Semoball

NMCC throttles Kelly to set up district title showdown Friday

New Madrid County Central’s Jadis Jones puts up a shot against Kelly in the Class 4, District 1 semifinal game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at New Madrid County Central High School.
Brent Shipman/Standard Democrat

NEW MADRID, Mo – It didn’t take New Madrid County Central long to impose their will on Kelly Tuesday in the Class 4, District 1 Tournament semifinals.

Forcing eight turnovers in the first quarter alone, the top-seeded Eagles never let the fourth-seeded Hawks get in a rhythm offensive as they rolled to a 72-44 win that puts them in the district title game for the second straight year.

“I was worried about whether they were going to be ready to play,” NMCC head coach Lennies McFerren said. “They showed me from the beginning that they were.

“They’re going to have to be ready to go anytime they touch the floor, because everybody knows about them and can have a good season if they beat them.”

Defensive pressure was the story of the first half as the Hawks were forced into 17 turnovers by the half and held to only 16 shots, half of the Eagles’ 32 first half attempts.

Back-to-back buckets from Bryce Morgan in the opening minutes gave Kelly its only lead, 5-4,.

A Donnie Ray Brown jumper soon after ignited a rally of 11-straight points by the Eagles before leaving the quarter ahead 21-9.

NMCC went on to hold the Hawks to one basket in the final five minutes of the half as part of a 16-2 that left the Eagles up a then-high 27-points going into the locker room.

“It was a tough test,” Fred Johnson said. “We had 17 turnovers the first half. Some of them weren’t even contested. We just didn’t play well. A lot of it was what New Madrid was doing to us.

“They have a lot of talent. We just didn’t play well enough to be in the game with them tonight.”

While the two squads played an even third quarter the Eagles went into the fourth having all but wrapped up the win.

NMCC (18-0) shot 30 of 57 (53 percent) from the floor on the contest with the Hawks going 19 of 42 (45 percent), including a 6 of 16 (38 percent) effort in the first half.

“It surprises me that we didn’t play well enough to be in the game,” Johnson said. “I knew it’d be a big deal to win it.

“It’s been so long since they’ve been in big games like this. It just happens.”

Kelly (16-9) was led by Gavin Jansen’s 15 points, including a 3 for 4 effort at the free throw line.

Bryce Morgan finished with 11 points, hitting all three of his team’s 3-pointers.

For NMCC, Shamar Williamson scored 15 points with Kenyon King and Marcelous Phillips contributing 12 points each.

“They’re not used to being that open,” McFerren said. “If you’re not ready to make that shot. I figured they were going to pack it in and make them shoot it outside, but they were too open.”

NMCC’s win sets up a rematch many fans have been hoping for.

They’ll face second-seeded Dexter (21-6) Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Bearcat Event Center.

In their only meeting this season NMCC won 73-72 in overtime.

“It’s going to be hard to beat them, especially at their place,” McFerren said. “I think our guys will be ready to play.”

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KELLY (44) – Joel McClain 4, Drew Klipfel 2, Bryce Morgan 11, Drew Dirnberger 4, Gavin Jansen 15, Jay Noon 4, Eftink 2, Bryce Ross 2. FG 19, FT 3-4, F 10. (3-pointers: Morgan 3. Fouled out: none.)

NMCC (72) – Shamar Williamson 14, Kylan Minner 5, BJ Williamson 8, Marcelous Phillips 12, Anthony Treadwell 3, Jadis Jones 6, Kenyon King 12, Donnie Ray Brown 8. FG 30, FT 4-8, F 10. (3-pointers: Minner 1, Brown 2. Fouled out: none.)

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