Braves eke by to reach title game

Just call him The Dishwasher after the way he cleaned up.

Otto Porter netted 30 points and snagged 20 rebounds as Scott County Central fought off a pesky Charleston squad for 79-67 victory Tuesday in a semifinal of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

The Bluejays were lights-out from the beginning.

Charleston jumped out to an 8-0 lead behind two 3-pointers by Ryan Parham and Maurice Moore. The Bluejays stretched their lead to 17-4 midway through the first before the Braves got going.

Scott County Central rattled off nine straight points to cut its deficit to 19-13.

But Charleston responded with a 6-0 run to stretch the lead back to 25-13. The two teams headed to the second quarter at 25-17.

"They shot the ball real well," Porter said. "We just had to try and adjust."

Added Braves coach Kenyon Wright, "They hit shots. We didn't execute our offense at the beginning. Anytime you play Charleston, they are going to be tough. They are a tough team no matter the year."

The Braves were dominant in the second.

After Charleston opened a 29-21 lead early in the second, Scott County Central brought it back to 32-25 before it made its run.

The Braves used a 17-1 run to end the second and take a 42-33 lead into halftime. Porter had 10 points in that run.

"We had to pick up on defense a little bit," Porter said. "Slow our offense down and get good shots. I was trying to get in my rhythm. I had to move a little bit, move around and get open, and get my teammates involved."

Wright said he thought the Braves' press became more active.

"We started moving in the press, running our offense and getting going," Wright said.

The Braves opened a 60-41 lead in the third quarter.

"We had to play our game," Wright said. "We got out of our flow in the first quarter and some in the fourth."

The Bluejays weren't finished.

Charleston put on a 3-point show to slice into the Braves' 70-53 lead midway through the fourth.

Deonte Jones hit two straight 3-pointers, Greg Tucker nailed a trey and Jones hit another deep ball to bring the Bluejays within 70-62.

"Those kids can shoot," Wright said of Tucker and Jones. "They shoot a lot and they can shoot it. Both get so high off the ground and if they square up, it's good."

Bobby Hatchett answered the run with a basket and free throw to cap a three-point play. Hatchett had 28 on the night.

Charleston cut the lead to 73-65, but Hatchett had the final six points for the Braves to end the threat.

Charleston 25 8 13 21 -- 67

SCC 17 25 22 15 -- 79

CHARLESTON (67) -- Maurice Moore 12, Ryan Parham 5, Greg Tucker 23, Claude Armstrong 8, Deonte Jones 19. FG 24, FT 8-13, F 24. (3-pointers: Moore 2, Parham 1, Jones 3, Tucker 5. Fouled out: Tucker, Fabreizio Wright)

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL (79) -- Stewart Johnson 8, Bobby Hatchett 28, Trey Johnson 6, Otto Porter 30, Dominique Porter 7. FG 29, FT 21-24, F 14. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)