TOP SEEDS STAY ON COURSE; TIGERS ROAR PAST KELLY 86-57

Cape Central's 86-57 win over No. 3 Kelly wasn't just an upset.

It was an upgrade.

Suddenly, the sixth-seeded Tigers appear to be one of the teams to beat in the 54th University High Christmas Tournament.

Even with Kelly's leading scorer Jim Hulshof returning early from a stress fracture in his foot, the Tigers put forth a nearly perfect performance to advance to the tournament semifinals.

Central will play Jackson in a semifinal game at 6 tonight.

The Tigers couldn't have played much better, particularly on offense, shooting 51 percent (28-of-55) and committing just seven turnovers the entire game. All seven of those turnovers were committed in the second half and four of them came in the fourth quarter after each team's second strings were inserted.

"I thought we played real well," Central coach Brett Reutzel said. "We've been looking for intensity and aggressiveness."

The Tigers (4-5) established a ping pong-like pace early.

Central led 23-12 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to hot shooting and easy transition baskets. Cape scored on 12 of its 16 possessions in the first quarter.

"That's (fast paced) the way we wanted to start," Reutzel said. "I think we play better fast. We're not real athletic, but we've got some kids who are fast. I don't think anyone in Southeast Missouri can run with Ross."

The Tigers received an uplifting performance from Rob Winschel, the team's usual sixth man who got the start Monday. Winschel scored 18, which matched his teammate Ross Conner. Winschel, a 6-3 senior forward who transferred from Notre Dame, could have had at least three more points more he not stepped on the 3-point line on three made shots.

"He hasn't been in our program," Reutzel said, "and it's taken him awhile to get used to the system and I think he's getting in tune."

Donnie McClinton added 16 for the Tigers and Kelly Illers had 10.

Kelly (8-2), meanwhile, couldn't hold on to the ball. It committed six turnovers in the first quarter.

And it didn't get any better for Kelly, which had 13 turnovers by halftime, trailing 44-29.

The lackluster performance left Kelly coach Kent Mangels dejected after the game.

"We've got to get committed to getting to what has made Kelly work the past few years," said Mangels, who had his team practice after the game. "We're not doing that now. We're not doing a thing to help each other."

The third quarter turned out to be much like the first.

Cape scored on 10 of its 15 possessions and outscored Kelly 24-13 in the third.

Jason Glastetter scored 11 points to lead Kelly.

Hulshof, who was said to be out for at least another three weeks, scored 10 for the Hawks. Kelly's senior center Kenny New also played after being out with an injury, but scored just two points.