TIGERS CAPTURE 1ST VICTORY OVER WINLESS PIRATES

When the boys basketball teams from Cape Girardeau Central and Perryville high schools squared off Monday night, it was certain that one of the squads would end a game totally fulfilled for the first time all season.

Color the Tigers happy after their 60-52 victory at the Tiger Fieldhouse. Central improved to 1-4 while Perryville fell to 0-3.

Asked how it felt for his team to finally break into the win column, Central coach Brett Reutzel said with a smile, "I'm real happy about that, but we're still a long way from where we need to be."

The Tigers never trailed, but the Pirates hung close enough all night that Central could never feel totally comfortable.

"I saw them play Farmington in their first game and I think they've improved since then," Reutzel said. "They got after us defensively."

But the Pirates haven't improved enough to suit coach Jeff Steffens.

"We're improving little by little, but we haven't put it together yet," he said. "They (Central) were more physical than we were. We didn't box out very well. Take away second-chance points and we have a chance to win."

Central got a big game from Jonathan Ayers, a 6-foot-3 junior forward who scored a career-high 21 points and also earned praise from Reutzel for his defensive work.

"He had a very good game," said Reutzel. "He worked hard defensively and I'm very proud of him in that regard. If there has been anything I've been down on him about, it's been his defense, but he did that and he also stepped up offensively."

Said Steffens, "Ayers had an excellent night. He really hurt us."

Eric Wessel was Central's only other double-figure scorer with 10 points. Ross Conner added nine.

Perryville was paced by Ryan Wichern with 19 points. Thomas Barber had nine and Michael Downen added eight.

T.J. Erlacker scored on a drive and Ayers popped in a jumper as Central grabbed a quick 4-0 lead that the Tigers would never relinquish.

The Tigers led 14-8 after one quarter and moved in front by 10 points in the second period before settling for a 28-22 halftime advantage.

Perryville was still down by six at 38-32 late in the third quarter, but Conner and Wessel scored baskets to put the Tigers ahead 42-32 entering the final period.

Ayers drove for a bucket early in the fourth quarter as the Tigers grabbed their biggest lead of the night at 44-32.

Barber's 3-pointer with 5:20 left completed a 7-0 run and pulled Perryville to within 44-39.

It was 48-43 when Chris Johnson and Ayers sandwiched baskets around two Conner free throws to open up a 54-43 Central lead with 2:25 remaining. The Pirates could get no closer than seven points after that.

"I was pleased with some things we did at the end of the game," said Reutzel. "We had some good possessions where we knew what we needed to do."

Central's JV improved to 2-3 with a 35-31 win.

The Tigers return to action Wednesday night, hosting Farmington.