Central boys basketball team prevails in Church meeting

Saxony Lutheran boys basketball coach Dane Church admitted he knew what was coming as soon as Central's coach called some of the plays Tuesday.

That's what happens when a pair of brothers match coaching wits.

Central's Drew Church got the better of his little brother. Drew's Tigers downed Dane's Crusaders 64-34. Drew got some help from their father, Mike, who is a Central assistant.

"I think probably before the game started, you look down there, and it's like, ‘Is that who I think it is?'" Dane Church said. "Once the game started, it wasn't a big deal. I didn't really think much about it. We know a lot of our play calls, so it was tough to call out sets and same I'm sure for him. A couple times I knew what was going on. Once the game got going, just another game."

Drew Church, who is nine years older than Dane, agreed that it was awkward to look down the floor and see his younger brother leading the opposition.

Central’s Garan Evans shoots as Saxony Lutheran’s Gabe Bohnert tries to block the shot during the second quarter Tuesday at Central. Evans scored a game-high 17 points. (Laura Simon)

"It's a little weird, but you've got a job to do, too," he said. "Your players are counting on you preparing them for a game, and his players are doing the same. It's a little weird and I'm happy for him. He's your little brother and his first head coaching job. Bottom line, it's a game and you've got to get your kids to perform and he's going to get his kids to perform."

Central senior T.J. Tisdell said the Tigers wanted to earn family bragging rights for their coach.

"It was a big rivalry and he wanted to get the win," Tisdell said about his coach. "Just a family rivalry, so we went out there and tried to win it for him."

The Tigers used a different approach to Tuesday's game. Central (12-4) usually leans on Tisdell to carry the load near the basket. But Saxony Lutheran's defense concentrated on impeding the Tigers' leading scorer.

"Our plan was to pack it in a little bit and take away their post presence," Dane Church said. "I thought we did a pretty good job with that. He didn't get much other than a couple lobs he had set for him. He got to the free-throw line."

Central’s T.J. Tisdell takes a moment before a free throw during the second quarter.

Tisdell responded to the attention by passing to Central's shooters on the perimeter.

"They doubled and tripled inside, and it's tough for me to get the ball out," he said. "The younger guys on the team just stepped up and hit shots. It was easier for them to score because they doubled me, so it was easier because they were leaving them open."

Central hit six 3-pointers in the game, including a pair by Garan Evans.

"It looked good out there," said Evans, who scored a game-high 17 points. "We were trying to play inside out like we always do. It was open because they were all keying down on T.J."

Drew Church has spent the season stressing the importance of getting the ball to Tisdell. But he was OK with his team shooting 18 3-pointers against the Crusaders (5-10).

Cape Central's Jamal Cox sails past Saxony Lutheran defender Brandon Fritsche in the second quarter Tuesday, January 17, 2012 in Cape Girardeau. (Laura Simon)

"I'm OK with it if it goes inside out," Drew Church said. "I'm not OK with it if it's a one-pass 3. Our bigs have to touch it. Our bigs need to touch the ball and we need to react off that. Now if it's real crowded down there, I have no problem with 3s if they're on balance, they're set and it's a good shot. I've got no problem with good-shot 3s. For the most part, the 3s we took were on balance and we hit some."

The Tigers used a 16-2 run at the start of the second quarter to seize control. Tisdell scored five points during the spurt and finished with 13 points. He went 4 of 5 from the field.

"I'm used to taking like 10 shots a game, but tonight I had to sacrifice a little bit because they were leaving teammates open, and they took advantage and scored," Tisdell said.

Clayton Carver led Saxony Lutheran with 14 points.

Saxony 6 4 12 12 -- 34

Central 14 17 19 14 -- 64

SAXONY LUTHERAN (34) -- Clayton Carver 14, Gabe Bohnert 7, Logan Sprandel 1, Taylor Johnson 2, Jack Lake 2, Trent Steffens 5, Chase Steffens 3. FG 13, FT 4-7, F 19. (3-pointers: Carver 2, T. Steffens 1, C. Steffens 1. Fouled out: none)

CENTRAL (64) -- T.J. Tisdell 13, Garan Evans 17, Ross McClanahan 3, Tim Booker 7, Vance Toole 8, Devon Johnson 5, Jacob Boerboom 2, Jamal Cox 1, Bo Wilferth 1, Austin Bagley 7. FG 22, FT 14-19, F 12. (3-pointers: Evans 2, McClanahan 1, Toole 2, Johnson 1. Fouled out: none)