Poplar Bluff Showdown: NMCC returns after 15-year hiatus

For the first time in 15 years, the New Madrid County Central boys basketball team will spend the week after Christmas playing in Southeast Missouri.

The Eagles (6-1) are set to make their first appearance in the annual Poplar Bluff Showdown since the 2008-09 season and hope to continue to rebuild momentum going into the 36th installment of the tournament.

“I’m pleased with the way we’ve been playing and competing, especially as of late,” NMCC coach Dontre Jenkins said. “One of our starters had to sit out last game and we traveled over to Springfield and played against Jefferson City, who is a top 10 team in their class. Outside of Jadis (Jones), we had some guys step up, play some big minutes for us and help us get away with a two-point win. The way guys are stepping up, taking ownership and playing their roles is a big part of our success right now.”

While the Showdown’s organizers typically try to avoid putting a second local team in the tournament, they made an exception for the defending Class 3 state champions. After attending the tournament in recent years, Jenkins expressed his excitement for his players’ opportunity to play against opponents they normally wouldn’t see.

“You get to see some good teams with good players and you get to compete,” Jenkins said. “That’s the upside to it, you get to compete against teams that you don’t see all the time, teams you don’t see in the area. I’ve been coming over to the Showdown for the last two years, watching it as a spectator and last year I’m like, ‘Let’s see if we could try to get in this next year.’ “

NMCC seniors Jadis Jones and B.J. Williamson will likely have no problem fitting in with the field of talented players at the Showcase. Jones is averaging a double-double with 26.3 points and 13 rebounds per game while Williamson is just behind him with 22.5 points.

Having players like Jones and Williamson leading his team helps take some pressure off of Jenkins.

“Some of the stuff that I see, they see also, so they’re correcting the other guys before I even get a chance to do it,” Jenkins said. “Or if something’s going on that I don’t see, they step up as leaders and seniors and take care of it before it gets to me. That helps out a lot, especially with the coaching staff, when you’ve got good senior leaders on the team and the younger guys look up to them.”

While Jones and Williamson are the Eagles’ go-to players, Jenkins heaped praise on their fellow senior A.J. Ruff.

“He’s been playing for four years at the varsity level,” Jenkins said. “He’s our point guard. He takes care of the ball and handles the ball a lot. He’s the one, most of the time, that’s feeding the ball in for Jadis or trying to get B.J. open for a shot.

“A lot of it falls on him, the easy buckets that they get, because he’s created space for them or passing the ball to them to score.”

Ruff also adds a spark to the Eagles’ defense, coming up with 3.4 steals per contest. Combined with Jones (3.6) and Williamson (3.5), the three seniors average 10.5 steals while junior Ra’Mond Brooks adds in a team-high 2.6 blocks per game.

NMCC opens the tournament with a 5:30 p.m. matchup with Germantown (Tenn.) on Thursday at Poplar Bluff High School. Despite facing a team the Eagles haven’t seen before, Jenkins is confident in his players and their ability.

“I’ve watched film on them, and they look quick and athletic,” Jenkins said. “When you get to facing those city teams, all of them are going to be fast and athletic and want to get up and down the floor. You’ve got Jadis who is dominant in the paint and is showing this year that he can get it done on the perimeter also.

“I think that’s a big plus for us. I don’t think they have a match or an answer for Jadis.”