore forward Phillip Gross played a big role when Bell City pulled away in the second quarter, when he scored 11 of his 15 points. He finished the game with eight rebounds.

"He's such a tremendous athlete," Brandtner said. "He's really learned how to control his body when he comes in and making some athletic moves. This summer, when I got here, he would come in out of control sometimes and throw some up. Now, he's getting his body under control, squaring up and taking great shots. For a sophomore, he's such a threat for us."

Another sophomore, guard Nick Niemczyk, led the Cubs in scoring with 19 points.

Junior Will Bogan had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Bell City was without senior Kerry Lasters Friday, who is out indefinitely with a foot injury.

"We really missed Kerry Wayne tonight," Brandtner said. "Kerry Wayne's a big part of our team. ... He was bothering the heck out of me to play and play and play, and I wouldn't let him. We really missed him."

Bell City plays Monday at 8:30 pm. against Woodland in the first round of the SCAA tournament.

The Cubs beat Woodland 90-39 on Tuesday.

"We will be more prepared now for them, having played them one time," Woodland coach David Mirly said after that loss. "They're still bringing Bogan, they're still bringing Niemczyk and all their good players, so it's going to be another tough battle. Their defensive pressure's still going to be solid. It'll be a tough battle for us, but we will be better prepared."

Streaks stopped

• After Kelly freshman Debra Hall opened her high school career with 11 consecutive games in double figures, she was limited to one point Jan. 14 in the Scott-Mississippi Conference tournament final by Delta.

The Bobcats beat Kelly 59-36.

* Similarly, Notre Dame senior center Alex Ressel had a streak of 15 double-figure games to open the season end in the Jan. 13 loss to Jackson.

* And Oak Ridge senior Austin Hahs had scored in double figures in every game he played in this season for Oak Ridge prior to Friday's loss to Greenville, which is coached by Robert Stein, who was Oak Ridge's coach last year. Hahs had missed one game, but had been in double figures in his first 11 games for Oak Ridge (1-12).