Timmons provides the Pep as usual

COLUMBIA -- Scott County Central senior Randy Timmons hustled to save a ball headed out of bounds early in the second quarter of the Class 1 semifinal against Glasgow.

Timmons, in the same motion of saving the ball, made a nice lead pass to Bobby Hatchett near mid-court. Hatchett passed it ahead to Drew Thomas, who made an easy breakaway, uncontested layup that put the Braves ahead by 10 points.

"Randy is the hustler on the floor," Scott County senior Desmin Williams said. "He just continues to play hard every game when we need him."

Timmons -- whose nickname is Pep -- played a very Randy Timmons-like game to help his team to a 78-44 victory over the Yellowjackets on Thursday at Mizzou Arena.

As usual, Timmons was not his team's leading scorer, but he did the little things to help the Braves prevail.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.comScott County Central senior Randy Timmons drives past defender Jay Lee during their Class 1 semifinal game Thursday at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The senior grabbed 12 rebounds, scored five points, made three assists and forced three steals. He also blocked a shot.

"He's very much an unsung hero," Scott County coach Ronnie Cookson said. "He does a lot of things that helps us out a lot. He is so creative in the things he can do when he's on."

Timmons averaged 10.5 points per game, fourth best on the team, through district play this season. When it comes to scoring, he seems to be a victim on circumstance on a loaded offensive team.

Cookson said Timmons would be a leading scorer on most other Class 1 teams.

"He'd be tough," Cookson said. "He'd be somebody that they'd key on. If he was on another team, they would key on a person like him."

Scott County Central enior Desmin Williams shoots during Thursday's game.

But with Timmons being the fourth-leading scorer on Scott County, teams don't key on Timmons much, which can make him dangerous.

"People slack off of him and that's how he does his damage," Scott County senior Drew Thomas said. "I think he can score just as much as I do every night."

Williams said that he does not think the Braves would have made the final four without Timmons.

Timmons is in his first year starting full time for the Braves. He was the sixth man on last year's team, so he did play quite often as a junior, when he averaged 5.8 points per game.

He twisted his knee in a 53-29 regular-season win over Advance on Feb. 24, and has been playing through the pain late in the season. Timmons said the knee has felt fine recently, but he still has to wear a brace.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.comSenior Drew Thomas dunks in the second half Thursday, March 19, 2009, in the Class 1 state semifinal at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

"I had an OK game," Timmons said about his performance against Glasgow. "I waited too late to try to get into the game, but I came out pretty good with a couple of rebounds and all that stuff. We did good though."

Timmons said he does not think he'd be a leading scorer if he played on another team.

"I'd probably be doing the same thing I am doing right now," he said.

About his nickname, Pep, Timmons added: "I had this name since I was a baby. I used to throw up everywhere. They used to call me Pepe Le Pew, and then they just shortened it up and called me Pep."