Bell City cruises past Delta C-7 in regional

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Bell City coach David Heeb didn't use a conventional timeout to address his Cubs in their Class 1A regional game against Delta C-7, but it was effective nonetheless.

Displeased with his team's play in the second quarter, Heeb set his entire starting five on the bench. They returned to deliver an early knockout blow as Bell City advanced with a 78-42 victory.

The victory improved Bell City to 25-5 and boosted it to the sectional round Wednesday against Thayer (26-3) at Poplar Bluff, Mo. Thayer defeated South Iron 63-50 in its regional contest. Delta C-7, which won its district as a four seed, closed its season at 14-11.

Bell City opened the game with a 9-0 spurt, but saw Delta close to 16-10 by the end of the first quarter.

With the Cubs leading 18-12, Heeb pulled his starters with 5:28 left in the half after watching five turnovers on their first seven possessions of the period. The quintet of Brent Thompson, Kenyon Wright, Zak McIntyre, Ty Brown and Randy Conn entered the game.

"We've done that a couple of times this year where we yanked them out and they usually respond to that pretty well," said Heeb.

The fivesome of Dominitrix Johnson, Jason Rampley, Eric Henry, C.J. Hadley and Luke Phillips watched the next two minutes from the bench while enduring the wrath of their coach.

"A lot of times it's just a look, but tonight it was an earful, too," said Heeb.

The substitutes extended the lead to 20-15 before the starting five returned rejuvinated with 3:32 left.

They scored on their final 10 possessions before halftime, going on a 21-2 run for a 41-17 lead. The Cub press squeezed out five turnovers in the spurt and all five starters scored.

"When the starters got back in there I think they got the message and they pretty much went to work," said Heeb. "I told them I wasn't going to watch it anymore.

It was ridiculous how they were playing. I just thought we were standing around." The lead grew to over 30 points in the first three minutes of the second half as Johnson began to sizzle.

He scored all but two of the Cubs' first 12 points in the half. After scoring just two points in the first quarter, Johnson finished with a game-high 25 points.

Henry finished with 15 points, Wright scored 13 and Hadley had 10.

"I was glad to see us playing harder," said Heeb.

"This time of the year, all you can really control is how hard you play. You are going to have nights where nerves get to you. Pressure is pretty high this time of year. If you can go out and play hard every night, you've got a chance to win the game." Derrick Dye led Delta C-7 with 14 points.