Jackson cruises past Central in season opener in tourney

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau Central High School's first boys' basketball game of the season must have seemed all too familiar to last year.

The Tigers, trying to bounce back from a 4-21 record in their first season under coach Derek McCord, were throttled 64-50 by Jackson Tuesday night in the opening round of the Farmington Tournament.

Jackson, also playing its season opener, advances to Friday's final round of bracket play in the unique tournament that also features pool play until the final rounds. The Indians will play Poplar Bluff at 7:30 p.m. The Mules routed Riverview Gardens 81-54 Tuesday.

Central will play Riverview Gardens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in a consolation game.

The Indians broke on top by a big margin early and led 41-21 at halftime. The Tigers spent the second half playing catchup and they pulled to within eight points in the fourth quarter, but Jackson sealed the victory down the stretch.

"They came out and shot the ball well and we got our heads down. You can't have that," McCord said. "They hit their first four 3s, and we dug ourselves too big a hole in the first half."

Tyler McNeely led the Indians with 19 points and Tyler Boyd added 13.

For Central, 6-foot-8 sophomore transfer Scott Chestnutt had a strong debut with 18 points, 12 coming in the second half. Also in double figures were Jake Knepp (12) and Ryan Delph (11).

"It took us a whole half to realize we had to get the ball to Scott," McCord said. "We didn't get him the ball in the first half. When we got it to him in the second half, he came up big."