LADY TIGERS GAIN REVENGE, UPEND POPLAR BLUFF 48-42

Cape Central handled the pressure.

It handled the adversity.

And it handled the fourth-ranked team in Class 4A.

The Lady Tigers picked up a huge win Thursday night, upsetting No. 4 Poplar Bluff 48-42 just two weeks after losing to the Lady Mules by 14 points in the championship game of the HealthSouth Classic.

"It was awesome," said Cape Central forward Katie Dougherty, who had team-high totals of 16 points and 11 rebounds. "We were all pumped. (This win) keeps us up and we can head into districts knowing we can beat them."

Central (10-2) held Poplar Bluff (10-2) to just 31 percent from the field, while hitting 50 percent of its own shots.

"We didn't shoot the ball real well, but Cape Central's defense had a lot to do with that," said Poplar Bluff coach Kirk Chronister. "They put a lot of pressure on us."

"We played good defense and had a hand in their face when they would shoot," Dougherty said. "We kept them cold."

Cape Central coach Darrick Smith agreed.

"I thought we played a lot better defense," Smith said. "And we got the ball inside. And we played from start to finish, whereas we played in spurts the first game."

Screams of delight could be heard outside of Central's locker room following the game.

"I'm so proud of the girls," Smith said. "We struggle so hard to meet our expectations and to compete with the Bluffs and the Jacksons. This is just one game, but it'll be a good memory for them."

Cape Central, which led 22-16 at halftime and held a lead as large as eight points, never trailed in the game until Poplar Bluff's Sara Lawson hit the first of two free throws with 6:27 left in the game to give the Lady Mules a 34-33 lead.

But Dougherty answered on the next possession and Central, despite missing five of its eight fourth-quarter free throws including three front ends of one-and-ones never trailed thereafter.

Dougherty and Cape Central sophomore Sarah Hyslop scored 12 of the Lady Tigers' 17 points in the fourth quarter. Hyslop ended up with 11 points off the bench.

Hyslop pretty much put the game away with 1:17 remaining when she put back an offensive rebound to make the score 42-36. The Lady Mules cut the lead to one possession when Likicia Hawes hit a three from just left of the key with :20 left.

But Dougherty put the game out of reach when she rebounded a missed free throw by Dionna Webb, put it back and was fouled. She made the free throw and put Central up 46-39 with :15.2 remaining.

Poplar Bluff trailed 31-25 with 3:21 left in the third quarter, but Smith rested several of his starters and the Lady Mules were able to take the lead early in the fourth.

"They got the lead," Smith said. "But (our bench) kept it close. They understood their role and they played well. We had to get some breathers at that point. And we've had that happen before (losing the lead late), but we didn't blink an eye. They've recovered from these runs all year long and that's a great asset to have on your basketball team."

Another difference between the first meeting between the two teams, was that Central center Heather Jenkins was available Thursday night.

Jenkins scored just six points, but she pulled down 10 rebounds.

"Having two players inside helps," Smith said.

"We had our center back for this game," said Dougherty. "Heather helped us a lot on the boards and she is a big part of our team."

Unlike the first game which was more of a full-court battle, Central was able to control the pace and keep it a half-court game.

"We went out there and tried to control the tempo," said Dougherty. "We didn't want to get in their game."