TIGERS AVENGE OT LOSS TO 'DOGS IN SIKESTON TOURNEY

SUM: Cape Central finds win column for first time with 67-55 victory.

By Bob Miller

SIKESTON -- Four points separated Notre Dame and Cape Central last Tuesday in an overtime game, but three seeds separated the rivals last night in the opening round of the Sikeston Tournament.

This time, the sixth-seeded Tigers (1-3) made sure an overtime period wasn't necessary, defeating No. 3 Notre Dame 67-55.

Central head coach Brett Reutzel -- who said last Tuesday that Notre Dame "was the better team tonight" -- was much more pleased with his team's performance seven days later.

"We didn't commit 26 turnovers like we did in the other game," Reutzel said. On Tuesday, the Tigers turned the ball over just 12 times.

Notre Dame (1-4), meanwhile, lost possession 19 times, which was largely due to a more aggressive approach by Central's defense. The tenacity resulted in 25 team fouls.

"We also played better defense," Reutzel said. "It's something I've been harping on a bit. I didn't think it was that good in the first half, but I thought it got better as the game went along. We put more pressure on the ball."

Central -- which took a 31-27 lead into halftime -- captured the lead for good with 1:31 left in the second quarter. The lead later grew to double digits on the Tigers' first possession of the fourth quarter when Wessell hit a 3-pointer to make it 49-39.

Wessell put the game out of reach midway through the fourth quarter when he drained his fifth 3-pointer of the game which gave the Tigers a 57-44 advantage. Central led by as many as 15.

The Tigers didn't let up once they obtained a somewhat comfortable lead. Central continued with fullcourt pressure and forced six turnovers in the final quarter.

Many of those turnovers resulted in easy baskets for Central.

"We didn't handle the pressure well," Janet said. "We looked tentative. We didn't get into our offense and we didn't move well. We just weren't sharp."

Central's inside-out duo of 6-foot-4 junior forward Ross Conner and 6-2 junior guard Eric Wessell combined for 36 points.

Conner -- who scored a game-high 20 points -- carried Central in the first half and Wessell -- who made all five of the Tigers' 3-pointers -- scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half.

"We're looking to get (Conner) the ball," Reutzel said. "He's certainly a major threat offensively and so is Eric. When (we) start kicking it down there we're forcing (the opposing defense) to collapse on him. Then Wessell sits out there and fills it up. That's the offensive scheme we're looking for."

For Notre Dame, senior forward Michael Wehner and senior Jason Rubel scored 16 and 15, respectively.

Central senior forwards Rob Wenschel and Kelly Illers each picked up their fourth foul early in the third quarter and both fouled eventually out. Still, Central extended its lead.

"I've thought all along that we've had some depth," Reutzel said. "We just have some inexperience."

The loss dropped Notre Dame into the losers' bracket where it will play No. 7 Charleston at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

"We're extremely disappointed. We felt we had an opportunity to get into the winners' bracket for the first time in a long time. We thought we were capable of reaching the finals. But to keep things in perspective, each year this is an always an extremely difficult tournament for us."

The Tigers will play No. 2 Blytheville, Ark. at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.