BULLDOG `D' SINKS TEETH INTO TIGERS; PORTAGEVILLE DEFEATS CAPE CENTRAL 51-42

Missing two players due to injury and illness, including leading scorer and rebounder Chris Bergerson, the Cape Central Tigers could have used a patsy on their schedule to beat up on Tuesday night.

Instead Central hosted Portageville, the second-ranked team in Class 2A, and the Bulldogs beat the wounded Tigers 51-42.

The 6-foot-5 Bergerson sat out with the flu and 6-3 junior Kelly Illers watched in street clothes with a strained knee suffered in Saturday's loss to CBC. Without two of its better players of late, the Tigers were once again facing a word not uncommon to them this season.

"It was another opportunity for us to deal with adversity," said Central coach Brett Reutzel. "We came in without Chris and Kelly and we just tried to be very positive about it and go get them."

It worked for a while.

The Tigers continually broke Portageville's full-court pressure to break out on top in the first quarter. Central made 9 of its first 11 shots to take a 20-18 lead into the second quarter.

"We needed some kids to step up," said Reutzel. "We broke the press a lot and shot a lot of layups and that helped."

Central still led 28-27 late in the second quarter, before Portageville senior Gerald Pickering took command. After a free throw by the Bulldogs' Torry Saxton tied the score 28-28, Pickering stole the ball on the Tigers' next two possessions for easy baskets.

Pickering's steal and electrifying slam-dunk put Portageville ahead 32-28, but the 5-10 forward hung on the rim and was whistled for a technical foul. Central's Travis Williamson made 1 of 2 free throws which eventually made the halftime score 32-29. Pickering finished with a game-high 15 points.

"We had a lead just before halftime then had three consecutive turnovers and lost the lead," said Reutzel. "We turned it over and got down."

The Tigers never held the lead in the second half. A basket by Ross Conner early in the third quarter made the score 32-31, but then the Bulldogs slowed things down.

Portageville showed outstanding patience in its offensive end, working the ball around the perimeter waiting for an open layup to develop. The Bulldogs held the ball nearly two minutes before getting a layup from Pickering on a back-door cut to make the score 34-31 at the 4:36 mark.

Portageville held the ball out two more times, getting a free throw, layup and short jumper over the next three minutes to take a 39-31 lead.

"That offense is geared to score if (the defense) comes out and gets you, but they kind of backed off and we held it until they did come out," said Portageville coach Jim Bidewell. "I thought our kids showed real good patience.

"This was the first ball game in several we've played together as a team, played good team defense and were patient on offense."

The two teams combined to shoot just 10 shots in the quarter as Portageville held a 39-33 lead going to the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs held on in the final quarter despite making just 6 of 14 free throws. Nine Tiger turnovers helped Portageville stay in front.

"We didn't play terrible," Reutzel said. "We just made enough mistakes that it cost us the game."

The Tigers shot an exceptional 58 percent (19 of 33) from the field, but 19 turnovers hurt their chance for an upset. Aron Meystedt and Ross Conner led Central with 12 points each.

"We got some pretty good shots," said Reutzel. "We got the ball inside to Ross and he can score."

Portageville shot just 44 percent (19 of 43), but had only eight turnovers.

"We played well tonight, but I'm not convinced we're the No. 2 team in the state," said Bidewell. "We've really been struggling the last couple games. Our team concept hadn't been there, but our kids pulled together and I was extremely proud of them."

Central's JV won earlier in the evening 56-47.