Defense complete: Scott County Central repeats as Class 1 champs

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Otto Porter might have upset his dad.

Otto Porter Jr. beat Otto Porter Sr.'s single game final four rebound record and only needed three quarters to do it.

"I didn't know about it, I might have upset him," the younger Porter said. "I just went and got everything off the glass."

In Scott County Central's 96-47 win over Pilot Grove, Porter grabbed his 26th rebound with 5 minutes, 33 seconds remaining in the third quarter to break his father's record of 25 that he set in the 1976 Class 1 championship win over Glasgow.

Porter finished with 35 rebounds and 29 points in Saturday's Class 1 championship game. Porter collected 49 rebounds in the final four, which broke his father's two-game total of 47.

Scott County Central celebrates Saturday after repeating as the Class 1 state champions at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo. The Braves beat Pilot Grove 96-47 in the title game. (KRISTIN EBERTS)

The victory gave Scott County Central (29-2) its state-record 14th championship and finished the season on a 14-game winning streak after losing to Notre Dame on Jan. 26.

Braves first-year coach Kenyon Wright found himself searching for words after the win, but with Porter to his right and senior Bobby Hatchett on his left, his huge smile was tough to contain.

Wright said he felt more pressure this year following in the footsteps of legendary coach Ronnie Cookson.

"Having coach Cook to bounce ideas off of is a big help," Wright said. "I couldn't ask for someone to be a bigger help. He's always there to help."

Hatchett put a scare into Wright and the orange-clad Braves fans in the first quarter after he dunked the ball and landed hard on his back. Hatchett stayed on the ground for a minute.

Scott County Central's Josh Boese, left and Dominique Porter, right, celebrate after the Braves defended their Class 1 state championship with their 96-47 victory over Pilot Grove. It was the 14th boys basketball state title in Scott County Central's history. (KRISTIN EBERTS)

"He said really quick, 'I got the breath knocked out of me,' and couldn't say anything else," Wright said.

He returned quickly after catching his breath but minimized his enjoyment of dunking at Mizzou Arena, saying it still counted for only two points. But he grinned after he downplayed the achievement.

Hatchett finished with 28 points on an efficient 12 of 17 from the floor and barely missed a double-double after finishing with nine assists. Most of them came on passes to Porter under the basket in their second consecutive state title game blowout victory.

"Last year was fun, but I'm more satisfied with this one," Hatchett said.

With the target on the Braves' back after last season's state title, Hatchett reminded his teammates during wind sprints that it would take hard work to make another trip to Columbia and win another state title.

Scott County Central's Lamarcus Steward goes in for a shot during Saturday's Class 1 state title game.

"I tell you what, Bobby does a wonderful job letting everyone know that hey, you got a target on your back," Wright said.

Pilot Grove (28-4) tied the game at 9-9 halfway through the first quarter, but Scott County Central went on a 14-0 run to put the Tigers away. Pilot Grove coach Rick Grunden noticed how the Braves switched gears once the Tigers tied the game and was impressed with the Braves' skill level.

"They'd probably beat anyone here this weekend and have a good shot to beat the Class 4 or 5 teams," Grunden said.

The Braves scored 79 points in the first three quarters and had a shot to break St. Francis Borgia's scoring record of 102 points in a final four game, but the mercy rule was applied after leading by more than 30 points, which kept the clock moving even when the ball was out of play for the entire fourth quarter.