GAME 19: Central survives Kelly's late rally

By TOBY CARRIG ~ Semoball.com

The Cape Central boys basketball team survived a late rally by Kelly to post a 56-54 win Monday afternoon in the semifinal game of the fifth-place bracket in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

The Hawks were down as much as seven points, 49-42, late in the fourth quarter before Josh DeBrock hit a 3-pointer, Zach Essner scored on a three-point play and Levi Felter hit two desperation 3-pointers.

Felter's second trey brought Kelly within 55-54 with 4.7 seconds remaining. He had another shot from half-court just before the buzzer but it hit the rim and bounced away.

"They did a great job hitting clutch free throws down the stretch," Kelly coach Nathan Wills said of Central. "They were confident under pressure hitting those."

Cape Central wasn't exactly giving the game away as Kelly rallied. The Tigers hit 19 of 23 free throws in the final period. Andrew Williams was 9-for-10 in the fourth quarter to account for all nine of his points.

"We made our free throws but they just threw up some 3s that last quarter," Central coach Drew Church said.

Rick Russell led Central with 15 points despite suffering what Church called a broken nose on contact with a Kelly player on a rebound in the second period.

Josh Harris added 13.

Kelly was led by Josh DeBrock's 26, including six 3-pointers. Felter finished with 10.

Kelly led 17-13 after the first period and clung to a four-point lead despite scoring only six points in the second period.

The Hawks were up 34-28 in the third period when Central went on a 12-0 run that gave it the lead for good.

"I think we just tried to slow down a little bit," Church said. "I challenged them at halftime to take better shots and not make so many turnovers, and they did it. They got the ball into Rick, who had a heck of a game after getting a busted nose. He was a warrior and kept battling."

Russell scored the first basket of the fourth quarter, which was Central's only field goal in the period.

CAPE CENTRAL (56) -- Terrance Howard 5, Andrew Willams 9, Josh Harris 13, Kevin Casasola 8, Rick Russell 15, Zack Boerboom 6. FG 16, FT 23-30, F 15. (3-pointers: Casasola 1. Fouled out: none.)

KELLY (54) --Ryan Essner 7, Josh DeBrock 26, Brett Harper 3, Levi Felter 10, Zach Essner 5, Eric Turley 3. FG 19, FT 6-14, F 20. (3-pointers: DeBrock 6, Harper 1, Felter 2. Fouled out: none.)