Tigers trounce Bulldogs in SEMO Conference Tournament

Cape Central and Notre Dame renewed their basketball rivalry on Monday, Dec. 4, with the Tigers beating the Bulldogs 62-44 in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament in Sikeston, Mo.

TySeanDre Reynolds led the Tigers with 26 points, followed by 14 points from Jay Reynolds, a Southeast Missouri State commit.

The Tigers opened the game with a 10-0 run and finished the first quarter with a 27-9 lead. The Tigers rained down five baskets from beyond the arch in the opening period to build their insurmountable lead.

The Notre Dame offense went through Brett Dohogne, who scored eight of the Bulldogs’ 11 points in the second quarter. Despite the slight improvement in the second quarter, the Bulldogs found themselves down 37-20 at halftime.

Notre Dame scored as many points in the third quarter as in the second quarter, with Will Henry Steward leading the way with seven points during the period.

Notre Dame's Will Henry Steward blocks a shot against Cape Central in the SEMO Conference Tournament on Monday, Dec. 4, in Sikeston, Mo.Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

The Tigers spread the ball around in the third quarter and extended their lead to 51-31 entering the fourth quarter. Edwards scored his remaining seven points to pace the Tigers in the final period.

The Bulldogs tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, with sharpshooting junior Kolton Johnson scoring all nine of his points on three three-pointers in the final period, but it wasn’t enough. Dohogne finished with 14 points while Steward had 11.

Cape Central made 11-of-18 shots from the free throw line, while Notre Dame went 1-of-6.

Cape Central (3-1), having rebounded from their 72-57 loss to Sikeston on Saturday, will take on New Madrid County Central, the defending Class 3 state champions, in the semifinals on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Notre Dame (0-2) will take on Charleston in the consolation round of the tournament at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The two teams previously met before the tournament, with Charleston beating Notre Dame 66-52 last week.