Cooter advances to C2D1 championship with blowout win over South Pemiscot

HOLCOMB – The Cooter Wildcats proved that they’re the No. 1 seed for a good reason in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 tournament semifinals Wednesday night.

Cooter downed fourth-seeded South Pemiscot, who beat fifth-seeded Holcomb on the Hornets’ own court by 21 points Monday, in a 60-32 rout to earn their place across from Neelyville Friday night in the district championship.

The game’s intensity was evident from the toss as players went down and grappled for the opening drive. And with a steal and a foul, Cooter’s Hayden Nazarenus opened the matchup with a step up to the free throw line.

South Pemiscot’s defense made sure the Wildcats’ win would not come easy, and while the Bulldogs employed a full-court press to shooter Rhoads Lynn, Luke Barnes came in with a three-pointer to pull ahead for the first time.

Both teams took turns blocking shots and grabbing steals despite Cooter’s significant size advantage, and the Wildcats took a 13-6 lead ending the first quarter.

With 17 more points spread evenly between all five players, Cooter secured a 30-16 advantage at halftime and never slowed down.

The second half opened the same way – Cooter’s Pearce Watkins pulled in a steal which was passed to Carson Swan for the layup. South Pemiscot answered it with a three-pointer, but then Cooter went on to score 11 unanswered points to surpass a 20-point lead.

Eight of South Pemiscot’s 10 points in the third quarter came in the final minutes, but the Bulldogs fell back to an unattainable 26-45 deficit ending the third quarter.

Cooter limited South Pemiscot to six points, adding 15 of their own, in the fourth quarter as well. The Wildcats' pressure on the outside prevented the Bulldogs from making a single three-pointer the entire game.

South Pemiscot's Jaterion Smith attempts a layup in the first half of the team's semifinal game against Cooter Wednesday night. Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

A layup by Cooter’s Nazarenus took the Wildcats past 50 points and a three-pointer by Tyson Banks surpassed 60, and Cooter won the game 60-32.

Carson Swan led the way for Cooter with 16 points. Hayden Nazarenus added 13, and Luke Barned scored 12.

South Pemiscot’s Jaterion Smith paced the Bulldogs with 18 points, while both Logan Welch and Robert Farmer scored six and Matt Moore scored two.

Cooter takes on Neelyville in the Class 2 District 1 championship game at Holcomb High School Friday night at 6 p.m.