TIGERS SEE CURSADERS CRUISE TO 74-64 WIN

It's been a long time since the Cape Central Tigers have won a home game at the Tiger Fieldhouse.

The Belleville (Ill.) Althoff Crusaders made sure it will be a little longer with a solid first half in Saturday evening's 74-64 victory.

The Tigers, who are 1-5 at home with the only win coming Dec. 17 against Farmington, fell to 8-12 overall. Althoff, winners of 13 of its last 16 games, improved to 15-8.

"We came out and played an excellent first half," said Althoff coach Dave Deets. "We haven't beat Cape in five years, but we've played pretty well the last six weeks."

Last weekend the Crusaders beat two state-ranked Illinois teams, but were coming off a disappointing one-point loss Friday to a team they had already blown out earlier in the season. Althoff came out smoking against the Tigers, continually breaking Central's full-court pressure for easy baskets.

"I think we got beat because we didn't play hard in the first half," said Central coach Brett Reutzel. "We might not have won the game anyway, but we certainly didn't come out like a team that wanted to win the ball game."

Althoff led 18-8 after the first quarter and extended that lead to 38-23 by halftime, making all three of its attempted 3-pointers in the second quarter. The Crusaders made 57 percent of their first-half shots (16 of 28) and finished a sizzling 59 percent for the game (29 of 49). Ryan Blaha led Althoff with 20 points.

Half-court pressure and the hot hand of Central's Chris Bergerson got the Tigers back in the game in the third quarter. Trailing 40-25 early in the quarter, the 6-foot-5 Bergerson scored the Tigers' next 12 points -- including two 3-pointers -- to close the score to 44-37 with 3:22 left in the third quarter.

But a minute later Bergerson came out of the game with his third foul and Althoff finished the quarter with a 10-4 run to lead 54-41 entering the fourth quarter. Bergerson finished with a game-high 25 points.

"I don't think our intensity was there in the first half, but we pressed them better in the second half," said Reutzel. "It was the same kids, but when the pressure works in the second half and doesn't in the first, I think that has to do with us being more intense in the second half."

Central attempted 11 3-pointers in the final quarter in an effort to get back in the game, but Althoff never let the Tigers get closer than seven points.

Said Deets: "They closed the gap a couple times, but we were able to answer each of those runs and get it back to a comfortable lead."

Central senior Aron Meystedt made 4 of 8 three's in the final frame to finish with 12 points. Teammate Kelly Illers added 11 points.

Central hosts Jackson on Tuesday in a big SEMO Conference game.