Cape Central boys basketball team's late-game fouling tames Sikeston

Normally when a team commits fouls in the final seconds of a game, it's the desperate final act to prevent a loss.

Central committed three fouls in the final 7 seconds Friday night, but it did so to prevent a shot.

The Tigers' late foul strategy worked. It muddled Sikeston's final 13-second possession and preserved a 56-54 victory for Central on senior night.

Central's only three seniors on the roster were playing their final seconds on the their home floor, and they were displaying some of the smarts they had acquired during their four years in the program.

"We had fouls to give and we didn't want to give up a shot," Central senior Ross McClanahan said. "So we went ahead and used our fouls to run the clock down, so they didn't really have a good chance to get a shot off."

Central celebrates its 56-54 victory over Sikeston on Friday. The Tigers improved to 17-6 with the win. (Fred Lynch)

Central senior T.J. Tisdell, who finished with a game-high 21 points, provided Central its final lead, 48-47, with a dazzling baseline move with a little more than four minutes left in the game. He then personally extended the lead to 53-47. He first connected for a three-point play off an offensive rebound, then added a pair of free throws with 2 minutes, 24 seconds left.

Central (17-6) led 56-51 after a free throw by Garan Evans with 36 seconds left, but Sikeston's Terry Jamison, who led the Bulldogs with 14 points, struck for his fourth 3-pointer of the contest to close the gap to 56-54 with 15 seconds remaining.

Sikeston quickly fouled Central and took possession with 13 seconds left when the Tigers missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Central had just two fouls in the second half and employed a strategy it used at the end of the first half, when it burned a couple of fouls to keep an eight-point deficit from getting any larger. The Tigers committed just nine fouls on the night despite the intentional strategy.

"That's something we work on," Central coach Drew Church said. "We were fortunate we had fouls to give, and we've been in that situation before where we didn't execute that. And I think that's helped us to the point now to do that."

Central's T.J. Tisdell drives to the basket between Sikeston's J.T. Jones, left, Vashawn Ruffin (24) and Kyland Gross during the first quarter Friday.

Senior guard Vance Toole committed Central's third foul of the second half when Sikeston reached midcourt with 6 seconds left. The Tigers instantly fouled on the inbound, but on the ensuing inbound Sikeston got the ball into the hands of Jamison, who drove into the lane from the top of the key and was fouled by Evans before he shot.

"We wanted to be smart and not foul them on the shots," Tisdell said.

Sikeston then inbounded the ball from under the Central basket with 1.9 seconds left, but Tisdell got a hand on the pass and time expired in the tussle for possession.

The end result was a rare loss for Sikeston, which brought an eight-game winning streak into the game and was ranked No. 2 in the latest Missouri Basketball Coaches Association poll. The Bulldogs went unbeaten last year and fell to 18-4 this season.

"I've never gotten a win against Sikeston, even on JV," Toole said. "I was on the roster my sophomore year whenever we beat them, but I didn't play. It's just nice to come out and beat them."

Central's Jamal Cox keeps the ball from Sikeston's J.T. Jones during the second quarter Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)

And even better in the final home game.

"I've been here four years playing in this gym, and it meant a lot to go out on a good note," McClanahan said.

A happy ending for Central's senior night looked unlikely in the first half.

Central trailed by double figures as early as the first quarter. Central sophomore Jamal Cox scored the game's first four points, but Sikeston later moved ahead 9-6 on a Kil'ron Coleman 3-pointer. Sikeston led 9-7 when it went on a 10-0 run for its biggest lead of the game.

The Bulldogs took a 19-10 lead into the second quarter and saw the lead hover around 10 points for most of the period. Central sophomore Tim Booker scored all six of his points in the second quarter, including a 3-pointer just before halftime to draw Central to 31-23 at the break.

"I was just proud of our kids for responding and kind of weathering the storm early and continuing to fight and chip away at the lead," Church said.

Central committed five turnovers in each of the first two quarters against Sikeston's aggressive zone defense.

"That's one thing Sikeston does," Tisdell said. "They pressure you so you turn the ball over and they score off that. We just had to limit the turnovers and see what happens."

Central committed just three turnovers in the second half.

"Sikeston is just such an athletic and amazing team," McClanahan said. "They're so quick and move their feet. Their defense is just incredible. It's nothing you can really prepare for. You just have to be mentally in the game and ready to go."

Central's high-low passing game netted two close-range baskets for Cox to open the second half, and it continued to work.

"We have two great post players in T.J. and Jamal," McClanahan said. "Long, athletic players, and it definitely helps us to go in the post and get them the ball because they can finish around the rim."

Central trailed 33-27 with six minutes left in the third quarter but went on an 8-0 burst to take its first lead since the first quarter.

McClanahan first hit Tisdell with a pass in the post, and Toole followed with a similar strike to Cox, who scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half. Tisdell tied the game at 33-33 on a drive inside, and Cox capped the run with a pair of free throws with 4:11 left in the quarter.

"We really made a point at halftime to settle down and work the ball and get it inside," Church said. "And that's really what we've been trying to do all year. They just wouldn't let us do it too well the first half."

Four ties ensued in the period. The final deadlock came on a tip-in by junior Jacob Boerboom on a Tisdell miss as time expired to knot the score at 42-42.

Jamison opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer from the corner, but Central moved ahead 46-45 when Toole hit Evans down low for a basket and later converted on a contested fast-break layin.

J.T. Jones gave Sikeston its final lead at 47-46 with 5:20 left, but Tisdell put Central ahead for good with a mesmerizing baseline move.

Evans fed Tisdell on the baseline left of the lane, but the senior knifed his way through two defenders who appeared to have his path blocked.

Church wasn't sure how Tisdell was able to beat the defenders and deftly bank a shot off the glass and in.

"It's not something I taught him," Church said about the move. "He's been double-teamed a lot this year, so he's had to kind of maneuver around some and do some stuff like that."

It is something his teammates and Central fans have witnessed repeatedly this season.

"Not too many people can guard him, no matter how quick they are," Toole said. "He's 6-6, and he's going against guys that are 6-2, and he's still quicker."

"He's so long and athletic," McClanahan said. "We're privileged to have him here."

Central never yielded the lead after Tisdell's basket.

Church voiced satisfaction that his seniors were able to win their final home game.

"They're three of the most wonderful kids you'd ever imagine," Church said. "They've been with me for four years. They battle and do whatever I ask. For them to go out like this, I'm very excited for them.

"They stepped in and played like seniors. They played with confidence. They played with strength and they were smart. And toward the end of the game, they got the ball where they needed to. And that's all you can ask of a senior."

Sikeston 19 12 11 12 -- 54

Central 10 13 19 14 -- 56

SIKESTON (54) -- Kil'ron Coleman 9, Cord Sheehy 3, Caleb McGee 2, Vashawn Ruffin 6, Terry Jamison 14, J.T. Jones 4, Markeith Bratcher 5, Keldon Warfield 11. FG 22, FT 3-4, F 17. (3-pointers: Coleman, Sheehy, Jamison 4, Bratcher. Fouled out: none)

CENTRAL (56) -- Ross McClanahan 3, Vance Toole 5, Tim Booker 6, Garan Evans 3, T.J. Tisdell 21, Jamal Cox 14, Jacob Boerboom 4. FG 21, FT 12-21, F 9. (3-pointers: Toole, Booker. Fouled out: none)