Central boys basketball team bows out in sectional round

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- McCluer North's B.J. Young had all the answers Wednesday night, solving Central's defense whenever the Stars needed a crucial basket.

The Arkansas-bound senior guard scored 29 points to lead the Stars past the Tigers 63-51 in a Class 5 sectional contest at the Farmington Civic Center.

Young scored all of McCluer North's points in a 10-6 stretch from late in the third quarter to midway through the fourth that allowed the Stars to pull away from Central's last best threat.

The Stars (26-4), who finished the regular season ranked sixth in the state, will play No. 1 Chaminade (27-0) in the quarterfinal at 1 p.m. Saturday at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The Tigers, who finished 20-6, were led by senior Andrew Williams, who scored 19 points. Junior T.J. Tisdell added 12 points, while senior Curtis Branch was limited to eight. Seniors James Lane and Zach Boerboom both had six, with Boerboom limited by foul trouble.

Central's Andrew Williams, center, takes a seat on the bench after fouling out against McCluer North during the fourth quarter of their Class 5 sectional game at the Farmington Civic Center. Central lost 63-51. (Kristin Eberts)

Central fifth-year coach Drew Church talked about the toughness of the seniors, saying they would be missed after bringing Central its first district basketball championship and 20-win season since the 1996-97 campaign.

"It's been a great senior year," said Boerboom, also a key player on Central's playoff football team. "Every one of us seniors put in four years of hard work, and Curtis came and helped us a lot. We all put in the work, and this is how everyone wants their senior season to be."

The Tigers ran into a senior who showed why he is among the top players in the state. But Church said McCluer North's supporting cast also showed it can play.

"We were going to make the other guys beat us," Church said, "and they put it on us. In the second half, their pressure got to us. We just got a little tired and Young kind of got loose. You know, they're a good team."

Young scored just 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and 6-foot-8 junior center and Division 1 prospect Jordan Granger was scoreless, but the Stars still took control early and built a 10-point halftime lead.

Central's Andrew Williams puts up a shot against McCluer North's B.J. Young during the second quarter of a Class 5 Sectional game on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at the Farmington Civic Center. Central lost 63-51. (Kristin Eberts)

They overcame an 11 of 25 shooting performance in the first half by crashing the boards for several second-chance baskets while forcing Central into some early fouls.

"We got into foul trouble and we don't play a lot of guys, so that kind of messed with us a little bit," Church said.

The Tigers never led in the game. They trailed 16-6 after one period before Williams and Branch hit back-to-back 3-pointers to open the second quarter.

The 3-pointer was a key part of Central's offense -- Williams hit four of the team's six -- but McCluer North matched it. Young hit four of his team's six.

After Williams' 3 pulled Central within 19-17 midway through the second period, Young answered with a 3 that keyed a 12-4 run to close the first half.

Central coach Drew Church talks to his players during a fourth-quarter timeout Wednesday.

McCluer North's Galen Brown scored a gift basket off the press, and Damion Clemens added a 3-pointer. Williams and Lane had jumpers for Central to keep the halftime deficit at 10, 31-21.

Central made two spurts in the third period before Young led the Stars on the decisive run.

Boerboom scored on a drive to the basket and was fouled a little more than 2 minutes into the second half. He missed the free throw, but Lane grabbed the rebound and Branch fed Tisdell for a basket to make the score 33-27.

About 2 minutes later, Williams hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 36-30.

Central had the ball and a chance to get closer, but Lane missed a shot and Young turned it into a basket by driving the length of the floor.

He began his personal streak with 18 seconds to play in the third quarter, driving into the lane and scooping in a shot that bumped the lead back to double digits, 42-32, heading to the fourth period.

Central's T.J. Tisdell shoots over McCluer North's Keaton Turner during the second quarter of a Class 5 Sectional game on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at the Farmington Civic Center. Central lost 63-51. (Kristin Eberts)

With Central within seven on Williams' three-point play, which was the fourth foul for Granger, Young drove the lane to hit his own three-point play.

After a Central miss, Young scored on a smooth layin. After Williams' 3-pointer and a Central timeout, Young knocked in a long 3-pointer that pushed McCluer North's lead back to 50-38 with 5:44 to play.

It was essentially the dagger. Central never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.

"I felt like big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games," Young said. "Coach preaches that, and I felt like in order to get something out of life, you've got to work for it and go get it, and that's what I had to do."

Central students cheer during the third quarter of Wednesday's Class 5 sectional game in Farmington, Mo.

Boerboom fouled out with 1:47 to play, and Williams exited with 33 seconds left. Both received standing ovations from Central fans.

"Coach put us in a great spot to win," Boerboom said. "Some of their guys hit shots we weren't expecting, and Young is a great player. That's why he's going to Arkansas."

Said Williams: "Working hard for four years paid off in getting into the playoffs. I mean, just having a chance to make it to the state tournament was awesome. We played pretty good tonight, but they were just the better team tonight."

Central 6 15 11 19 -- 51

North 16 15 11 21 -- 63

Central senior Zach Boerboom tries to maneuver around McCluer North's Keaton Turner during the third quarter Wednesday at the Farmington Civic Center.

CENTRAL (51) -- Andrew Williams 19, T.J. Tisdell 12, James Lane 6, Curtis Branch 8, Zach Boerboom 6. FG 18, FT 9-12, F 19. (3-pointers: Williams 4, Branch 2)

McCLUER NORTH (63) -- B.J. Young 29, Toye Okunrinboye 9, Damion Clemens 8, Tremayne Garrett 5, Galen Brown 6, Jordan Granger 4, Keaton Turner 2. FG 22, FT 13-21, F 14. (3-pointers: Young 4, Clemens 2)