CHARLESTON NETS REVENGE VICTORY; WITHOUT OWEN, JAYS UPEND CENTERAL, WIN LEAGUE CROWN

How much does Nathan Owen mean to Cape Girardeau Central High's basketball team?

In Central's 10-point win over Charleston in the semifinals of the University High Christmas Tournament, Owen led the Tigers with 23 points.

Tuesday night, Central was without Owen in the teams' much-anticipated rematch that decided the SEMO Conference title.

The host Tigers lost 68-48.

Owen, an all-stater last year who has signed with Southeast Missouri State University, missed school Monday and Tuesday. Doctors believe he may have pneumonia.

"There's nothing that could have matched beating [Charleston] without [Nathan]," Central coach Brett Reutzel said. "Nathan's got bronchitis extremely bad and according to the information I have he's a step away from pneumonia.

"If this was the middle of the season, you might go ahead and say `come on in and play.' But the district is just next week and you don't want to make him worse."

Charleston coach Bobby Spencer said it could have been a closer game with Owen playing.

Spencer, Charleston's head coach the past few seasons -- he led the team to last year's Class 3A state title -- and a longtime Blue Jay assistant before that, told reporters after the game that this will be his final season as head coach barring some unforeseen circumstance.

"Thank God we were lucky to find them when a player like Nathan was out," said Spencer. "If Nathan would have been here it would be a lot closer."

Reminiscent of the 29-0 run Charleston used to pull away from Jackson in a game earlier this month, the Blue Jays (22-3) put together a 14-0 spurt early in the fourth quarter that decided the game. Charleston's 48-44 lead a minute into the quarter stretched to 62-44 less than four minutes later.

"If you're going to win a game like this, you have to do things right," said Reutzel, "and I felt like we broke down both offensively and defensively during that run. We just weren't taking good shots."

Central (18-6) started the game lethargically and scored just three points in the first quarter and trailed 13-3 entering the second quarter. The Tigers battled back, and an 11-0 run late in the second period in which Will Harris hit two 3-pointers cut the lead to three points, 25-22.

Down 31-24 at halftime, the Tigers continued to battle and play well in the third quarter. A 24-foot three by Aron Meystedt with 15 seconds left in the period made the score 48-41 going into the fourth.

Seconds into the fourth quarter, Meystedt drilled another three from well beyond arc to pull Central within four points, 48-44. From there it was all Charleston.

The Blue Jays, ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 3A, outscored Central 20-4 in the final 7:50. The deciding run came as a result of four turnovers and six straight missed shots by the Tigers. The spurt was ignited by freshman guard Howard Biles, who hit four free throws and a jumper to start the run.

Biles, whose brother Jeramy led Charleston to the state title last season and is now the starting point guard for Saint Louis University, led all scorers with 18 points. LaRico Coleman added 16, Rashad Oliver 15 and Corey Kent 10 for the Jays.

"[Howard] is one true offensive player," said Spencer. "He has grown up a lot since we played them in the Christmas tournament. He has played with confidence and we need that. He and Rico could be two real top-notch guards next year.

No one scored in double figures for Central. Chris Bergerson and LaVelle Lewis both had eight points for the Tigers.

Both squads will return to action at home Friday, Central against Ste. Genevieve and Charleston against Park Hills.