Cape Central boys basketball falls short of SEMO conference crown with loss to Charleston

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Coming off one of the program's biggest wins in recent memory, the Cape Central boys basketball team looked like it might cruise to a regular-season SEMO Conference title.

Not even a week had passed since the Tigers picked up two big wins over conference rivals, including a 73-63 victory Friday over top-ranked and previously unbeaten Sikeston. Unfortunately for Central, that euphoria reached an abrupt end Tuesday.

Charleston senior Dontarius Sharp finished with a game-high 20 points, including three 3-pointers during a third-quarter run that propelled the host Bluejays to a 75-60 win over Central on senior night.

"I thought Charleston played phenomenal," Tigers coach Drew Church said. "They were physical. Hey, it's a different game down here. It's very physical, and that got to us. We turned the ball over. I bet we missed 15 layups just on the physicality, and kudos to Charleston.

"They came ready to play."

The victory also secured the regular-season conference title for Sikeston, which bounced back from Friday's loss with a 76-52 win over New Madrid County Central.

After the game, Bluejays coach Danny Farmer laughed at the fact that his team had just given its biggest rival something to celebrate.

"We kind of knew that going in," Farmer said, "but we want to win and get better for the postseason."

Charleston (17-8, 5-2 SEMO Conference) fell behind in the second half when the Tigers opened the period on a 9-0 run. Jawone Newell had a conventional three-point play to begin the run and concluded it when he drove to the basket to give Central (18-6, 5-2) a 36-34 lead with 5 minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Bluejays quickly regained the lead when Kelvondre Moore drained a triple from the left elbow to gave his team a 37-36 advantage. Charleston never trailed the rest of the way and closed the quarter on a 24-6 run. The Bluejays led 58-42 heading into the final period.

Farmer said he was happy to see his team counter Central's second-half push.

"That's what we need to see at this point of the season," Farmer said. "We need to be able to have nothing bother us -- just keep playing regardless of what the score is -- knowing that we can get back in the game."

The Bluejays were 5 of 8 (63 percent) from 3-point range in the third quarter. Church acknowledged how dangerous Charleston can be when it's shooting with conviction.

"They really shot it well, and when they're shooting well, they really have the ability to penetrate," Church said. "They're hard to guard. They spread the floor. We didn't do a great job of helping from the wings."

Newell converted another conventional three-point play in the fourth quarter, drawing the Tigers within eight points, 59-51, with 5:22 left in the game. Mardareyon Clark answered with a bucket in the paint that sparked an 8-0 run for the Bluejays, who shot 14 of 26 (54 percent) from the field in the second half. They finished with a combined nine made 3-pointers.

"I said this at the beginning of the season, and I'll say this now -- we're as good as anybody in the area if we're shooting the ball well," Farmer said.

Central led by as many as eight in the opening quarter when Newell scored a layup on the fast break to give the Tigers an 11-3 advantage with 3:54 left in the period. Tenerrious Ewing knocked down a trey from the left elbow in the final seconds of the quarter, pulling Charleston within 18-14 heading into the second frame.

Ewing's bucket triggered an 18-5 spurt for the Bluejays that extended just past the midway mark of the second quarter. He scored seven of his 13 points on 3-of-3 shooting in the second quarter, as Charleston built a 34-27 lead at halftime.

"He comes off the bench, and he's a streak shooter," Farmer said about Ewing, who also had seven rebounds. "Once he gets going, he can knock down some shots."

Clark finished with 15 points, including nine in the second half. He also corralled seven boards, while Moore contributed 11 points and four assists. Charleston out-rebounded Central 33-30.

The Bluejays finished 26 of 61 (43 percent) from the floor, including 14 of 26 (54 percent) in the second half.

"We're putting quarters together, and we're putting a good third and fourth quarter together now," Farmer said. "We weren't doing that at the beginning of the season, and we're scoring some points."

Central's top weapon on offense, senior Al Young, was limited to just 16 points on 5-of-19 (56 percent) shooting. He also had eight rebounds and knocked down his first six free throws before missing three crucial attempts in the final period. Newell also had 16 points, including 10 in the second half, while Austin Parker contributed 10 points in the loss.

The Tigers shot 9 of 26 (35 percent) from the floor in the first half but were 14 of 31 (45 percent) in the second half.

Church said he was concerned about an emotional letdown following Friday's win.

"Charleston's not a trap game because they're a very good team," Church said, "but I feared after a big, emotional win like that if mentally we'd be truly ready to play. But what can you do? We prepared. Charleston played a heck of a ball game, and I tip my hat to them."

Cape Central 18 9 15 18 -- 60

Charleston 14 20 24 17 -- 75

CAPE CENTRAL (60) -- Al Young 16, Jawone Newell 16, Austin Parker 10, Tevyn Wright-Hunt 6, Zyshon Mallory 4, Kaleb Ward 3, Garrett Jackson 3, Blake Harris 2. FG 23-57, FT 11-16, F 20. (3-pointers: Wright-Hunt 2, Ward 1. Fouled out: Mallory.)

CHARLESTON (75) -- Dontarius Sharp 20, Mardareyon Clark 15, Tenerrious Ewing 13, Kelvondre Moore 11, Demarcus Sharp 6, Jaquales Biles 5, Jeremy Tucker 5. FG 26-61, FT 14-26, F 16. (3-pointers: Do. Sharp 3, Ewing 3, Moore 2, De. Sharp 1. Fouled out: None.)

JV -- Charleston won 60-48