Cape Central outlasts Charleston in conference tournament opener

Charleston's Treshaun Schandon (0) attempts to block a shot by Cape Central's Mar'K Mills (3) during the Tigers' 62-56 win in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Field House on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

SIKESTON — In a game that could have easily swung the other way, Cape Central narrowly escaped an upset by Charleston, clinching a victory in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament on Monday, Dec. 9. 

The seventh-seeded Blue Jays (1-3) were a constant threat, but ultimately it was the second-seeded Tigers’ (3-1) transition offense and ability to capitalize on clutch runs that secured the 62-56 win. 

“Tonight was probably the best we have been able to put some things together on both ends of the floor,” said first-year Cape Central coach Lamont Frazier. “In no stretch of the imagination was it perfect, but given where we are and how quickly we’ve had to jump into the frying pan, tonight was a positive step.”

Frazier, a Charleston alum who was named SEMO Conference Player of the Year in 1990 before playing college basketball at the University of Missouri, pointed to three key positives: the team's ability to handle the intense environment, players settling into their roles, and the valuable contributions from the bench.

Cape Central leveraged a size advantage and tenacious defense to spark a fast start, scoring off three consecutive turnovers to establish a 6-0 lead. This early burst, featuring a putback by Matayo Rivers, a transition bucket from Mar'K Mills, and an inside score from TySeanDre' Edwards, proved critical as these points ultimately made the difference in the game.

“We have some improvements to make,” Frazier said. “But the guys shared the ball and kept their composure. There were some heated moments and our guys stuck to the script.”

Mills, who returned to the team after missing most of last season due to a hand injury, added a monstrous one-handed slam to extend the lead to 9-4.

“He’s an athletic young man,” Frazier said. “But sometimes we have to govern when he tries to demonstrate that athletic ability just because he does get off the ground so high. We don’t need him taking unnecessary tumbles and falls this early in the season and potentially ending back on the sideline.”

By the end of the first quarter, the Tigers held a 14-8 advantage after Antonio Sims converted a 3-point play. 

Charleston chipped away at the lead and about midway through the second quarter, Trenez Lane's steal and assist to Deshaun Henderson in the post cut the deficit to a single possession.

The final minutes of the half saw a flurry of exciting exchanges. Lane knocked down a 3-pointer to bring the Blue Jays within two, but Edwards immediately answered with an emphatic one-handed slam.

Charleston's Da'Kyrious Williams countered with a 3-pointer, but Cape Central quickly regained control with consecutive scores from Rivers and Sims.

Edwards continued to impress, showcasing his athleticism with a powerful putback dunk. 

However, the Blue Jays were injured with a much-needed morale boost just before halftime, as Shilyn Henderson's buzzer-beating 3-pointer narrowed the lead to 31-29.

“That was huge,” said Charleston coach Jamarcus Williams. “It gave us some momentum walking into the locker room and got us ready to come out and fight.”

The excitement picked up right where it left off in the third quarter,  as Charleston came out firing and tied it 33-33 on another basket by Shilyn Henderson.

The Tigers responded with a 3-point play from Mills. But Treshaun Schandon’s make from outside knotted the score again, 36-36.

Cape Central maintained a slight edge throughout the remainder of the third quarter, finishing with a 49-46 lead after a strong take by Rivers just before the horn sounded. 

The fourth quarter appeared to be slipping away from the Blue Jays after Edwards punctuated a dominant 10-0 run with a highlight-reel play, soaring for a putback dunk that increased the lead to double digits, 58-48, with 5:17 remaining in the game.

“He did an outstanding job of handling the moment,’ Frazier said. “[Edwards] has a high ceiling and we’re going to keep working. He’ll become the best competitor he can be by being in more of these tough situations where every possession matters. In the end, that’s going to make the difference for him and his future.”

Charleston's Marquan Stringfellow ended the scoring drought with a putback, and Deshaun Henderson's strong take narrowed the lead to 60-56 with less than two minutes remaining. Despite the late-game surge, the Tigers’ early advantage and decisive fourth-quarter run proved too much to overcome. 

“I like how we compete,” Williams said. “I just explained to my group afterward, that we had a chance to win but it's the little plays throughout the game that make the difference against a quality opponent like Cape [Central], that is so much larger, longer and stronger. The margin of the error is so thin, but it’s still early, and feel good about this group.”

Charleston, to its credit, absorbed the impact of Cape Central's high-flying offense. While the Tigers' thunderous dunks might threaten to demoralize a lesser opponent and potentially open the floodgates, the Blue Jays displayed remarkable resilience, consistently fighting back against the aerial onslaught.

“[Cape Central’s man-to-man defense] kind of stifled us early,” Williams said. “But once we got into the flow of the game, and figured the defense and tempo, we were able to get to our spots and score relatively easy, but the height and size around the bucket alter the shots just enough.”

Edwards led the way for Cape Central with a game-high 20 points, while Mills added 17. 

Leading the charge for Charleston was a balanced scoring attack, with Lane and Deshaun Henderson each dropping 15 points. 

Lane, efficient from the field, connected on 5-of-8 shots and 3-of-4 free throws, while also contributing five rebounds, four steals, and two assists.

Deshaun Henderson also pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds, while Shilyn Henderson provided a spark with seven points, four assists, three rebounds, and a steal; and Treshaun Schandon chipped in seven points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

Cape Central takes on Jackson (4-1) in the semifinal round on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

CAPE CENTRAL 62, CHARLESTON 56

Charleston (56) — Trenez Lane 15, DeShean Henderson 15, Da'Kyrious Williams 8, Treshaun Schandon 7, Shilyn Henderson 7, Marquan Springfellow 2, Martavious Biles 2. FG: 20. FT: 10-18. F: 16. (3-pointers: Lane 2, Williams 2, Schandon 1, S. Henderson 1. Fouled out: None.)

Cape Central (62) — TySeanDre’ Edwards 20, Mar’K Mills 17, Antonio Sims 9, Matayo Rivers 8, Goliath Morris-Young 4, De’Shawn Sims 4. FG: 25. FT: 12-19. F: 17. (3-pointers: None. Fouled out: None.)