Central finds stroke in second half vs. Poplar Bluff

Central's wheels spun in the mud, unable to gain any traction during the first half Friday.

The Tigers struggled to do anything right against Poplar Bluff, finishing with 13 turnovers to 11 points before halftime.

Central finally kicked into gear midway through the third quarter and pulled out a 39-29 victory at home.

"I told them after the game, the sign of a good team is to not play well but then to find a way to win," Central coach Drew Church said. "That was true tonight."

Central used a 10-2 run that spanned the second half of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth quarter to gain some separation. The Mules' offense never found a rhythm, and the Tigers pulled out the ugly win.

Central's James Lane attempts to dunk during the second half Friday night. Lane missed the shot. (BRIAN ROSENER ~ Daily American Republic)

"We settled down and kind of got into our system," Church said about the second half. "Up and down the line, the first half, we were very tight. I don't know what it was, but this was a good game for us to get rid of that. We've had some lopsided victories lately and this was a good game for us to play a tough game, a close game, and see how we handled it."

Poplar Bluff suffocated Central's inside game. Tigers post players T.J. Tisdell and James Lane combined for 12 points, so Central (14-3) was forced to shoot from outside.

"They doubled and tripled the post, and that's something they've done to us all the time," Church said. "When they do that, it almost forces you to kick to the open guy and make a play. Having two post players like we do, we don't want to take that many 3s. But you've also got to take what the defense gives you. If our kids don't step up and shoot those 3s, we don't win tonight."

The 3-pointers weren't falling early for Central. The Tigers only hit 1 of their 7 attempts before halftime and they only hit 25 percent (4 of 16) in the game.

But it was the 3-pointer that helped turn the game in Central's favor. Senior Curtis Branch hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter that evened the score at 20-20.

Senior Andrew Williams contributed a pair of jumpers to the Tigers' run.

"In the first half, I knew I wasn't knocking down those 3s," Williams said. "I knew I had to change something up because I can't keep shooting and missing. Coach told me sometimes pump fake and get to the basket and try to get some fouls or hit a jump shot. I did that and they started falling down for me. It was a relief."

Central iced the game by going 4 of 5 from the field and 8 of 11 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.

Poplar Bluff (9-11) disrupted the Tigers in the first half. Central only hit one basket and one free throw in the second quarter, which allowed the Mules to take a four-point lead into halftime.

"I think it was just how we came out," Branch said. "They pressured the ball real good. They're a good team."

The Mules' offense only hit 32 percent (6 of 19) of its shots before halftime but was aided by Central's 13 turnovers.

"He wasn't really chewing us out, but he knew we weren't playing up to our potential," Williams said about Church's attitude at halftime. "We even knew. We were just eager to get out there and show what we really can do instead of playing like we did the first half."

Poplar Bluff finished shooting 27 percent (11 of 41) from the field and 17 percent (3 of 18) from 3-point range. The Mules also committed 16 turnovers in the contest.

"We didn't make shots," Poplar Bluff coach Lamont Frazier said. "We threw so many possessions away in the first half. Threw a bunch away in the second half. When it becomes a possession game, you can't do that."

Poplar Bluff 4 11 7 7 -- 29

Central 8 3 12 16 -- 39

POPLAR BLUFF (29) -- Rhys Griffith 2, Michael Griggs 3, Kendric McCain 5, Ike Anders 10, Jake White 9. FG 11, FT 4-9, F 18. (3-pointers: Anders 2, Griggs 1. Fouled out: none)

CENTRAL (39) -- Blake Ozbun 2, Andrew Williams 11, T.J. Tisdell 4, James Lane 8, Curtis Branch 12, Zach Boerboom 2. FG 12, FT 11-20, F 10. (3-pointers: Branch 3, Williams 1. Fouled out: none)