Caruthersville boys take down Portageville to win Bootheel Conference title

HAYTI - The Caruthersville Tigers rolled into Hayti Wednesday to win its second Bootheel Conference Tournament title.

Caruthersville played against Portageville in a scramble of a game that ended with the Cats on top 64-46.

Caruthersville jumped to an early lead and were in front by seven points at the first period buzzer, 19-6.

The Bulldogs held tough and limited the Tigers to just seven points in the second period, though, and Portageville trailed by 26-17 at halftime.

Portageville head coach T.J. Smith said his team played its best, but it just wasn't enough for the win on Wednesday.

"Their pressure," Smith said, "It does not stop.

"We could handle it three or four times," he added. "Then we couldn't handle it three or four times. Our defense, we tried limiting Caruthersville to just one shot. They're a fast, powerful team."

Powerful indeed.

The Tigers' half-time meeting with head coach Lamont Bell must've been one for the books. Bell's team emerged from the locker room, took the court and 22 points later the Tigers led the Bulldogs 48-31.

"We're playing three seniors tonight," Bell said before the game. "I expect Isaiah (Rodgers) to be our high scorer."

And so he was. Rodgers scored 18 points for the Tigers while Jamarion Smith led the Bulldogs with 15 points including a pair of three-point bombs. Abeyon Metton scored a three for Caruthersville and Shane Townsend joined Smith with a three-point missile of his own.

The fourth quarter found the score weaving, but Caruthersville never gave up that lead; 55-35 Tigers, followed by a Bulldogs' three, 55-38; another Tigers goal, another Bulldogs' three, 57-41; and with less than four minutes remaining, the score was 62-46 with the Bulldogs trailing,

The championship game culminated with a Caruthersville unanswered trick shot to bring the final score to 64-46.

"We played tough tonight," a jubilant Bell said after the game. "We played a tough one last night against New Madrid County Central. It doesn't get easier for us. But we're ready."

Caruthersville hosts Kennett next Tuesday and Sikeston next Thursday. Portageville travels to Charleston Friday and to East Carter next Thursday.