Top seeds get off to healthy start

Cape Central was delayed, but not derailed in its 60-45 first-round victory over Farmington at the HealthSouth Holiday Classic Thursday.

Cape Central, seeded fourth, and Farmington, the fifth seed, were scheduled to open the tournament at 4 p.m., but did not get underway until about 5 p.m. due to the late arrival of the Knightettes. Farmington coach Steve McFarland said his team's tardiness was a result of miscommunication between the school and tournament officials after a late cancellation by Heritage Christian Academy.

Cape Central (8-2) and Farmington (6-4) were matched up for the second time in four days. The Lady Tigers dealt the Knightettes a 53-42 loss on Monday.

After trading baskets early, Cape Central opened a 16-7 lead to close out the first quarter, the last three on a 3-pointer at the horn from Alex Wieser.

McFarland refused to blame the late arrival for his team's first-quarter ineffectiveness.

"We might have been a little bit asleep when we got off the bus," he said, "but after we found out we had to play, I think we were ready to go.

"We just don't get out of the box real well at the beginning of ballgames."

Farmington edged Cape Central 11-10 in the second stanza as the half ended with the Lady Tigers up 26-18.

After the intermission, Farmington closed the gap to five points at 35-30, but two consecutive baskets by senior forward Sarah Hyslop, just before the third quarter concluded, pushed the Lady Tigers ahead 39-30.

Hyslop paced the Cape Central scoring effort with 26 points, while sophomore point guard Megan McDonald and junior Alex Wieser followed with 11 and 10, respectively.

Cape Central played a near-flawless fourth quarter to extend the final margin to a 15-point advantage.

Said Cape Central coach Sheila Midgett, "I was pleased with how we executed in the fourth quarter. I felt like it took us a little while to get started, and I don't know if that was because it took us so long before we got to play or what.

"But the kids really stepped it up when they needed to and did a good job."

Displaying patience and good shot selection, the Lady Tigers converted 11 of 13 free throws in the final period to close out the victory.

Cape Central, with a slight height advantage at almost every position, was 18 of 25 from the charity stripe for the game, while Farmington went to line only six times, hitting five.

Farmington sophomore Natalie Bess led the Knightettes with 14 points, while senior Ashley Taylor netted 10.

The win puts the Lady Tigers into a semifinal game against top-seeded Poplar Bluff.

"We haven't played them this year, but we've heard a lot of good things about them," said Midgett on the undefeated defending champion Lady Mules.