TIGERS PUT CLAMPS ON JACKSON, WIN 41-25

How tight was Cape Central's defense?

Let's just say they stuck to Tory Meyr like orange and black body paint.

Cape Central smothered the Indians Tuesday night 41-25 and no, that wasn't the halftime score.

The Tigers, playing inspired basketball in front of a raucous crowd at the Tiger Field House, held their arch rivals to just 19 percent from the field (9 of 47) and held Tory Meyr to just eight points a team high.

"Demetrius Totton and Michael Cox both deserve medals," said Cape Central coach Brett Reutzel. "They had to guard Meyr, one of the best athletes in Southeast Missouri. They did a great job. And to his credit, (Meyr) never slowed down either. No telling how many miles he ran tonight, but he had to be close to a 10K."

Jackson was given few open looks and when it got them, the Indians couldn't convert.

"They took Meyr away by going to a diamond and one, and that was a good strategy," said Jackson coach Steve Burk. "But we missed a lot of shots on the inside that we should've made."

Part of the reason the Indians didn't make some of their shots in the paint was because Ross Conner made his presence felt. Conner, a 6-foot-5 post player blocked five shots sending most of them out of bounds and altered many others. Jackson scored just six 2-point baskets.

"We didn't shoot the ball well and Conner blocked a lot of shots," said Burk. "But we didn't show the ball and fake and you have to do that."

The Indians' struggles were mind-boggling. After scoring 29 points in the first quarter against Farmington, Jackson was shut out in the first quarter Tuesday night as Cape Central led 7-0 after the first eight minutes of play.

Cape Central, though, struggled offensively in the second quarter and the two schools were knotted at 9-9 going into halftime. To add some perspective, Cape Central led Jackson 10-9 at haftime of the football game this past November.

Jackson came out much sharper offensively to begin the second half and led 18-13 with 4:33 to go in the third quarter.

"Even though we didn't score in the first quarter, I didn't think we lost our poise," said Burk. "Ironically, I thought we lost our poise while we had the lead. Once they got the lead, that's when we really got rattled. You have to give Cape a lot of credit."

"They pulled through together," said Reutzel. "When we got down, I wasn't overly concerned. We were patient and we stepped it up defensively."

Central, which ended up shooting 41 percent from the field, ended the third quarter on a 9-0 run and took a 22-18 lead into the fourth quarter. Eric Wessel, who scored a game-high 14 points which all came in the second half, put in seven of those nine points.

Wessel was also the key figure in the Tigers' run in the fourth quarter when Central put the game away.

Wessel, usually a long-range jump shooter, made a nice cut to the basket for an open layup.

"In the first half, I was disturbed with the way we played offensively," Reutzel said. "There was nothing going on. We were just standing there. We just did a better job of moving the basketball in the second half."

On the next possession after Wessel's layup, Conner beat the Indians' full-court press and received a long pass near midcourt. He drove to the basket and threw down a spread-eagle dunk while being fouled in the process. Conner, who scored 10 points, missed the free throw but the game was pretty much over at that point as the Tigers had the momentum and a 27-20 lead with 4:43 left to go.

"I think he wanted to get one up on Demetrius," said a grinning Reutzel. "(Totton) has his own fan club now after his dunk on Saturday. It was a big play, though. It obviously gives the team more fire."

Neither team turned the ball over too much.

Central held its turnovers to nine and the Indians had only 11.