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Sikeston opens with win over Doniphan
SIKESTON -- Sikeston's girls basketball team opened the season on Monday night with an impressive 59-50 win over Doniphan.
The Lady Bulldogs trailed by one with 2:50 left in regulation, but ended the game with 10 unanswered points to seal the win.
"The kids just gave everything they had," said Sikeston coach Lee Brooks. "Anytime you can beat a quality team like Doniphan, you have to be excited."
Trailing 50-49, Allison Blurton gave Sikeston the lead with a runner through the lane. After a Doniphan turnover, 5-foot-9 sophomore Whitney McCray converted on a conventional 3-point play to put Sikeston up 54-50 with 1:21 left.
Nyketia Johnson then blocked a 3-point attempt by Doniphan's Karri Thomas. With time running out, the Donettes were forced to send Paige Silverthorn to the free throw line. The 5-foot-4 sophomore sank one of two attempts, then stole the ball on the inbound and took it in for a layup. Johnson stole the ball away on Doniphan's next possession.
The Donettes got the ball back, but were unable to score before time expired, giving Sikeston the 59-50 victory. "We just didn't do a very good job of taking care of the basketball there at the end," said Doniphan coach Jimbo Blackwell. "We didn't show a whole lot of poise. The thing I'm most disappointed with is the way we guarded. We weren't fundamental in our half-court man and didn't guard well all night. I don't have a problem with our effort. We played hard, we just didn't play smart."
Sikeston was led by Mia Welch, who scored a game-high 19 points. The 5-foot-10 senior took advantage of her size on the inside, scoring all her points within four feet of the basket.
"Mia has been waiting for two years to get this opportunity," said Brooks. "She told me she was going to put the team on her back, and that's what she did tonight. We didn't look for her enough, because we've got so much young talent, but she's patient. She takes advantage of her opportunities when they come."
After scoring seven in the first half, Welch set the tone in the third quarter with 10 points.
"They did a good job of isolating her, but we made some mistakes defensively that you just can't make," said Blackwell. "We didn't have any weak-side help. We're going to have to get used to that, because everybody we play is going to be bigger than us. You've just got to give (Sikeston) credit. That was their strength over us and they exploited it."
Blurton and McCray also had a big games for the Lady Bulldogs, finishing with 11 points each. Many of Sikeston's baskets came on transition and the fast break. The up-tempo style looked different from Sikeston teams of the past. "My whole defense and offense has been turned around this year," said Brooks. "When you've got racehorses and greyhounds, you've got to let them run. What we're trying to do is turn around the way Sikeston looks at girls basketball and the way we play it. I came from a running team in my high school and college career. I think that defense, the ability to press and the ability to run is what makes a championship team."
For Doniphan, Kaci Price led the way with 16 and Brandi Pigg contributed 11. The Donettes attempted to make up for their lack of height by wearing Sikeston out. They went 11 deep in the loss, constantly running players in and out.
"I thought we might wear them down, but they are in good condition," said Blackwell. "They're legit. We knew coming over here it was going to be a dogfight. That's two out of the last three years that they've beat us. They've kind of got it going."
Doniphan (0-1) will travel to East Carter next Monday night. Sikeston (1-0) will host Dexter on Thursday.
In Monday's junior varsity game, Doniphan beat Sikeston 50-36. The Lady Bulldogs led 8-6 after the first quarter, but were outscored 20-6 in the second and never recovered. Melissa Kennon paced Doniphan's junior varsity with 14 points. Haily Reed followed with 11.
For Sikeston, Latoya Gipson led the way with 19 points and Myleka Mitchell contributed 13.
SCOTT CITY -- Kegan Orr scored a game-high 21 points, leading Chaffee to a 46-38 road win over Scott City on Monday night. The Lady Devils trailed by one point heading into the fourth quarter, but outscored Scott City 20-10 in the final frame to pull out the win.
Behind Orr, Amy Holmes scored nine points and Samantha Hendricks added seven. For Scott City, Angela Laxton, Jessica Warren and Amanda Raines each scored 10.
Chaffee (1-0) will travel to Kelly on Thursday.
JACKSON -- Ashley Bartles scored 17 points, leading Jackson to a 61-53 win over Lutheran South on Monday night. The Lady Indians trailed at halftime but came back to outscored Lutheran South 20-12 in the third quarter, then 22-16 in the fourth.
Behind Bartles, Maria Oehl scored 10 points and Kylie Werner added eight.
For Lutheran South, Julie McQueen scored 18.