CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL LADY TIGERS POST 54-39 WIN OVER JACKSON

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Cape Central High's girls basketball team picked the perfect time to play what Coach Mark Ruark felt was the Lady Tigers' best game of the season.

It came Thursday night against rival Jackson. The Lady Tigers stifled the Lady Indians defensively and went on to post a 54-39 triumph in their own gym.

"There's no doubt this was by far our best game of the year," said Ruark, whose club snapped a four-game losing streak. "We executed our game plan offensively and defensively.

"We needed this game because we had lost four straight. Granted, it was to good competition, but this was a big one for us."

Central raised its record to 6-5 while Jackson fell to 6-4.

"We just didn't score," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "The whole team hustled hard and got on the floor for loose balls, but we missed too many shots and too many free throws."

The Lady Indians were 9-for-25 from the free-throw line.

"You can't win shooting like that," Cook said. "Cape deserved this game."

Senior center Sonya Miller had a huge game for the Lady Tigers, pouring in 22 points and grabbing 21 rebounds.

"Sonya just had a tremendous game," said Ruark. "The more and more I see her, the more I think she's got to be one of the top big people in the state."

Angie Haas contributed 16 points while Andrea Martin added 10 and her usual steady supply of steals and floor burns.

"Our guard play was very good," Ruark said. "Christina Koch really ran the team well at the point and Angie Haas and Andrea Martin both gave us solid points.

"I don't think I've seen a girl involved in more plays than Andrea. She's just all over the floor. She's also scoring more now. And Angie is really becoming a much more confident shooter."

Added Ruark, "For us to be successful, we have to have a good inside/outside combination. We did that tonight."

Jackson got 10 points from both Kristie Myers and Katy Stoverink. Myers was particularly impressive in the fourth quarter as she scored nine points in an attempt to bring the Lady Indians back.

"Kristie played her best game of the year," said Cook.

The Lady Indians led 12-10 after one quarter but a 5-0 Central run to begin the second period gave the Lady Tigers a lead they would never relinquish. It was 23-18 at halftime.

Central pushed its lead to seven points early in the third period before Jackson climbed back within a point at 27-26. However, the Lady Tigers then went on a 7-0 run to open up some breathing room.

It was 36-27 entering the final period. Myers scored five quick points to pull Jackson within 36-32, but Martin and Miller hit baskets for Central and then Debe Smith canned a free throw and converted a basket inside, making it 43-32. Jackson never seriously threatened again.

"I thought one of the key to this game was our defense," said Ruark. "We just played very well defensively. The girls took our game plan and executed it."

Central's junior varsity team raised its record to 9-2 with a 59-30 victory over Jackson. Emily Lewis paced the Lady Tigers with 14 points.

CAPE CENTRAL 54, JACKSON 39

JACKSON 12 6 9 12 - 39

CAPE CENTRAL 10 13 13 18 - 54

JACKSON (39)

Thompson 8, Siemer 9, Myers 10, Conley 2, Stoverink 10. FG 15 FT 9-25 F 20 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Myers)

CAPE CENTRAL (54)

Martin 10, Ringwald 1, Smith 5, Miller 22, Haas 16. FG 20 FT 13-26 F 22. (3-pointers: Haas 1. Fouled out: Koch)