Son of ex-Southeast star helps Braves to victory

~ Otto Porter once again roamed the floors of the Show Me Center.

The familiar name of Otto Porter echoed throughout the home gym of the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team Wednesday.

This Porter, however, was the son and namesake of the former sharp-shooting Southeast basketball star Otto Porter.

Porter's offspring scored 14 points during Scott County Central's 94-27 victory over Chaffee during the first round of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament as veteran coach Ronnie Cookson guided him from the sideline at the Show Me Center.

The freshman is following in his father's footsteps by playing his high school basketball under Cookson, who came out of retirement last season at Scott County Central.

Chaffee's Adam Horton, left, grabbed a rebound as Scott County Central's Charles Freed lunged for it Wednesday, December 26, 2007, at the Show Me Center. (Kit Doyle)

Porter's efforts contributed to the fourth-seeded Braves' 94-27 victory over Chaffee on Wednesday at the Show Me Center.

Cookson, however, is not ready to compare the father and son just yet.

"He's still got a long way to go," Cookson said. "He's just a freshman. I brought him up and played him, and the reason I did is because we're sick and injured and hurt. It's not that he's so good."

Not that he's so bad either.

Cookson said that the 6-foot-2 and skinny-as-a-rail Porter, who has spent time playing on both the varsity and junior varsity teams this season, will continue to see time with the upperclassmen as long as the coach feels he is needed to win games.

For now. though, the Braves will continue to be led by seniors Caleb Johnson and D.D. Gillespie while Porter and others mature and junior Drew Thomas' playing time is limited by a sprained ankle. The senior duo scored 17 of Scott County Central's first 19 points and combined for 39 total.

Although they led from start to finish, Scott County Central was most impressive in the second quarter, reeling off 11- and 15-point runs during the period.

Chaffee coach Tyson Moyers was at a loss when it came to explaining his team's performance.

"I just don't think we played well today," he said. "I don't know that I have a reason other than the fact that they're really good, and I don't think we were mentally prepared to play."

Cookson said he expected Chaffee (4-3) to have a successful season and was surprised by his team's easy victory.

"They just didn't seem like they ever did get unwound, and it may be because we kept them from getting started," he said.

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL 94, CHAFFEE 27

CHAFFEE 6 8 5 8 -- 27

SCC 23 32 22 17 -- 94

CHAFFEE (27) -- Taimen Taylor 2, Jerod Steger 6, Gabe Seabaugh 3, Adam Horton 6, Andy Hendrix 10. FG 12, FT 3-3, F 10 (3-pointers: Horton 2. Fouled out: none)

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL (94) -- D.D. Gillespie 19, Toby Heeb 5, Bobby Hatchett 10, Robert Jones 5, Desmin Williams 7, Drew Thomas 4, Caleb Johnson 20, Randy Timmons 4, Jac?Quan Cowley 3, Otto Porter 14, Rashaad Brown 3. FG 41, FT 9-12, F 11 (3-pointers: Heeb 1, Jones 1, Brown 1. Fouled out: none.)