Central boys basketball team captures a share of SEMO Conference title

DEXTER, Mo. – Central's T. J. Tisdell scored a game-high 33 points to lead the Tigers to a 76-69 overtime win over Dexter on Friday night.

Central (19-6) claimed a share of the SEMO Conference title with the win.

Dexter trailed by nine point heading into the fourth quarter but steadily chipped away at the Tigers' lead. Tyler Miller knocked down a 3-pointer with 51 second remaining to tie the game at 64-64.

Central's Garan Evans, who finished with 11 points, had a chance to give the Tigers the lead with 35 second remaining but missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Dexter had a shot at winning in regulation, but the Bearcats' Cody Neldon was called for an illegal screen to give Central the ball with 15 seconds remaining.

Tisdell took the shot, missed, grabbed his own rebound, but was again off the mark with the put back and the game went into overtime.

Tisdell scored the first four points in the exta session to give Central a 68-64 lead it never relinquished.

"I thought we played well offensively. We just had a heck of a tough time stopping Tisdell no matter what we did," Dexter coach Rob Nichols said. "We tried three or four different defenses. If he didn't score, it seemed like he got the rebound. And he's a good free throw shooter. So he's a good player. He may be the conference player of the year."

Vance Toole add 10 points for the Tigers.

Miller had 21 points for the Bearcats.

Central 76, Dexter 69, OT

Central 13 20 24 7 12 -- 76

Dexter 16 16 16 16 5 -- 69

CENTRAL (76) -- Ross McClanahan 9, Vance Toole 210, Tim Booker 2, Garan Evans 11, T. J. Tisdell 33, Jamal Cox 9, Jacob Boerboom 2. FG 25 FT 20-26, F 10. (3-pointers: McClanahan 3, Toole 2, Evans. Fouled out: none)

DEXTER (69) -- Tyler Miller 21, Jordan Fitts 11, D. J. Dowdy 4, Brad Potts 10, Jake Lee 19, Cody Neldon 4. FG 27. FT 10-12, F 16. (3-pointers: Miller 4, Fitts. Fouled out: Miller, Neldon)

JV -- Central won 52-24.