Poplar Bluff to host Cape Central in Friday night district, conference showdown

For the Cape Central Tigers, the tale of the tape this season has been how they’ve responded to unfortunate circumstances and elevated themselves to new heights.

Beginning the year with a slew of injuries and a healthy heap of losses in the first few weeks of the season, the Tigers have adjusted time after time and continue to climb higher.

Now, facing off with the Poplar Bluff Mules, Cape Central will have an opportunity to avenge an earlier loss in the SEMO Conference Tournament third-place game, traveling south for a Friday night showdown among two dark horse conference contenders.

Cape Central and Poplar Bluff’s Dec. 8 battle resulted in a 64-60 Poplar Bluff win, giving the Mules rights to a third-place title after a tough loss to Sikeston the night before.

Poplar Bluff, 11-7 on the year, has had its ups and downs but has proven to be a formidable foe in a stacked SEMO Conference this season.

Placing third in the conference tournament in early December, the Mules jumped out to 1-0 in league play with a 30-point win over Kennett on Tuesday.

In that win, four Mules finished in double-digit as Isaiah Nevel scored 16 points, followed by Darius Graham’s 14, Brendan Durden’s 12 and Mar'Lon Hickman-Robertson’s 11.

They’ll look to carry that balanced scoring effort into their duel with the Tigers.

Those Mules have an opportunity to keep their unbeaten run alive with a home bout against Cape Central, looking to cling to their earlier victory and stay in the conference race.

Meanwhile, for the Central Tigers, it’s been a phenomenal stretch late as they’ve lost just once in their past nine games since dropping the third-place game against Poplar Bluff.

Largely in thanks to the return of Marquel Murray, Matayo Rivers and Max Vogel, those three Ms pushed the Tigers to a Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament title last month and have put Cape Central in a contending position.

That being said, last Friday’s loss to Jackson with TySeanDre’ Edwards sidelined bodes poorly for Cape Central’s regular season title outlook.

Dropping its first league game of the year to fall to 2-1 in the SEMO Conference, Central still largely controls its destiny, but it’ll start back up when the Tigers but horns with Poplar Bluff.

In a matchup of Class 5 District 1 contenders, Cape Central will hit the road and look to unseat Poplar Bluff and gain some district favor in Friday night’s clash.

With both teams in a critical spot, the district and conference clash is certain to produce some electricity and resolve some unanswered questions about both teams.