Big buckets down the stretch lead Cape Central by Notre Dame

The crosstown rivalry between the Cape Central Tigers and Notre Dame Bulldogs renewed once again on Tuesday night.

This time, it was the Tigers prevailing 59-49 thanks to a big second half at Notre Dame Regional High School.

The last time the two clubs met was back on Dec. 28 where the Tigers grinded their way to a 58-23 win in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

Tonight though, it was apparent from the start the contest would be vastly different.

“It was (tough),” Tigers coach Drew Church said. “I thought Notre Dame played fantastic. They shot it really well and they were patient.”

Out of the gates, both teams traded baskets as the Bulldogs held a narrow 19-17 lead after the first quarter behind nine early points from Kolton Johnson.

“We did get some stops but it was hard for us to get out in transition because they just made shots,” Church said. “I thought we guarded pretty well and they were contested but they just made tough shots. Coach (Brinkmeyer) does a good job of keeping them patient.”

Perhaps the opening eight minutes should have been a sign of things to come as the second-quarter played out nearly the exact same way as once again the two clubs traded baskets.

This time, Cape Central held a slim 30-28 lead with under five seconds to play in the first half when Logan Landewee drilled a three-pointer, sending the Bulldog faithful into a frenzy and his team into halftime with a 31-30 lead.

“That’s just basketball,” Church said. “I can’t say it enough, Notre Dame played fantastic. That’s part of it, if you hit shots, things go well.”

After the Landewee three gave the Bulldogs all the momentum entering the locker room, a response was going to be necessary from the Tigers to begin the third.

And respond they did, as the Tigers opened the second half with a 10-3 burst that allowed them to take a 40-34 lead.

“It was huge,” Church said. “We talked at halftime about changing how we’re going to guard some of their ball screens and trying to get around them in the post. But, it comes down to trying to guard and make them take tough shots while taking great shots on our end.”

Cape Central would go on to win the quarter 15-6 and take a 45-37 lead into the fourth-quarter courtesy of a buzzer-beater three from Marquel Murray.

“Anytime you see the ball go through the net you start getting a little bit of confidence,” Church said. “You just start to think a little less.”

Despite the Bulldogs cutting the lead to as little as five, Cape Central, behind some key buckets, held on to win.

Offensively, Cape Central was led by Murray who had 19 points in the win.

Also contributing for the Tigers was Jaydon Reynolds with 14 points and Max Vogel with 10 points.

Notre Dame was led by Logan Landewee and Brett Dohogne who both posted 16-point nights in the loss.

Notre Dame (5-8) will return to the court at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Jan. 12, when the Bulldogs hit the road to take on the Kennett Indians.

Cape Central (10-3) has a week off before hitting the road where the Tigers will square off with New Madrid County Central at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

“I just want us to be resilient,” Church said. “New Madrid is very good and we have a really tough week next week with them and Jackson.”

__Cape Central 59, Notre Dame 49__

Cape Central 17 13 15 14 — 59

Notre Dame 19 12 6 12 — 49

Cape Central (59) — Marquel Murray 19, Jaydon Reynolds 14, Max Vogel 10, Tyson Williams 6, TySeanDre’ Edwards 6, Matayo Rivers 4

Notre Dame (49) — Brett Dohogne 16, Logan Landewee 16, Kolton Johnson 9, Trenton Schumaker 4, Hunter Bonham 2, Hudson Dennis 2