Game with a personal touch

Michael Porter is not the kind of person whose wrath you want directed at you on the basketball court.

The personable Sikeston senior becomes a different person when nets and hoops and winning and losing are involved.

"Michael is tough; he's as tough as nails," Scott County Central coach Ronnie Cookson said. "I bet he's going to be as high as a kite for this ballgame."

This ballgame is Sikeston vs. Scott County Central on Wednesday night at the Show Me Center, when Porter gets a chance to play in front of the largest crowd that will watch him play high school ball, against the school he nearly attended, the school where he nearly played for his father.

"I always wanted to play Scott Central since my freshman year to kind of get that revenge," Porter said Sunday before practice at Sikeston Fieldhouse, "but as time went on, it really didn't matter. I guess it's a personal thing for me, but I'm going to take it like any other game."

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.comScott County Central's Otto Porter scoops up a loose ball during a game in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament. Porter, the cousin of Sikeston's Michael Porter, helped the Braves to the tournament title.

Before Porter's freshman year of high school, his father, Melvin, was not rehired as Scott County Central's coach. In Melvin Porter's three seasons, the Braves were 44-38, including a 20-9 campaign in his final year, 2004-05. He led the team to two district championships, but the Braves lost both times to final four-bound Bell City. And Bell City coach David Heeb was hired to replace Porter at Scott County Central.

"We were this close to going to Tennessee," Michael Porter said, "and we just ended up coming down the road, and I'm glad we did."

His career at Sikeston has included one trip to the final four -- a Class 4 state runner-up finish in 2006 -- and two district championship losses to final four-bound Notre Dame. Porter, now listed at 6 feet, 6 inches tall, has been an all-state player three times.

But Sikeston and Scott County Central had not crossed paths since 1971, and it didn't seem likely this year until Oran superintendent Mitch Wood led the way in weeks of discussions that produced the showdown as part of a doubleheader, which sold out 6,844 tickets for the Show Me Center.

Sikeston, after losing Friday at Poplar Bluff, is 14-3 heading into tonight's game with Perryville. The Bulldogs won the SEMO Conference tournament and had the top local finish in the Poplar Bluff Showdown by winning the consolation bracket. They were ranked No. 6 in Class 4 last week before the Poplar Bluff loss.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.comScott County Central's Otto Porter scoops up the ball and drives away from Delta's Cody Helderman, left, and Shelby Kight in the first quarter of their first-round game in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Friday at the Show Me Center.

Scott County Central (17-1) has rolled to tournament titles in the Oran Invitational, the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament and the Scott-Miss Conference tourney. The Braves were ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 1.

"Going against family and friends is a lot more fun than going against any other team," Porter said. "I try to take it like any other game: Go serious, go hard and try to win."

But it won't be any other game.

It will fill Southeast Missouri State's Show Me Center, which the university's team hasn't done since 2000. "I knew it was going to get crazy," Porter said. "I'll know what it's like to play in college, I guess."

It will carry 38 years of bragging rights.

It will bring Michael Porter against the school where his dad played and starred as part of a dynasty that produced 12 state championships in 20 years from the 1970s to the 1990s. The Scott County Central record book is filled with references to Porters -- Melvin and his brothers Otto and Jerry are on various career record lists. Melvin and Otto were multiple all-state selections.

"It's a place where my family is known to grow up playing ball, but it's not a place where I learned it," Michael said. "I learned ball growing up in Cape; I just went to Scott Central for three years and then came to Sikeston."

It will bring Michael Porter against the school where he almost played for his father, as his older brothers Isaac and Josh did.

"He wants me to win this one bad," Michael Porter said of his father, "but I told him it takes five, it doesn't take one."

It is not as personal as it once was.

"I have nothing against any of the friends or family there," Michael said, "It wasn't their fault what happened."

Cousin Otto

And among the friends and family Michael will play against is a 6-foot-7 gangly sophomore named Otto Porter, Michael's cousin. They have squared off before, mostly in five-on-five settings, Michael said.

Who gets the better of it?

"I'll let him answer that one for you," Michael said.

"It's a tie sometimes," Otto said Friday night after Scott County Central romped New Madrid County Central, "but he usually gets me."

Michael Porter already has the build for the college level and is being recruited now by more than a dozen schools, with Missouri State and Southeast Missouri State among those on the list.

Otto Porter is a rail-thin college prospect with a good shooting touch and a knack for getting position to block shots and grab rebounds.

The two questions surrounding Wednesday's game: Can Sikeston handle Scott County Central's pressure defense and fast pace? Once the Bulldogs answer that, can Scott County Central stop Michael Porter (and Eli Jackson and Cal Lane)?

The Braves tuned up Friday with a 94-59 win against SEMO Conference tourney runner-up New Madrid that included holding 6-5 junior Kony Ealy to 10 points. But with the ice storm and lack of practices, it wasn't a game either team will cherish.

"Michael isn't that physical," Otto said when reflecting on his battle with Ealy, "but he plays a lot faster and smarter on the offensive end."

Said Michael: "Otto can shoot a lot better than I can, but as far as physical play and post play, I think I can handle that.

"I'm happy for him," Michael added. "He's playing good ball. He'll be up on the same level stage with me, so it will be a good experience for him, too."

Michael Porter, intense on the court, admits Wednesday will present a challenge ... in keeping a straight face.

"Oh no, I've got to smile. I'm going to be joking with all of them," he said. "When they shoot free throws, I'm going to be talking to them and making them as nervous as I can."

Otto Porter isn't the only member of the Braves that Michael knows well. Drew Thomas and Bobby Hatchett were among those who played summer ball over the years on teams with Michael and his younger brother, Corey, that were coached by Melvin Porter.

"They've grown up with me and my little brother playing everywhere," Michael said. "If they beat us, part of it is because of us and because of my dad. He taught me the game, and he's forgot more than I'll probably know about the game."