Braves, Cubs set up rematch

~ The rivals will meet today after winning first-round routs.

Bell City coach Brian Brandtner and Scott County Central coach Ronnie Cookson each felt his team came out a bit flat during the opening round of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

The squads don't figure to have that problem tonight.

Despite Tuesday's somewhat sluggish play, fifth-seeded Bell City routed No. 12 Meadow Heights 80-36 and No. 4 Scott County Central ripped No. 13 Chaffee 69-32.

Those results set up tonight's highly anticipated 9 p.m. quarterfinal matchup at the Show Me Center.

It will be the third meeting already this season between the Cubs and Braves. Scott County won the first two.

"We were sluggish. Our intensity wasn't there," Bell City coach Brian Brandtner said.

Said Cookson, "We were flat. Sluggish, sluggish. Too much Christmas."

First, for the particulars of Tuesday's games.

Bell City (5-4) led 23-12 after one quarter before running out to a 50-22 halftime lead.

Will Bogan, a 6-foot-10 center, and Phillip Gross both scored 13 points to lead the Cubs. Also in double figures were Nick Niemczyk and Marty Dames with 12 points apiece.

Tyler Wagner paced the Panthers with 10 points.

"We're an inexperienced team, but they [Bell City] are really good," Meadow Heights coach Tom Brown said.

Scott County (6-1) jumped on Chaffee 28-6 after one quarter and led 41-14 at halftime.

D.D. Gillespie scored 14 first-quarter points for the Braves and finished with a game-high 21.

Also in double figures for the Braves were Caleb Johnson with 14 points, Richard Brownlee with 13 and Drew Thomas with 10.

Chaffee was led by Andy Hendrix with nine points.

Now, for tonight's round three between the Braves and Cubs.

Bell City routed Scott County last year in the Class 1 sectional game and the Cubs capped their third straight final four appearance with a runner-up finish.

But the Braves have already gotten the better of the Cubs twice this year, with both contests going down to the wire.

Scott County most recently prevailed 85-82 at the Heartland Hoopfest in Perryville on Dec. 17.

The Braves also beat the Cubs 76-71 in the semifinals of the season-opening Oran tournament.

"They've been two really good games and I'm hoping it's another great game," Cookson said. "I think the kids really get up for it."

Adding fuel to the rivalry is the fact Scott County coach David Heeb, who led Bell City to two state championships, is preparing for a suspension ordered by the Missouri State High Schools Activities Association for undue influence, a charge originated by Bell City.

That's why Cookson -- Scott County's legendary former coach -- basically came out of retirement to lead the Braves this year.

Although fans of each school might disagree, Brandtner insists there is no abnormally bad blood between the programs.

"I know the fans really get into it and people think we hate each other, but that's not the case," Brandtner said. "Coach Cookson is a great guy, and we've got a lot of respect for their team."

Still, Brandtner realizes there will always be a little extra intensity when the Cubs and Braves square off -- at least for the time being.

"They're a rival. We've got a number of rivals," Brandtner said. "But it's human nature, some games are more intense than others. I'm sure this will be one of them.

"It's a 9 p.m. game, I'm sure the crowd will be really big. We've already had two really good games with them. They were pretty much neck and neck, but they just beat us. We'll have to play better than the first two times."

Scott County Central 69, Chaffee 32

Chaffee 6 8 10 8 -- 32

Scott County 28 13 17 11 -- 69

CHAFFEE (32) -- Aaron Hopkins 2, Colin Dame 2, Alex Orr 2, Gabe Seabaugh 7, Dylan McAlister 2, Adam Horton 6, Andy Hendrix 9, Michael Lee 2. FG 12, FT 5-12, Fouls 10 (3-pointers: Seabaugh 1, Horton 2. Fouled out: none.)

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL (69) -- Ron Banks 2, D.D. Gillespie 21, Toby Heeb 3, Richard Brownlee 13, Bobby Hatchett 2, Drew Thomas 10, Caleb Johnson 14, Avery Williams 2, Rhoden 2. FG 30, FT 6-11, Fouls 14 (3-pointers: Gillespie 2, Heeb 1. Fouled out: none.)

Bell City 80, Meadow Heights 36

M. Heights 12 10 10 4 -- 36

Bell City 23 27 25 5 -- 80

MEADOW HEIGHTS (36) -- Derrick Wilfong 2, Tyler Wagner 10, Ethan Mitchell 6, Ethan Mayfield 3, John Long 4, Sam Russell 5, Derek Bess 2, Dustin Davis 2, Dustin Hubler 2. FG 14, FT 6-12, F 13 (3-pointers: Mitchell 2, Russell 1. Fouled out: none)

BELL CITY (80) -- Nick Niemczyk 12, Melvin Johnson 8, Chris Blissett 7, Phillip Gross 13, Austin Segers 9, Marty Dames 12, Austin Bush 2, Will Bogan 13, Eddie Green 2, Clay Dover 2. FG 32, FT 13-19, F 11 (3-pointers: Niemczyk 1, Johnson 2. Fouled out: none)