Class 1 champions take first step toward repeat

DELTA, Mo. -- The Scott County Central boys basketball team got off to something of a slow start in Thursday night's Class 1 District 3 tournament championship game.

Senior point guard Bobby Hatchett didn't have a hard time figuring out the problem.

"We wasn't making no shots," Hatchett said. "I didn't make no shots all night."

That's something of an exaggeration because the electrifying Hatchett did finish with 18 points.

But the Braves' biggest shotmaker was 6-foot-8 junior forward Otto Porter, who like Hatchett is being recruiting by a host of Division I programs.

Scott County Central's Trey Johnson pulls down a rebound against Richland during the first quarter of the Class 1 District 3 championship game Thursday in Delta, Mo.FRED LYNCHflynch@semissourian.com

Porter shook off a slow shooting start to pour in 39 points as the top-seeded Braves overwhelmed second-seeded Richland 84-46 at Delta High School.

The defending Class 1 state champion Braves, the state's top-ranked squad, will carry a 24-2 record into Tuesday's sectional round at Park Hills Central High School against the District 4 winner.

"We just want to take it one game at a time and keep improving," Porter said.

Porter showed tons of improvement after he missed his first four field-goal attempts and finished the opening quarter with four points on 1-of-6 shooting.

Not coincidentally, the Braves, after scoring the first five points, led just 13-7 at the end of the period.

Scott County Central's Bobby Hatchett grabs a rebound before teammate Calvin Porter during the first quarter of the Class 1 District 3 championship game against Richland Thursday.

"We all were cold early," Porter said. "I figured if we kept shooting, eventually it was going to fall."

The Rebels scored the first five points of the second quarter to pull within 13-12.

"They played with a lot of heart," Hatchett said. "I respect them."

But there is only so far heart can take a team when it is overmatched, and that's what wound up happening to Richland.

Immediately after the Rebels cut their deficit to 13-12, the sweet-shooting Porter began to get on the kind of roll that Hatchett has seen many times.

"Once he gets in rhythm, it's hard for him to miss," Hatchett said.

Porter scored 10 points during a 12-0 run that put SCC up 25-12 and put the Rebels in a hole they never could dig out of.

A Porter dunk off an alley-oop feed from Hatchett highlighted Porter's 7-of-9 shooting performance in the second quarter that ended with SCC ahead 41-24. Porter scored 14 points in the period to give him 18 for the half.

Porter and the Braves were just warming up as they followed their 28-point second quarter with a 30-point third period that featured 16 more points by Porter on 7-of-8 shooting.

Richland barely was hanging around at 59-42 late in the quarter before the Braves again got rolling with a 12-0 run to end the period. The capper was another Porter dunk off an alley-oop from Hatchett that sent SCC into the fourth quarter with a 71-42 advantage.

"It was just a matter of time," Hatchett said.

The Braves continued to pour it on at the outset of the final period, scoring the first 13 points to complete an overall 25-0 burst for an 84-42 advantage as the running clock was used for virtually the entire final eight minutes.

Porter capped his monster night by hitting a 3-pointer that made it 78-42, then seconds later blocked a shot and ran the court before ramming home a fast-break dunk.

With about four minutes left and the Braves up 82-42, Porter, Hatchett and the other starters came out to a standing ovation from the SCC faithful in Delta's jam-packed gym.

"We kind of started out slow, but we picked it up," Porter said in something of an understatement.

Porter wound up hitting 17 of 25 from the field, scoring on a mix of midrange jumpers, follow shots and dunks, along with the lone 3-pointer. He hit 16 of his final 19 after the slow beginning.

"We came out cold, but we finally got going in the second quarter and we got our press going," SCC coach Kenyon Wright said. "Otto missed a few early. He was just hesitating. He got to thinking instead of shooting."

The Braves are thinking about a repeat state title, but Hatchett -- who listed Southeast Missouri State, Iowa and Mississippi among his top college choices if he qualifies academically -- vowed that they won't be caught looking ahead.

"One game at a time," Hatchett said. "We still have to get better."

Richland 7 17 18 4 -- 46

Scott County 13 28 30 13 -- 84

RICHLAND (46) -- Michael Latham 6, Andrew Thornton 15, Ryan Kleffer 13, McKinley Thornton 10, Richard Forshee 2. FG 16, FT 13-26, F 12. (3-pointers: Latham 1. Fouled out: none)

SCOTT COUNTY (84) -- Bobby Hatchett 18, Trey Johnson 8, Lamarcus Steward 6, Otto Porter 39, Dominique Porter 5, Bryan Freed 6, John Rhoden 2. FG 36, FT 8-12, F 21. (3-pointers: Hatchett 1, Porter 1, Freed 2. Fouled out: none)