TIGERS FIND THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM AGAINST RIVAL ND

Some time around the 2 minute, 40 second mark of the second quarter, the Cape Central Tigers said enough is enough.

At that point, the Tigers found themselves trailing 17-15 to the same cross-city rival which had delivered them two lopsided losses earlier this year.

Then, Cape Central finished off the half on a 9-0 run and kept Notre Dame out of striking distance in a 52-43 win over the Bulldogs Tuesday night.

Given that Central shot just 37 percent from the floor and made just two of its 10 3-pointers, it was the intangibles and a brilliant night by Central's Ross Conner that got the Tigers the victory.

"They got every loose ball," said Notre Dame coach Chris Neff, who saw his team give up 16 offensive rebounds. "They out-hustled us, they out physical-ed us, they out athlete-d us. We didn't do anything that we do (best)."

With 2:40 left in the first half, John O'Rourke gave Notre Dame a 17-15 lead. It would be the Bulldogs' last lead of the game.

But Cape Central scored baskets on its next four possessions each by a different player to take a 24-17 lead into halftime.

The game was dramatically different from the two teams' prior meetings when Notre Dame dictated the flow and kept Conner in check.

"I've been saying since the Carbondale game, we've gradually been playing harder," said Cape Central coach Brett Reutzel. "I'm not saying we're on some majestic run. But we have to have this mindset every time we step on the floor, whether it's a game or practice. I'm very pleased with our effort. We have some young men who are beginning to step up and play hard."

As far as Conner, the 6-foot-5 senior post player abused Notre Dame with a game-high 20 points.

In his first game against Notre Dame, Conner was held to four points. In the University High Christmas Tournament, Conner scored 14.

But Tuesday night was a different story.

Conner had 10 points at halftime, including eight consecutive points during one stretch. He controlled the boards and blocked several shots.

"He dominated us," Neff said. "He's the best player in Cape Girardeau without question. He showed up tonight."

Neff added: "This is the time of year where you find out who has gotten better and who hasn't done a whole lot. And they're a lot better and we haven't done a whole lot."

On Conner's game, Reutzel said "I think he's playing a lot harder now and has become more physical."

Conner got a lot of help from his teammates, especially Jonathan Ayers, who scored 13 points off the bench.

"He's really played well the last few games," said Reutzel of Ayers. "He's a very explosive player offensively, crashes the boards well and plays good defense when he wants to. He's a great asset right now."

Cape Central started the game with a 5-0 lead, but Notre Dame scored the next seven to take a 7-5 lead in the first quarter. Notre Dame led 11-9 after the first quarter.

The Tigers' biggest lead of the game was 11 points, that coming twice late in the fourth. Notre Dame never pulled closer than six points in the fourth quarter.

Notre Dame was led in scoring by Josh Eftink and Doug Schaefer, who each scored 12 points, respectively.