Scott County Central boys advance to Class 1 state championship

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Stanberry boys basketball team knew that when it faced Scott County Central in a Class 1 state semifinal Thursday it would have to combat the up-tempo style and pressure defense that the Braves traditionally use.

The Bulldogs hadn't faced a team this season that played like SCC all season, according to Stanberry coach Nick Groomer, and it showed early in the game.

SCC was able to capitalize in the first half, and after weathering a comeback by Stanberry (26-2), the Braves pulled out a 69-63 win at Mizzou Arena to advance to the Class 1 state championship game.

"We just, we couldn't replicate it in practice," Groomer said. "And we talked and talked about going slow and changing the style of the game, and I thought we did that the second half. We talked about, 'They're going to be all over you. They're going to be anticipating every pass and jumping every pass.' We tried and tried. We tried five-on-eight and we still couldn't replicate what they could do."

The Braves' were able to use that inexperience to their advantage early in the game and led by as many as 20 points with 2 minutes, 23 seconds left before halftime before taking a 40-21 lead into the break.

Senior guard LaRandis Banks and sophomore guard Jeffery Porter combined for 27 of the Braves' first-half points and were 10 of 16 from the field.

"I was confident, and I had to go out and play if we wanted to win," Porter said. "I had to go out and do things that I normally do. I've been slacking a few games, but I just tried to go out and play hard."

Stanberry didn't allow SCC's pressure to become as much of a problem in the final 16 minutes of the game and didn't wear down like many teams do against the Braves.

"We just talked about coming out and not giving up," Groomer said. "We had a tale of two halves. We could've just stayed in the locker room and let them win or come out and fight and chip away, and they did exactly what I asked."

The Bulldogs outscored SCC 20-11 in the third quarter. Stanberry cut the lead to eight with 26 seconds left in the third quarter, but Porter made a jumper at the buzzer to extend the Braves lead to 51-41 entering the fourth.

"I just told everybody to keep their head up," Banks said. "I knew we'd be in a good position to win the game."

The Bulldogs continued to hang around throughout the fourth quarter.

Stanberry trailed by 11 points with 1:38 left in the game when sophomore Daniel Hailey, who scored 18 points in the second half, knocked down a 3 to cut it to 62-54.

The Braves -- who never trailed in the game -- were able to sink five of their six free throws in the final minute to keep the Bulldogs at bay.

Porter, who played all 32 minutes, finished with 22 points, three assists and two steals. Banks played 31 minutes and led the Braves with 26 points.

Hailey scored a game-high 30 points for Stanberry and was 3 of 3 from behind the arc. Senior Ryan Jensen chipped in 16 on 8-of-9 shooting.

"They did a better job handling our press I think, and they did a good job attacking the zone, so that's why we kind of switched to man, really trying to get some pressure," SCC coach Frank Staple said. "They hung around, and any team that makes it here is tough. They never gave up.

"Fortunately we were just able to keep pushing, kind of keep that cushion and hit some shots at the end there. Like I told the boys, I don't care if we won by half a point -- you win, you advance, so we're excited to play on Saturday."

The Braves (25-5) advanced to face Meadville in the title game at 12:50 p.m. Saturday at Mizzou Arena. SCC will try for its 17th state title, and sixth in seven years.

Meadville (25-3) defeated Macks Creek 50-41 in a semifinal to secure its spot in the title game.

SCC 21 19 11 18 -- 69

Stanberry 14 7 20 22 -- 63

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRL (69) -- LaRandis Banks 26, Jeffery Porter 22, Cameron Blissett 9, Cameron Blissett 1, Matthew Blissett 2, Juwan Owens 5, Javonta Daniel 4. FG 25, FT 15-21, F 12. (3-pointers: Banks 2, Porter 2. Fouled out: none)

STANBERRY (63) -- Alex McQuinn 4, Isaac Heddinger 2, Nathan Luke 8, Ryan Jensen 16, Daniel Hailey 30, Cory Luke 3. FG 26, FT 6-11, F 17. (3-pointers: McQuinn 1, Hailey 3, C. Luke 1. Fouled out: none)