Jerry Jarrell photos Seniors Nick Niemczyk (above, left) and D. D. Gillespie (above with ball) battle on the floor during Class 1 Sectional action Tuesday at Poplar Bluff High School. Gillespie and his Scott County Central teammates defeated Bell City, 80-58. Bell City's Phillip Gross (No. 22, below) tries to work inside against the Braves Caleb Johnson (No. 24) and Drew Thomas (No. 23).

Scott County Central had five players score in double figures and the Braves jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in an 80-58 win over the Bell City Cubs Tuesday at Poplar Bluff High School.

Scott County Central hit 9-of-15 shots in the first quarter and the Braves used their defensive quickness to take Bell City out of its offense while building a 21-10 advantage. The Braves continued to pour it on the second, increasing the lead to 40-22 at the half.

Bell City attempted a comeback in the third quarter that cut the lead to 47-35, but the Braves finished the frame on a 12-3 run to take a commanding 21-point lead (59-38) heading into the final eight minutes of play.

"We got better looks there in the third quarter, but when they come down and hit their shots and rebound like they did, you can't mount a come back against that," Bell City coach Brain Brandtner said. "We just got our butts kicked tonight (Tuesday). It was their night and they played like it, they played well and they deserved it."

The loss brought to an end another outstanding season by Bell City, which finished with a 25-4 record.

"Absolutely," Brandtner replied, noting the disappointment. " You never want your season to end. You beat yourself up thinking it's your fault; you didn't have your team prepared. I feel bad for our seniors. They give me everything they had all year long, and I just feel real bad for them.

"We started five seniors, we've got six on the team," Brandtner continued. "You can't say enough about the guys.

"Nick (Niemczyk) is probably the best all-around basketball player I've coach," he added. " Phillip (Gross) is such a great athlete and Bush brings the tenacity and toughness to us.

"Marty Dames is the best defender I've ever coached and Ethan Watkins is a tremendous asset," he added. " He's only been here the last two years, but it that short time he's proved what a special kids he is. And I can't leave Michael Meador out who came off the bench. He didn't get to play much this year, but every day in practice he was the one hyping us up and going the hardest and you just can't replace that."

Bell City could do nothing against Scott County Central in the paint or under the basket as the Braves' defense forced the Cubs to try and win the game from long range. Bell City could only mange seven 2-point field goals while connecting on 13 3-pointers.

"I think it was more their perimeter defense that kept us from going inside," Brandtner said. "They have a lot of quickness, they got out and got wide on us and we just didn't make real good decisions. We didn't attack the middle like we wanted. I felt like it was open and we didn't go after it. But I give credit to Scott County Central. They got after it and they deserved this one."

Watkins knocked down seven 3-pointers to lead the Cubs with 21 points. Niemczyk was well below his 30-point average with 18 on six field goals (2 3-pointers) and 4-of-4 free throws.

Bush hit three treys for nine points, while Gross (3 points) went to the bench early in the third with four fouls, only to return and pick up his fifth with over six minutes remaining in the fourth.

Scott County Central got 18 points from Drew Thomas, 16 from Caleb Johnson, 14 from Bobby Hatchett, 12 from Otto Porter and 10 from D. D. Gillespie.

Brandtner thinks Porter, a 6'2" freshman, made the difference in the second meeting of the two teams after his Cubs took the first game earlier this season.

"The biggest difference it the two games was Otto Porter," Brandtner said. " He was the extra weapon and I don't think he missed a shot tonight. They were able to get him the ball and he has a size mismatch against whoever was guarding him and he was able to turnaround and hit those 12-footer all night long. It's tough to stop that."

The Scott County Central-Bell City rivalry was stirred up in recent years as the two schools traded verbal jabs over allegations of MSHSAA violations.

With the graduation of senior players involved with allegations, does this game bring to close that chapter of the history between the two schools?

"I think that stuff was already over," Brandtner replied. "The kids have never had a problem with each other. I love their kids. Coach (Ronnie) Cookson always says good things about our kids. There is no animosity between the two school districts. We're rivals. We're competitors and we want to beat each other, but they got us tonight."