Central boys basketball team loses to Bluff in SEMO Conference Tournament

SIKESTON, Mo. -- For three quarters Tuesday the Cape Central Tigers ran with the Mules.

But with about a week worth of full-team practices, they couldn't keep up Poplar Bluff's pace, losing 70-62 in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament.

"I think towards the end it did wear us down," Central coach Drew Church said. "We stopped kind of wanting to get the ball and go."

Central (1-3) falls into the consolation semifinal at 6 p.m. Wednesday against Notre Dame. The Tigers also lost to Poplar Bluff in the first round last year but won the regular-season matchup against Poplar Bluff.

"Cape's going to get a lot better," Mules coach William Durden said. "They don't have many practices, they have good athletes.

"When they figure it out they're going to be a good team."

Blake Harris led the Tigers with a double-double, 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jawone Newell added 16 points while Austin Parker chipped in 12.

Poplar Bluff freshman Mercedes Leech scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter. Willie Lucas added a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Mules (4-0).

The Tigers, who got a late start with the Central football team reaching the state semifinals, were without Al Young who did not dress for a "team deal" said Church.

"Had a couple of guys that got thrown into the fire tonight and I thought they played well, played hard," Church said.

Central trailed by nine with 3 minutes left in the third quarter but was able to get within 49-45 before the start of the fourth.

Tristen Francisco's steal led to a putback by Leech in transition, one of 18 points off turnovers the Mules scored.

Lucas later got a putback and, after a missed pair of free throws by the Tigers, Leech found a wide open Francisco under the basket for a 59-49 lead with 4 1/2 to play.

Leech hit a 3 on Poplar Bluff's next possession then sank two free throws after a steal by Steven Anderson led to a fastbreak foul.

"A win's a win," Durden said. "And we grinded it out tonight. We didn't rebound very good, we didn't play defense very good and we still won."

Poplar Bluff built a 35-25 halftime lead with a 10-2 run early in the second quarter.

The Tigers put together a 10-3 run to start the second half, pulling within 38-35 on a putback by Harris with 5 minutes left in the third. Central had a chance to get closer but Lucas got a steal and scored before Kolby Bess knocked down a 3 off an inbound play.

The Mules sank 8 of 19 shots behind the 3-point line.

"Hey, it's early," Church said. "I'm not upset about this game. I'm kind of excited because, like I said, they played hard and I thought their attitude was fantastic.

"We can build off that."

Poplar Bluff 19 16 14 21 -- 70

Cape Central 17 8 20 17 -- 62

POPLAR BLUFF (70) -- Elijah Dawson 7, Steven Anderson 7, Tristen Francisco 6, Marcedus Leech 26, Willie Lucas 16, Kolby Bess 3, Rashawn McCain 5. FG 19, FT 8-16, F 16 (3-pointers: Leech 5, Dawson, Lucas, Bess. Fouled out: None.)

CAPE CENTRAL (62) -- Zyshon Mallory 7, Jawone Newell 16, Austin Parker 12, Blake Harris 17, Kway'Chon Chisom 5, Garrett Jackson 5. FG 27, FT 8-18, F 12 (3-pointers: None. Fouled out: None.)