Central boys basketball team reaches district final, turns aside ND in overtime

~ Central reached the Class 4 District 1 final with a 61-55 victory

DEXTER, Mo. -- The fourth and final installment of the Central vs. Notre Dame boys basketball season series may have been the most exciting and certainly had the most at stake.

Regardless of the circumstances, it was the same result.

The second-seeded Tigers outlasted third-seeded Notre Dame 61-55 in overtime Tuesday night for their fourth victory over the Bulldogs this year, this one earning them a spot in the Class 4 District 1 tournament championship game against top-seeded Sikeston.

"First give credit to Notre Dame, that was a heck of a game," Central coach Drew Church said. "They played very physical, very strong, and our guys were not ready to go. That surprised me a little bit with this group that we have. I challenged them at halftime. ... I just challenged them 'Hey we need to get tougher,' and they responded and I'm proud of that."

Central’s Garan Evans brings down a rebound over Notre Dame’s Jordan Barber during their Class 4 District 1 tournament semifinal game Tuesday in Dexter Mo. The Tigers won 61-55 in overtime. (ADAM VOGLER)

Notre Dame (15-12) appeared poised to finally beat the Tigers (16-10) this season in the opening minutes of overtime.

Central earned the tip, but the Bulldogs forced three straight missed shots and Quinn Poythress scored on a layup to give Notre Dame a 55-53 lead and the momentum.

The Tigers answered.

Senior Garan Evans, who had an uncharacteristic off night shooting, hit a jumper, and the Tigers earned a stop before Sentrell Blackmon buried a jumper to give the Tigers a 57-55 lead.

"I just had to tell everybody to get up," Evans said. "Play like it was their last game. We just got the job done. They got good shooters, and we just had to get a hand up."

Central’s Sentrell Blackmon makes a pass around Notre Dame’s Cody DeBrock as he leaps out of bounds to save a loose ball.

Central locked down defensively, forcing the Bulldogs to miss their final six shots.

"When it went into overtime I thought we had a really good chance," Notre Dame coach Kevin Roberts said. "I thought that after that miss we had the momentum, and then we scored, but you have to give them credit."

The Tigers closed the game making four of six from the free-throw line.

Central can thank junior standout Jamal Cox for getting them to overtime.

The 6-foot-6 forward had 17 points, eight coming in the final quarter on a perfect 4 for 4 shooting.

"I just looked to get the ball at the high post," Cox said. "Just drive down and find the open shot to put us on the board."

Added Church: "The last time we played them they doubled him a lot, and he kind of knew that was coming. He's been doubled a lot all year. Tonight he really went after the ball, and when he did catch it, he made a good strong move because like I said that was a physical game."

The Tigers twice opened up a three-point lead in the fourth only to see the Bulldogs claw back.

Central took a 45-42 lead with just under four minutes to play, but Grant Ressel buried a trey to pull the Bulldogs even.

Central then extended its lead to 48-45, but the Bulldogs again fought back and tied it on two Tanner Shively free throws with 58 seconds remaining.

Central stalled with the ball before calling a timeout with 13 seconds left, but a 3-pointer by Al Young at the buzzer was off the mark, setting up overtime.

"When it came down to that one shot that needed to be made, we missed it and they made it," Roberts said. "You have to give them credit."

Notre Dame appeared to have the upper hand in the first half.

The Bulldogs forced 13 turnovers en route to a 27-24 halftime lead.

"That's what we wanted to do, double-team Cox and contain Cox, but we have to pressure the guards," Roberts said. "I thought we did a good job of that. I thought we did a tremendous job in the first half."

Central awoke in the third.

Trailing 29-26, the Tigers rattled off an 8-0 run to take a 34-29 lead midway through the period.

"We took about two or three bad shots there," Roberts said. "Just quick, not-in-the-offense shots -- they don't have to guard you. That's a possession they don't have to guard you."

Central started to bang on the boards and got the ball in the post more in the second half, matching the physical tone the Bulldogs set early on.

The Tigers also picked up their defensive intensity in the second half.

The Bulldgs shot just 21 of 64 (33 percent), including a 6-of-27 clip (22 percent) from beyond the arc.

"In the locker room coach was just stressing defense was going to win the game," Evans said. "So we had to get around screens and get on their shooters and contest their shots."

It was a tough way for the Bulldogs, usually a solid shooting team, to go out.

"The shots that we took were shots that we've been taking all year," Roberts said. "They just didn't fall for us tonight."

Blackmon added 13 points for Central. Andre Statam had 11.

Notre Dame was led by Ressel's 16 points. Shively added 10.

Ressel, a sophomore, was one of few bright spots in the Bulldogs' offense.

"Over the last four or five games he's been absolutely terrific," Roberts said. "He's so smart, he's crafty, he can shoot the ball, he can do a lot. He has a bright future. A lot of these guys have a bright future."

The Tigers have a tall task ahead of them.

Central will face Sikeston, the four-time defending district champion, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Notre Dame 15 12 9 17 2 -- 55

Central 13 11 15 14 8 -- 61

NOTRE DAME (55) -- Quinn Poythress 14, Jordan Williamson 8, Patrick Williamson 5, Grant Ressel 16, Derek Hulshof 4, Tanner Shively 10. FG 21, FT 7-9, F 19. (3-pointers: Poythress 2, J. Williamson 1, P. Williamson 1, Ressel 2. Fouled out: none.)

CENTRAL (61) -- Sentrell Blackmon 13, Al Young 4, Garan Evans 8, Chase Hagerty 4, Jamal Cox 17, Mikey Jones 4, Andre Statam 11. FG 22. FT 14-21, F 12. (3-pointers: Blackmon 1, Evans 2. Fouled out: none.)