Cape Central relies on old (and young) in SEMO title victory

The Cape Girardeau Central boy's basketball team celebrates with the trophy after beating Sikeston 72-64 in Friday's SEMO Conference Tournament at the Sikeston Fieldhouse.

Brent Shipman ~ Standard Democrat

SIKESTON, Mo. – The future of the Cape Girardeau Central boy’s basketball program merged with its present in Friday’s 72-64 victory over Sikeston in the SEMO Conference Tournament championship game at the Sikeston Fieldhouse.

Early in the game, it was 6-foot-6 Tiger freshman Cam Williams who was scintillating in his evolution and production. However, when the game hung in the balance and the Bulldog Nation was barking its loudest, veteran Cape Central coach Drew Church has been around long enough to know who to turn to.

“A lot of guys contributed tonight,” Church said following the win. “I thought Cam gave us some great minutes. (But) Later on, we finished with our seniors.”

The Tigers scored 22 points in the final quarter to come from behind and snap the Bulldogs’ four-game win streak in the title game, and 20 of those came from seniors Tyrus Reddin, Doreante’ Tucker, and Dorian Triplett.

“They are some guys who have been around the block a little bit,” Church said. “I really thought in the last quarter, we guarded extremely well.”

The strategy of relying on veterans wasn’t unique to Cape Central (6-0). The Bulldogs (3-1) got nine points from senior guard Payton Howard in the final eight minutes of the game, including a 3-pointer early in the period to put Sikeston up 55-53.

Howard was nearly unguardable off the bounce, as he totaled 21 points in the game, but Church relied on Tucker to not only try and contain Howard defensively but also wreck the Sikeston defense with baseline drives to the rim.

The 6-foot senior wing finished with a game-high 22 points, but none were more important than the four free throws (in five attempts) over the final 63 seconds to seal the win.

“Doreante’ is a senior who is tough,” Church said. “When we need him to do things, he can.”

The Triplett brothers collaborated to snuff out the Sikeston momentum midway through the final period.

Senior post Dorian Triplett took an assist from Reddin to tie the game at 55, which was followed by his younger brother, junior forward Darion (“Da-Da”) Triplett, grabbing his miss and putting it back in for a 57-55 Tiger advantage.

Sikeston came right back for a bucket, but “Da-Da” dished off a pass to big bro’ Dorian for a lay-in and Cape never trailed again.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group,” Church said. “Losing our top three scorers from last year and this group has bought into what we are doing. I’m really proud of them.”

Reddin finished with 17 points, while Dorian Triplett had nine.

Williams exploded for 10 points in the second quarter and finished with 14.

“As a freshman,” Church said of Williams, “in this type of atmosphere, that is tough. This is a big-boy game.”

Cape Central is off until Dec. 20, when it hosts Farmington in its league opener at 7:30 p.m.

Cape Central 72, Sikeston 64

Cape Central - 16 19 15 22 - 72

Sikeston - 17 13 22 12 - 64

CAPE CENTRAL (72) - Tyrus Reddin 17, Anthony Mackins 4, Doreante' Tucker 22, Darion Triplett 6, Cam Williams 14, Dorian Triplett 9. FG 31, FT 5-7, (3-pointers: Reddin 3, Tucker 2).

SIKESTON (64) - Payton Howard 21, Lontas McClinton 12, Leroy Atkins 9, Colby Henson 6, Nick Harrison 8, Clark Steward 8. FG 23, FT 11-16, (3-pointers: Howard, McClinton, Atkins 3, Henson 2).