Tigers ride big third quarter to fifth place

A huge third-quarter run netted Central the fifth-place consolation trophy in the Show Me Center Holiday Classic.

The fourth-seeded Tigers trailed sixth-seeded Scott City for most of the first three periods Wednesday.

But the Tigers stunned Scott City by scoring 19 of the third quarter's last 22 points on their way to a 48-35 victory.

Central improved to 4-5 with its second straight win after dropping its tournament opener by 28 points to Meadow Heights.

The Rams, who entered the tournament undefeated, fell to 7-2.

"We had a slow start but we came out in the second half and changed our defense up," Central coach Sherri Shirrell said. "That helped us."

Sophomore forward Chelsea Vinson had a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Tigers. Vinson had a big tournament with 54 points.

"She's going to be a good player," Shirrell said. "She's still learning but she's a hard worker."

Senior forward Chelsea Pannier paced Central with 17 points.

Junior forward Katie Hogan led the Rams with 11 points. She had 51 points in the three games.

Stacey Heisserer added 10 points for Scott City.

The Tigers trailed 17-16 at halftime and 23-16 early in the third quarter before their 19-3 explosion put them ahead 35-26 entering the final period.

Scott City 11 6 9 9 -- 35

Central 5 11 19 13 -- 48

SCOTT CITY (35) -- Stacey Heisserer 10, Michaela Cobb 8, Melanie Lacey 3, Katie Rhymer 2, Katie Hogan 11, Andrea Gray 1. FG 10, FT 11-16, F 17. (3-pointers: Cobb 1, Hogan 3. Fouled out: Lacey)

CENTRAL (48) -- Allie Hardesty 2, Alayah Cooper-Johnson 1, Tori Scheller 4, Kadie Orenstein 2, Chelsea Pannier 17, Apolonia Thomas 8, Chelsea Vinson 15. FG 17, FT 12-20, F 15. (3-pointers: Pannier 2. Fouled out: none)