Eagles claim title in OT

After a pair of down-to-the-wire games in the semifinals of the Scott-Mississippi Conference boys basketball tournament on Thursday, it was fitting Friday's final between No. 2 Scott County Central and No. 4 East Prairie would go to overtime.

When the final buzzer sounded it was East Prairie on top 67-62, as the Eagles continued their charmed season. East Prairie improved to 15-3 with its 10th consecutive win. It was the first conference tournament title for the Eagles since the 1985-86 season.

"It's been a while since we've had any conference recognition, team-wise," East Prairie coach Jason Irby said.

For more than three quarters it appeared that Scott County Central (11-7) would be able to bring the tournament title home, leading by 11 points heading into the fourth quarter. A furious comeback by the Eagles tied the score at 52 with three minutes remaining, and regulation ended with enough drama for an entire tournament.

"It had to be a good game to watch as a fan," Irby said.

Scott County grabbed the lead at 53-52 on its next possession, but East Prairie answered back with a Jared Carden basket to give the Eagles a 54-53 lead with 1:30 remaining. Carden's basket was East Prairie's first lead of the game.

The teams traded a free throw on their next two possessions, as East Prairie clung to a 55-54 with 45 seconds remaining. With a chance to add to its lead, East Prairie missed a pair of free throws with 30 seconds remaining.

Scott County then got its own chance at the line. Ray Rodgers made one of two free throws with 18.1 seconds remaining to tie the score, then Rodgers was able to come up with a steal and was fouled with 4.1 seconds left. Rodgers missed both free throws, though, as Scott County managed to hit just 4-of-13 free throws in the fourth quarter and 10-of-21 for the game.

"We would only have two losses right now if we hit 70 percent of our free throws instead of 40," Scott County coach Delane Beckwith said.

Scott County got the ball back off the second free-throw miss, but the Braves failed to get a good shot off an inbound play, and the teams went to overtime.

The teams exchanged baskets early in overtime, but a putback on an offensive rebound by East Prairie freshman Tony Jones gave the Eagles a 61-59 lead. East Prairie hit six-of-six free throws down the stretch to close it out.

Jones finished with 9 points, with 6 coming in overtime. Preston Shoemaker led the Eagles with 17 points, and Dez Johnson had 11.

Jeremy Johnson led Scott County with 12 points. Isaac Porter had 11 points, and Avis White added 10.

"East Prairie showed a lot of heart. We had them down 14 or 15; we just couldn't put them away," Beckwith said. "They outplayed us. They wanted it more."

In the junior varsity title game, No. 2 Scott City nipped No. 1 Kelly 54-52.

East Prairie 67, Scott County Central 62 OT

SCC 18 12 19 6 7 -- 67

East Prairie 11 11 16 17 12 -- 67

SCOTT COUNTY (62) -- Isaac Porter 11, Avis White 10, Jeremy Johnson 12, Josh Boley 9, Andrew Pullen 2, Ray Rodgers 7, Pershard Owens 4, Chris Monroe 2. FG 24, FT 10-21, F 20 (3-pointers: Boley 2, Porter 1, Johnson 1. Fouled out: White)

EAST PRAIRIE (67) -- Preston Shoemaker 17, Tony Jones 9, Anthony Jones 8, Jordan Sanders 8, Dez Johnson 11, Jared Carden 7, Mitchell Winchester 1, Ben Walters 4, James Wilson 2. FG 23, FT 18-27, F 19 (3-pointers: Shoemaker 1, Johnson 1, Sanders 1. Fouled out: none)