Scott County Central thumps Bell City 80-58 in Class 1 sectional

POPLAR BLUFF -- The frustration has finally ended for Scott County Central.

After losing to rival Bell City in a Class 1 sectional game for four straight years, the Braves finally ended the Cubs' domination in the fifth meeting, beating them 80-58 on Tuesday night at Poplar Bluff High School.

"I'm so used to losing to them, I don't know what to think when we win," Scott County's Drew Thomas said.

Thomas, a 6-foot junior, was a big reason the Braves were finally able to end their drought against Bell City. He netted a team-high 18 points, including five of the Braves' first six points of the contest to give Scott County the early momentum that it would never lose.

The Braves (26-2) also received strong performances from Caleb Johnson with 16 points, Bobby Hatchett with 14 and freshman Otto Porter, who added 12.

"It's a great feeling," Thomas said. "No one likes to lose. For us to win this game after four years, it's good. For us to beat a great team like Bell City, it's an honor."

Thomas, who has received some recruitment interest from Southeast Missouri State and some other smaller colleges, has Braves basketball in his blood. His father along with six uncles have played for the Braves.

"My whole family except my mom," he said, discussing his relatives who wore black and orange, adding that they were all on successful Braves' squads and it feels nice for him to finally advance past the sectional round of the state playoffs.

Thomas said he just tried to enter the contest less hyped and more serious.

Thomas led the Braves on a 6-0 run in the first 1 minute, 9 seconds of the contest by nailing a jump shot and sinking a 3-pointer.

"Drew played great," said Scott County senior D.D. Gillespie, who added 10 points. "Drew always plays good. He hit a lot of open jumpers and he played great defense. When he gets the ball, he just knocks it down. He comes in and works hard every day. He's progressing."

The Braves continued to build their lead and entered the second quarter with an 11-point advantage at 21-10.

Scott County increased its advantage to 32-16 with 4:16 remaining in the second quarter. During that stretch, Thomas scored five, including another 3-pointer.

The Braves entered halftime with a 40-22 lead. They held Cubs' top scorer Nick Niemczyk to nine in the first half and 18 in the game. Niemczyk was averaging about 30 points per game and had been held under 20 points only twice this season before Tuesday.

Thomas said the key to victory was limiting Niemczyk.

"We knew Nick was going to shoot a thousand times so we just knew we needed to keep him contained, keep him to making a hundred out of a thousand," Thomas said, laughing. "Everybody guarded him. We played a 2-3 zone. When he was in your area, you guard him and do not try to deny the ball from him."

Gillespie added: "In the beginning, he [Niemczyk] took a lot of deep shots and we tried to get him off early and get him off his game. And we kind of did."

Porter had a strong first half for the Braves with eight points.

Cubs coach Brian Brandtner said Porter was a difference maker this game from the last time the two teams met in November when the Cubs won by three points.

"He was their extra weapon," Brandtner said. "I don't think he missed a shot tonight. He's taller than anyone who matches up with him, and he was hitting those turnaround 12-footers all night long."

The Braves kept control the entire second half, never allowing the Cubs (25-4) within 12 points.

Scott County led 59-38 after three quarters and cruised to a 22-point win as the Braves advance to Saturday's state quarterfinal in West Plains.

Thomas said that Braves coach Ronnie Cookson told his players after the game that this is just one win and they have to take it one game at a time.

"It's a good feeling that we finally beat them but we've got three more to go," Thomas said. "We'll celebrate after we get back from Columbia."

@z_agate_HSbasketball_linescore:Scott County Central 80, Bell City 58

SCC 21 19 19 21 -- 80

Bell City 10 12 16 20 -- 58

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:Scott County Central (80) -- Ethan Watkins 21, Nick Niemczyk 18, Melvin Johnson 3, Phillip Gross 3, Ronnie Gross 2, Austin Bush 9, John Arnold 2. FG 20, FT 5-6, F 14 (3-pointers: Watkins 7, Bush 3, Niemczyk 2, Johnson 1. Fouled out: P. Gross)

Bell City (58) -- D.D. Gillespie 10, Bobby Hatchett 14, Mark Freed 4, Drew Thomas 18, Caleb Johnson 16, Randy Timmons 6, Otto Porter 12. FG 32, FT 13-21, F 10. (3-pointers: Thomas 2, Gillespie 1. Fouled out: none)