Kelly learned from previous encounter with Scott County Central's pressure

Kelly went to school on its earlier loss to Scott County Central to beat the reeling Braves 77-66 late Monday night in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

"We knew from playing them previously this year that they really pressured up front and, if we could get the ball to the middle of the floor and get it down low, we could punch it inside," Kelly coach Cory Johnson said.

Spencer Ayers was the only Kelly player in double figures with 35 points. The Hawks had lost 75-66 to the Braves at the Oran Invitational.

Scott County Central (3-4) suffered its third loss in four games. The Braves were 19 of 35 from the free-throw line for the game.

"We've got a lot of potential, but right now, we're our own worst enemy," Scott Central coach David Heeb said. "We gave them a lot of points. They worked for them, and we didn't.

"When our shots aren't falling, we've got to do the other things better like blocking out and playing defense."

Kelly 77, Scott County Central 66

Kelly 20 14 25 18 -- 77

Scott Co. Central 9 20 17 20 -- 66

KELLY (77) -- Stephen Strobel 6, Brandon Ayers 7, Jordan Felter 6, Dallas Tew 8, Thomas DeBrock 4, Zach Haman 2, Spencer Ayers 35, Jacob Glastetter 9. FG 32, FT 10-20, F 23. (3-pointers: B. Ayers 1. Fouled out: none).

SCOTT CENTRAL (66) -- D.D. Gillespie 13, Toby Heeb 4, Mark Freed 6, Josh Chamberlain 4, Drew Thomas 11, Caleb Johnson 9, Pershard Owens 19. FG 19, FT 19-35. F 20. (3-pointers: Heeb 1, Freed 1, Johnson 1). Fouled out: Chamberlain).