Central ready to open at showcase

The Central boys basketball team opens its season with a mighty test in the opener.

The Tigers play Hazelwood Central in the first game of today's Pepsi Showcase at the Show Me Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m.

"They're a very good team," Central coach Drew Church said of the Hawks. "They've got size, they've got quickness, they've got everything. We just need to go in and see where we're at.

"You never know the first game where your team's at because you've been practicing against each other for the last two or three weeks. We're just going to go in, play hard and see what happens. You can't worry about how good a team is or what everyone thinks."

Hazelwood Central opened its season with a 66-52 win over Troy on Tuesday, and is ranked eighth in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's preseason large school rankings. While it will be a challenge for the Tigers, Church said his team is looking forward to seeing game action.

"The kids need it," he said. "We've been beating up on each other for so long. They need to go against another team. They get sick of running the same plays. It will be good to try out some new things and go against a team where they have to come together and try new things."

The Central vs. Hazelwood Central game is one of five games on the schedule. Church said it's a treat for his team to play in a showcase event.

"It's a good thing for the kids," he said. "It's a great facility, good atmosphere, a big crowd. To play in that kind of atmosphere is good for the kids experience-wise, plus it's fun. They put on a great showcase and it's just a fun time for the kids."

Even though the event is held on a court where the Tigers play at various times during the season, Church said it doesn't diminish the enjoyment for his players.

"You always want them to experience other things, but it's in our hometown," he said. "It's not too far away. We don't have to travel a long way. Our kids enjoy playing there. They play four, five times a year. We enjoy going to it."

The 4:30 p.m. game features Poplar Bluff playing McCluer, the top-ranked team in the Post-Dispatch's large school rankings. Sikeston, led by senior Michael Porter, plays the No. 2 team in the Post-Dispatch's large school rankings in the 6:15 p.m. game.

The top-ranked team in the Post-Dispatch's small school poll, Maplewood, faces Chaminade, ranked third in the big school poll, in the 8 p.m. game.