Final four notebook: Scott County Central sends its 'Showboat' out with a win

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Along with the winning tradition the Braves have had year after year, assistant coach Andrew Pullen has remained Scott County Central's other constant for the storied program over the last decade.

"He started helping not too long after he graduated, and he means everything to this program," Staple said about Pullen. "Without him, there is no Scott County Central basketball right now. I won't even call him a friend; I'll call him my brother. We love the 'Boat.' That's what we call him, 'Showboat,' or 'Boat.' He does everything from getting film to being a mentor, I mean, he deserves all the credit and recognition because like I said, we wouldn't be here without him."

The former SCC player joined David Heeb in his first season with the Braves in 2005. After a few seasons with Heeb, former SCC coach Ronnie Cookson took over and kept Pullen on his coaching staff.

"The first person that called me once Heeb left was Coach Cookson," Pullen said. "He said, 'Well Boat, I see you've done a pretty good job with the boys, so would you mind coming to help me?'

"Ten years later, I'm still here."

After 10 seasons as a volunteer assistant with the Braves, Pullen is moving on to start his own business.

"It's been so special because I graduated from Scott Central, and I just love the school," Pullen said. "I just love being around the atmosphere and our fans, cheerleaders, teachers and everything. You can't beat Scott County Central."

As a player and coach, Pullen has been a part of six SCC state titles and one third-place finish.

"I say I'm probably like the common effect," Pullen said. "I'm the intermediate between the coaches and the players, I'm right there in the middle. I'm right there on both sides just to let everybody know, 'Hey, it's time to go.'"

SCC coach Frank Staple said Pullen will be hard to replace.

"It's going to hurt. It's going to hurt because you're losing a family member," Staple said. "For what he's done and what he's meant to this program, he deserves all the credit."

Pullen announced the end of his coaching career with the Braves at the beginning of the season and said he asked his players for one final state championship.

"That's what I dreamed of," Pullen said. "This is exactly what I had dreamed of. I told the boys this summer, 'This will be my last ride and let's finish it off with a state championship.' They responded and wanted to get it, so we got it done."

Jump to Class 2

SCC knew its jump to Class 2 would be a hard transition, which made it work that much harder this past offseason.

"It's always hard, but I mean, this year I think the whole season we just had to grind it out," SCC coach Frank Staple said. "We basically had seven guys this year, and it's just a testament to them for hanging in there through all the running, getting yelled at and all that. It was a tough road from districts on, but whether you win by one or 40, good teams find a way to win, and I think we are a really good team."

For SCC junior Jeffery Porter, this year's 53-48 state victory over Mid-Buchanan was better than his first one a season ago.

"It's a lot sweeter than the first one," Porter said. "We worked a lot harder this year than we did last year in the gym, in practice and even outside of it doing whatever we could to make ourselves better."

The Braves have a state-record 18 titles, but only two have came in Class 2. The other 16 have been won in Class 1.

"It feels good. It was well deserved," senior Tre Moore said. "We worked hard this year, harder than I've ever worked in the game of basketball. Through all the sweat and hard work, it's nice to go out on top."

Looking ahead

Scott County Central's Jeffery Porter drives around Mid-Buchanan's Jacob Meikel in the third quarter during the Class 2 championship Saturday, March 14, 2015 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri. (Glenn Landberg)

The Braves will lose five seniors to graduation, including four of their starting five.

Porter and sophomore Tyus Banks will be the only two returning players who saw consistent playing time for the Braves this season.

Porter said despite having to play without Moore, Javonta Daniel, Drake Kesler and Matthew Blissett, who he's been playing with for the past three seasons, he was happy to send them off with one more state title.

"We kind of wanted to close it out for our seniors," Porter said. "We were trying to kind of control the game, and I think we did so we could end it right for them. It means a lot to lose them, especially because I've been with them so long. It's going to be hard and with the team I'm used to playing with. I'm just happy to send them out on a good note."