Braves cruise into Class 1 title game

COLUMBIA -- Drew Thomas used his hot shooting and a little razzle-dazzle Thursday to deliver his team to the state championship game.

Thomas finished with a game-high 31 points as Scott County Central rolled past Glasgow 78-44 in a Class 1 boys basketball state semifinal at Mizzou Arena.

The Braves advanced to play Newtown-Harris, a 75-64 winner over Chadwick, in Saturday's title game. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:20 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.

Scott County's final two baskets Thursday summed up the Braves' season. It all started with a steal by Bobby Hatchett, who had an open look at the basket with Thomas streaking by his side. Hatchett delivered a perfect pass to Thomas, who threw down a two-handed dunk and pulled himself up on the rim.

Then about 10 seconds later, it was Thomas who picked Glasgow's Ryan Haskamp. Thomas repaid the favor instead of scoring, dishing to Hatchett, who laid it in and was fouled.

Scott County Central coach Ronnie Cookson congratulates Braves guard Bobby Hatchett during the final minutes of Friday's victory.

"Our team chemistry is more together than last year," Hatchett said. "That's how we try to play. When we play like that, we have fun."

It was Thomas' second dunk of the game, with the first coming early in the third quarter after a steal. He finished with four steals, but was disappointed he didn't tally a few more swipes.

"I didn't get enough steals and rebounds," he said. "Overall, I think I played a little good, but I didn't think I played what I'm capable of on the defensive end."

Thomas' offensive performance lacked little. He scored 21 points in the first half on 9-of-14 shooting (64 percent), including a pair of 3-pointers.

"I thought I put the ball in the hole a little good tonight," Thomas said. "But I thought I missed some shots that should have went in."

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.comScott County Central fans cheer Thursday, March 19, 2009, in the Class 1 state semifinal at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

Glasgow coach Mick Cropp couldn't fault his team's defense on Thomas.

"You just want to keep him in front of you," Cropp said. "He hit some 3s with a guy right up on him. He's an awful good basketball player."

Thomas has said he'd like to play basketball in college, but he hasn't committed to a school yet. He said he didn't feel any added pressure to perform well on the state's biggest stage.

"I just go out there like I do every game," Thomas said. "I mean my mind was set like it was every game I played."

Thomas was asked after the game if he had made a decision on a college, and he said he still is considering his options. Then his coach stepped in, almost serving as Thomas' public relations man.

"He's looking to play basketball and get an education," Scott County coach Ronnie Cookson said. "Of course we'd like to go to North Carolina or something like that."

The Yellowjackets (25-6) stuck with the Braves through the first quarter, and got within eight points with 6 minutes, 7 seconds left in the second quarter. But Scott County went on a 10-2 run, with Thomas scoring all 10 points.

"Sometimes it's like that," Thomas said. "I know when to back off. So I know when to get aggressive and don't get aggressive."

Glasgow closed the gap to 10 points with 1:03 left in the first half, but the Braves pushed the lead back to 15 at the intermission.

Scott County went on another run, this one 11-3, to open the third quarter, and Glasgow never threatened again.

"They just make you pay for every single mistake you make," Cropp said. "They're a very good basketball team."

The Yellowjackets committed 27 turnovers, and the Braves finished with 17 steals. Hatchett said his team takes pride in its ability to force teams into bad situations.

"You've got to throw so much pressure until they break," Hatchett said. "Then once they start breaking, it causes other things like steals, lazy turnovers like lob passes. After a while, you just break a team if you put so much pressure on them.

"We have to keep turning it up, keep turning it up. After a while, we just break their backs. We be like, it's time to dunk and everything like that."

But Cropp said he was more impressed with the Braves' offensive ability than their defense. Scott County shot 50 percent from the field (30 of 60).

"I consider us a pretty good man-to-man," Cropp said. "I've got some pretty good athletes, but they just go right by you. It doesn't matter, and then they can find shooters and drop it off, get offensive rebounds. They're a really good basketball team."

And the Braves stand one win away from adding to the school's state record 12 titles. The players can't wait for their chance to add to the total.

"This is what we've been working hard for all year," Thomas said. "This is our main goal right now to go out there and work hard and get this first-place trophy."