Cape Central gets physical with Notre Dame to win holiday crown

The Cape Central boy's basketball team poses after winning the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament at the Show Me Center on Wednesday.

Tony Capobianco ~ Tcapobianco@semoball.com

At the start of this month, the Cape Central boy’s basketball team was an inexperienced group floundering its way – unsuccessfully – through the SEMO Conference Tournament. The Tigers became the first top seed in that event to lose on opening night since the tournament had restarted back in 2006.

Cape Central eventually did a two-and-done in the tournament and added another loss a few days later at Farmington.

“The main thing that I am walking away with from the last two days,” veteran Tiger coach Drew Church said following the tournament, “is we have to find a way to bring some fire to these boys. I think our intensity is low right now and I think that is on me.”

That “intensity” was just fine on Wednesday.

Cape Central won all four games of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, culminating with a 51-43 victory over rival Notre Dame in the championship game at the Show Me Center, which was stunning given how far this group had to grow over the past three weeks.

“Slowly, but surely they are growing up,” Church said after the win. “They’re still learning how to play. I just hope to get better every day and hopefully by February we’ve got a shot.”

The Tigers were the top seed in THIS tournament, as well, but after their troubled start, that seed looked very suspicious.

Cape Central grew as a team over the past three weeks but where it really held an advantage was its growth physically over Notre Dame through the years.

The Tigers held extreme advantages from a length and strength perspective.

In the backcourt, Church utilized 6-foot-5 junior Jonathan Brandtner and 6-foot-2 (with a 6-foot-4 wingspan) Tyrome Huff against the Notre Dame shooters and it negated that facet of the Bulldogs’ attack.

“There were a lot of good things tonight,” Church said. “I thought Jonathan did a good job on the (Notre Dame) shooters.”

Bulldog sniper Hayden Jansen came into the game with 60 points in his three tournament games and due to the long reach of Brandtner closing out on him Wednesday, he got on the bus following his team’s loss with the same total.

Notre Dame made just three 3-pointers against Cape, which was ironic because Church was forced to play zone defense in the SEMO Conference Tournament to save his short bench and help his young players who were struggling to guard without fouling.

On Wednesday, the Tigers pressured Notre Dame on the perimeter and got physical with the skinny Bulldogs in the paint.

Cape Central (4-3) and Notre Dame battled throughout the first half and the Tigers led 25-23 at the break. However, the third quarter belonged to the Tigers.

Cape Central got six points in the period from 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Cameron Williams, as it outscored the Bulldogs 14-5.

Notre Dame (8-3) continued to chase the Tigers late in the game, but Cape Central sank seven free throws in the final quarter to seal the win.

“I really just think we responded tonight,” Church said. “This is a good stepping stone for us and something to build on. I’m proud of them.”

Cape Central got 11 points from Williams, as well as Brandtner, while Huff finished with a team-high 14 points.

Bulldog senior center Caleb LeGrand totaled 23 points, while senior forward Jake Young added 10 and junior Drew Vandeven hit two of his team’s 3-pointers and finished with eight points.

All-Tourney Team

Jansen, LeGrand, Cape Central junior forward Cameron Harris, and Huff each were named to the Christmas Tournament All-Tournament Team following the games.

Others honored included Rico Coleman (Charleston), Colby Crader (Delta), Joel McClain and Gavin Jansen (Kelly), Caleb Schaab (Leopold), and Tristan Mayfield (Meadow Heights).