CAPE CENTRAL EYES RESPECT VIA U-HIGH

Cape Central didn't have a flashy ranking, a sparkling win-loss percentage or any big winning streak Thursday.

But four days later, the Tigers left the 52nd annual University High Christmas Tournament with a unique label: Southeast Missouri's Team to Beat.

Central (8-2) was an underdog in two of its four tournament games and won both, beating top-seeded Charleston in Saturday's semifinal and No. 2 Scott City in Monday's championship. It was Central's second tournament title in the past three years, and the first time in over 10 years that the No. 4 seed has even appeared in the championship.

That should have proven something, members of the team said.

"We came into the tournament demanding some respect," Central's Nathan Owen said after his team-high 22-point game Monday. "We started off the season a little slow, but we've come together now. We feel like we're a team to watch now."

Central's spot outside the top three wasn't a surprise when coaches met in early December to seed the event. The Tigers (8-2) lost their opener to Notre Dame, fought off DeSoto in overtime and then fell by 17 points -- their worst loss this season -- to New Madrid County Central. Central's 1-2 start didn't hold promises of a U-High title, but its first-year coach said he never saw the tournament as a can't-win situation.

"I knew it would be tough, but there are a lot of good kids on this team and a lot of good athletes," said coach Brett Ruetzel. "If they play as hard as they can play, as blessed as they are athletically, they can find ways to win. But it has to be a team concept.

"We were probably seeded right where we needed to be, but I think we proved a lot by the end. I told the kids after the game was over that it wasn't pretty, but we played good enough to win, and that's what you have to do. In state competition and tournaments, that's what it takes.

"I told them that maybe now they're the team to beat. Now people are wondering about you. Maybe you're the top dog everybody's trying to knock off."

Battered and bruised

Its loss doesn't affect its playoff hopes, probably not even its No. 3 ranking in the Class 2A state poll. And for all its nicks and scrapes before the game, Scott City may have come away better.

The Rams (10-1) were far from full strength but kept within striking range of Central through all 32 minutes of Monday's game, a 62-56 loss.

"We were banged up, and I give the kids credit for sticking in there," coach Derek McCord said. "(Dustin) Cauble had a banged up elbow the last two games, and it was bothering him. Jon Beck is hurt, and (Howie) Stubenrauch has an injured knee. But the kids gave it all they had.

"They kids felt like they could win this game. They really didn't show a lot of nervousness before the game, and I never really sensed that."

Facts and figures

The tournament drew its biggest total attendance in its 10 years at the Show Me Center with 18,839 fans over four days. There were 5,100 in the building at times Monday, but only about 4,800 watched the championship.

Lucky day, lucky day

As he followed his team from the lockerroom to the floor Monday for the third-place game, Charleston coach Bobby Spencer picked up a penny from the floor.

He was quick to point out that the penny was lying face-up.

"There's some good luck," Spencer said with a big grin. "We'll need that."

Charleston went on to win the third-place game by 24 points.

Worth remembering ...

* Last year's championship between Charleston and Cape Central merited bright spotlights during player introductions, plus other special lighting and audio effects. Somehow, this year's title game didn't.

* In pursuit of a loose ball, Charleston's Rashad Oliver went crashing into and over the media table, barely missing an on-air radio broadcaster from Sikeston.

* None of the three contestants in the Boatmen's Bank-KZIM Halftime Shootout Classic made any classic shots. A layup, free throw, 3-pointer and half-court shot would have been worth $25,000, but none of the three contestants got past the halfway point.

* Tournament director Joey Haines was given a plaque for his involvement in the event's 10 years at the Show Me Center.