TIGERS FIND HOLES IN KNIGHTS' ARMOR; PULL OFF UPSET

The Cape Central boys got their first taste of victory this past Monday over Perryville, and they must have liked the flavor, as the Tigers pulled off a huge 68-62 upset at Tiger Fieldhouse over undefeated Farmington on Wednesday night.

Cape Central's Ross Conner was the catalyst for the win, muscling in a season-high 27 points to lead the Tigers (2-4) in scoring. The Knights endured their first loss and fell to 6-1.

"Ross is a very good athlete," said Cape Central coach Brett Reutzel. "He played much stronger and seemed more relaxed out there tonight. He saw the floor real well and had some nice assists. A post player who can score and pass is a great threat."

Farmington tried to contain Conner, who had scored 52 total points in five previous games, but everything the Knights tried was unsuccessful.

"Ross Conner was the key factor in our loss," lamented Farmington coach Justin Callahan. "I told our guards to trap down on him and he countered it. We tried to play behind him to keep him away from the basket and he'd just pass it off and they'd score a basket. We just couldn't handle him."

There were several lead changes throughout the game, and neither team was able to pull away from the other due to an intense defensive effort by both squads.

Farmington took a one-point lead with 5:10 remaining in the contest on a three-point shot by Randall Sitzes, but Conner made a shot with 2:24 left that gave the Tigers the lead for good.

The Tigers started off rather cold, making just four of 10 shots from the field and one free throw, while Farmington managed to convert on five of 10 field goals for the quarter, keeping the score tied at 11 as the first quarter ended.

Thirty seconds into the second quarter, Cape Central's Eric Wessel canned a three-pointer, starting a 12-4 scoring run which resulted in a 26-15 Tiger lead with 3:14 left to go in the half.

Farmington decided to get going and implemented a full-court press that proved effective early on, forcing several Cape Central turnovers late in the half. Sitzes was fouled while making a shot at the 2:24 mark, and the 6-foot-4 senior converted the three-point play and ignited a 14-7 scoring run for the Knights, which continued until the end of the half with Cape Central clinging to a 33-31 lead.

Sitzes recorded 15 points. Ronnie Lashley led Farmington with 21 points.

The lead changed hands consistently in the third quarter with neither team taking control. The Tigers managed to score on eight of 15 shots, while Farmington was selective and accurate in its shot selection, making eight of 10 shots in the quarter.

Cape Central led 52-49 going into the fourth quarter.

"We played harder and smarter tonight," said Reutzel. "We really have a mixed group of kids with only two starters from last year. It takes time for a team to come together."

The final quarter began ominously for the Tigers, who turned the ball over four times in the opening minute and a half. Junior Jonathan Ayers got things back on the right track with the Tigers' first basket at the 6:23 mark of the fourth quarter. Ayers was second in scoring for Cape Central, netting 17 points.

"In the last couple of minutes we didn't play with control," said Callahan. "We thought we'd be the No. 1 seed going into the Park Hills Christmas Tournament, but now we'll probably be No. 3 or 4. Fortunately for us, Conner won't be in that tournament."