Live from Park Hills: Scott County drills St. Elizabeth 105-77

The Braves lead 49-34 with 2:00 to go in the first half.

St. Elizabeth stayed close in the first quarter with five 3-pointers and is whittling the lead with a couple more late in the second quarter.

Scott County Central led 29-25 after one quarter and saw the lead bulge to 18 points, 45-27, in the second quarter with a 16-2 run.

The Braves had that lead again at 49-31 on a basket by Drew Thomas.

Otto Porter picked up his third foul with 4:25 to play before the half and the Hornets have closed the gap since, now within 51-45 with 40 seconds to play before the half.

Halftime: Scott County Central 51, St. Elizabeth 45.

Momentum in the Hornets' corner, especially with Porter and reserve Nick Johnson picking up fouls.

First half recap:

Scott County Central took the lead 13-12 on a basket by Thomas midway through the first quarter, and Thomas dunked 20 seconds later to extend the lead. Thomas hit a 3-pointer and Desmin Williams made the score 20-14 with a layin.

Tyler Holtmeyer hit two 3-pointers before Thomas was assigned a tighter man-to-man, while Caleb Heckemeyer hit two early and finished the first period with three 3-pointers.

The Braves opened the second period with 10 straight points -- including three straight baskets by Hatchett -- for a 39-25 lead.

But Chris Wilde scored and drew Porter's second foul with 5:22 to go before the half.

Drew Thomas hit a jumper, Williams scored inside and Hatchett had the dunk for a 45-27 lead just before Porter's third foul.

Thomas' basket of a fast break started by Hatchett and continued by Randy Timmons made the score 49-31, but St. Elizabeth came back with a 14-2 run to close out the first half.

Thomas had 18 points, while Porter had 10 rebounds in the first half.

St. Elizabeth opened the second half with a run to get within one, 51-50, but the Braves answered with a 9-1 run so far for a 60-51 lead.

Make it 62-51 with Otto Porter at the line.

63-51.

The Hornets can shoot the 3 and navigate the press fairly well, but it's pretty much one shot -- sometimes altered -- and done with Scott County Central using every defensive rebound to run and every offensive rebound as a scoring opportunity.

Lead up to 67-51 with Chris Blissett trying to finish a three-point play.

Hatchett scored on a break in the meantime, and Blissett's FT makes it 68-51.

Timeout, Hornets.

According to Mosports, defending state champion Jefferson is trailing 33-22 in its sectional. Jefferson is unbeaten and has been the only team ranked ahead of Scott County Central all season.

St. Elizabeth is located near Delta girls foe Tuscumbia, near Lake of the Ozarks.

Hatchett missed a dunk (and Hornets fans cheered) but Scott County Central has rolled the lead out to 79-55.

The last point came on a FT by Otto Porter after the St. Elizabeth coach picked up a tech. Scott County Central had four shots after the missed dunk as they owned the boards.

Otto Porter is putting together his own personal highlight reel. He has 11 straight points for SCC, now ahead by 30, 85-55.

He hit a shot from just inside the 3-point line and another long jumper to show off his range. He had two consecutive three-point plays, including one on a fast break he started with a blocked shot.

Porter had 16 points in the period.

Heckemeyer hit a looong 3 at the buzzer to cut the score to 85-58.

END 3Q: SCC 85-58.

There seems to be some sentiment now that Drew Thomas is the third-best player on Scott County Central, which may be the case, but the kid does show the emotion and his competitive side in a game like this when another team is making a run at his.

Huge first half tonight.

Porter took over the third.

Blissett hit a 3 and Desmin Williams scored on a break for a 92-60 lead with more than 7 minutes into the game.

That brought in a running clock when the Hornets were at the free throw line a little while ago.

Another long 3-pointer brings St. Elizabeth back within 92-63 with 6:02 to play. But my Braves over-100 by the 5-minute mark pick seems shot.

Chris Wilde has just fouled out.

Drew Thomas at the line.

Scott County opened 11-for-11 on FTs, still having a good night.

94-65 with 4:27 to play.

Holtmyer hit a long 3, and Timmons scored on the other end. 96-68.

Hatchett hits one FT. 97-68 with 4 minutes to go.

St. Elizabeth fouls Hatchett with 3:01 to play. 99-71.

Hatchett shooting two, hits the first for the century mark, hits the second for a running clock. 101-71.

An official has just ejected a fan, who gets a standing ovation from some St. Elizabeth fans.

Cookson took a while to put the subs in but with under 1 minute to go, it's 103-74, and top-ranked Jefferson is getting beat in its sectional.

FINAL: Scott County Central 105, St. Elizabeth 77.

Thomas had 32, Hatchett scored 23 and Porter added 20. Williams had 18.