Scott County Central boys basketball team thumps Risco 108-41 in Class 1 sectional

DEXTER, Mo. -- Scott County Central senior Stewart Johnson wanted to make up for lost time Tuesday.

The guard was forced to experience the Braves' run to the Class 1 state title from the bench last year after missing the second half of the season.

"I wouldn't say revenge, but I just want to come back this year with a vengeance," said Johnson, who was ruled ineligible after Christmas last season. "Let everybody know I ain't lost anything, been working hard over the summer. I still got it."

Johnson scored a game-high 27 points to lead the Braves into the state quarterfinal round with their 108-41 victory over Risco.

"Stewart just did a good job of seeing the floor and finding the open man and seeing his opportunities where he could get to the hole and get the bucket," SCC coach Kenyon Wright said. "He finishes well around the basket most of the time."

Scott County Central's Lawrence Woodson shoots over Risco's Hunter Knight during the first quarter of the Class 1 sectional game Tuesday in Dexter, Mo. The two-time defending state champion Braves won 108-41. (Fred Lynch)

The Braves (26-2) entered Tuesday's game with their star forward at less than 100 percent. Otto Porter battled sickness, and Johnson said he knew he needed to help out his teammate.

"I just felt like I had to step up," said Johnson, who added seven assists. "I knew he wasn't feeling too well. He was out of breath trying to get over his sickness. So I just wanted to come out aggressive and get the other guys aggressive."

Johnson did a little of everything in the first half. He knocked down seven of his eight attempts from the field. He ran the point. He dished the ball to open teammates. He handled any pressure Risco tried applying.

"He knows he's got to get out there and give his full effort if he wants to have a chance to win the state tournament," Wright said about Johnson.

Johnson finished with 19 points in the first half, including three baskets from behind the arc.

Scott County Central's Lamarcus Steward shoots against Risco's Hunter Knight as Dominique Porter looks on during the first quarter of the Class 1 sectional game Tuesday in Dexter, Mo. The Braves advanced to the quarterfinals with a 108-41 victory. (Fred Lynch)

"I think he was getting a little more opportunity tonight," Wright said. "He had a little bit more focus on 'I've got to put the ball in the basket.' Bubba may not be around there to get it because they're probably going to put three guys on him blocking him out. Stewart did a good job of taking advantage and I was proud of him."

Porter scored 11 points in the first half but he said he couldn't get into the flow of the contest. That changed in the third quarter when he scored 10 points in a span of 2 minutes, 23 seconds.

"I was starting to feel a little bit of a rhythm there after I was able to catch my breath," he said.

Porter exited the game with 2:45 left in the third quarter. He said the early exit was because of his sickness, but he still finished with 21 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks.

"Basically when I got sick, I had a hard time breathing," Porter said. "I'm starting to get better. It was kind of tough but coach just told me to stick it out and just try to get back in shape."

Scott County Central's Otto Porter, center, watches the Class 1 sectional game against Risco from the bench during the third quarter after finishing his night with 21 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks.

The Braves established the tempo from the start. They scored the first nine points and led 31-11 after the opening quarter. They continued to pump in points before halftime, settling for a 66-19 lead at the break.

"We don't do very well when we slow it down," Risco coach Brandon Blankenship said. "They're obviously better at it than we are, so we just felt like we wouldn't even got shots if we did that. I felt like we got some decent looks in the first half. We missed a ton of 3s, outside shots and anything close to the basket Otto was swatting. We were intentionally looking for outside shots and hoping we were hot."

Risco hit 21 percent (7 of 34) of its shots in the first half while SCC connected on 78 percent (28 of 36).

The Braves didn't cool down in the third quarter, hitting 65 percent (13 of 20) from the field.

Risco ended up shooting 24 percent (15 of 62) from the field, including 14 percent (3 of 21) on 3s.

Scott County Central's Bryan Freed looks to pass as Risco's Chris Pavy defends during the third quarter of the Class 1 sectional game Tuesday, March 8, 2011 in Dexter, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

"We were just going to have to rely on hitting a ton of outside shots, and we didn't do it," Blankenship said. "They get you worn out pretty good. We're in pretty good shape, but we're not in as good of shape as they are."

The Braves advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal against Chadwick, a 44-41 winner over South Iron. SCC and Chadwick (20-6) are scheduled to tip at 1 p.m. at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

SCC 31 35 29 13 -- 108

Risco 11 8 8 14 -- 41

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL (108) -- Stewart Johnson 27, Trey Johnson 4, Reggie Woodson 13, Lamarcus Steward 17, Otto Porter 21, Dominique Porter 14, Bryan Freed 5, Steven Minner 2, Antonio Johnson 3, Calvin Porter 2. FG 46, FT 10-16, F 10. (3-pointer: S. Johnson 3, Steward 1, Freed 1, Johnson 1. Fouled out: none)

Scott County Central coach Kenyon Wright talks to his players during the first quarter of the Class 1 sectional game against Risco on Tuesday in Dexter, Mo.

RISCO (41) -- Luke Bixler 6, Christopher Pavy 8, Austin White 8, Jordan Pavy 5, Jeremy Fowler 8, Eric Bennett 2, Matt Cummins 2, Brandon Bixler 2. FG 15, FT 8-12, F 10. (3-pointers: White 1, Fowler 2. Fouled out: none)