Rookie helps doctors operate for fifth straight win in series

~ Rothert scored 13 points to lead the winners in the 13th annual event.

The doctors got the best of the lawyers ... again.

The doctors took home the traveling trophy for the fifth straight year on Saturday after cruising to a 56-42 victory in the 13th annual Doctors vs. Lawyers Basketball Showdown at Central High School.

The doctors have won 11 of the 13 contests.

"The main difference is we practice a lot," said showdown rookie Steve Rothert, who was honored as the doctors' most valuable player after the game. "They have some good players, but I think we're in a little better shape."

Rothert, a 38-year-old emergency room physician at Saint Francis Medical Center, played basketball for the U.S. Military Academy for four years from 1986 to 1990. He moved to Cape Girardeau in 2005.

He led his team with 13 points.

"My goal was to be able to walk away from the game [healthy] and have fun," Rothert said. "It was a lot of fun.

"This has been a good opportunity to get in really good shape since after Christmas."

The doctors gained a 21-12 halftime advantage but could never completely shake the lawyers, who played nearly even with the doctors in the second half.

Ian Page scored 13 points to earn the MVP award for the lawyers, and Jacob Zimmerman netted 11.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Psychological Rehabilitation Program clubhouse at the Community Counseling Center in Cape. A postgame party, which included a silent auction, took place at Gatherings Cafe in the Marquette Tower in Cape.

DOCTORS 56, LAWYERS 42

Lawyers 12 30 -- 42

Doctors 21 35 -- 56

LAWYERS (42) -- Andy O'Brien 3, Tim Inman 4, Brent Nelson 2, Jacob Zimmerman 11, Steve Wilson 5, Ian Page 13, Jason Lloyd 4. FG 14, FT 9-20, F 16 (3-pointers: Zimmerman 2, Page 1. Fouled out: none)

DOCTORS (56) -- Steve Rothert 13, Aaron Andrews 6, Randy Brown 6, Vishnu Subramani 5, Kory Thoma 3, Bill Bradley 3, Chris Bauer 9, Joe McAdams 2, Steve Brennan 4, Rob Daughtery 2. FG 20, FT 7-14, F 18 (3-pointers: Andrews 2, Thoma 1, Bauer 1. Fouled out: Subramani)