SHS bests Knights: Bulldogs improve to 13-1 with 82-53 win

Sikeston's Juqualin Wiggins goes up for two of his game-high 16 points against Farmington on Tuesday night at the Sikeston Field House.
(Photo by David Jenkins, Staff)

sd_sports@yahoo.com

SIKESTON -- When Sikeston and Farmington meet on the basketball floor it is usually a physical contest. Tuesday night was no different.

As the two teams pounded on each other, state-ranked Sikeston pounded the ball inside and got a combined 38 points from Juqualin Wiggins, Eli Jackson and Corey Porter as the Bulldogs dominated the paint in their 82-53 win over the Knights.

"I think we played pretty good," Jackson said. "We came out physical and they came out physical and we matched up with them."

Jackson, who says he thrives on physical games, finished with 12 points and seven rebounds on the night while Wiggins had 16 points and seven rebounds. Corey Porter chipped in 10 points to go along with his six rebounds.

"(Physical games) are my favorite," Jackson said. "I'm a football player. I like playing New Madrid and all these physical teams. That's just how I play."

In the game, Sikeston had a 36-21 rebounding edge, including pulling down 11 offensive rebounds.

"The last several games we've really been good on the boards," said Sikeston coach Gregg Holifield. "Eli, Juqualin, Corey, those guys have really rebounded well. If we can do that it gives us a great chance."

Farmington coach Brett Hale said he knew rebounding would be a problem coming into the game.

"We knew coming in that they were a good rebounding team," Hale said. "We talked about it all week but it's something you can't simulate in practice, that much athleticism. You know, they beat us on the boards and that hurt us but we'll try to get better at it and see what we can do if we face some of that athleticism again."

Sikeston's dominance on the glass showed up early as Farmington came out cold in the first quarter, hitting only four of their first 18 shots. The Bulldogs took advantage, grabbing several rebounds and pushing the ball up the floor for easy shot opportunities.

"I thought we had good energy, good pressure up top and that dictated the pace of the game and I thought we set that the first half," Holifield said. "I thought we were up and down (the floor) offensively and defensively and I was proud of that fact."

While Sikeston had built a 14-point lead, it wasn't due to Farmington turnovers as the Knights limited themselves to only five in the first quarter and seemed to have little problem handling the potent Bulldog press.

"We handled the pressure and I was really proud of how we moved the ball and wanted the ball," Hale said. "We did get some open looks, especially there early and just missed them. Shots that we normally make. That's attributed to coming down here and seeing some quickness that we hadn't seen. But our kids played well and we got open shots and maybe next time we knock them down."

The Knights found their rhythm in the second quarter, using an 8-0 run to cut the Sikeston lead to 26-19 midway through the second quarter. However Sikeston stretched their advantage back to 43-29 before the half.

"The first quarter, we hadn't seen anything like that, the pressure," Hale said. "The teams we play, we don't see anything like it and our kids just weren't in the mindset. But our kids got in the mindset and competed in the second quarter and when we started to compete with them we played well. We were proud of our kids."

In the second half, the Sikeston depth began to show as the Bulldogs continued to extend their lead, going into the fourth quarter with a 64-42 advantage and grabbing their biggest lead of the night 82-53 as time expired.

"Coach Hale does a great job and he had them prepared," Holifield said of the Farmington squad. "We were able to keep pressure on them throughout the game and eventually wore on them a little bit. They handled the situations well early but I thought our ball pressure finally took over."

Wiggins led Sikeston with his 16 points while Janeil Hatchett and Will Holifield both had 14 points apiece. Hatchett had six assists while Darryl Howard dished out five. For the game the Bulldogs shot 58 percent (29-50) from the floor.

Farmington (7-8) was led by Jonathon Bird's 15 points. The 6-4 junior also pulled down six rebounds to lead the Knights. Farmington finished the game shooting 36 percent (20-56) from the floor.

"We were excited to come play (Sikeston) and see where we were at and see what we needed to improve on," Hale said. "This is going to do nothing but help us down the line. We've said all year that we've got to get ready for the district and this will definitely be a game that helps us when we get there."

With the win, Sikeston improves to 13-1 and will take on state-ranked Kennett on Friday night at home.

FARMINGTON (53) -- Landon Barks 3, John Schnurbusch 8, Tim Anderson 8, Jonathon Bird 15, Doug Warren 8, Lucas Thompson 4, Roper Garrett 2, Connor Eaton 5. FG 20, FT 7-9, F 18. (3-pointers: Schnurbusch 2, Anderson 2, Barks 1, Eaton 1. Fouled out: none).

SIKESTON (82) -- Juqualin Wiggins 16, Eli Jackson 12, Darryl Howard 8, Caleb McGee 2, Janeil Hatchett 14, Martez Evans 4, Terry Jamison 2, Will Holifield 14, Corey Porter 10. FG 29, FT 20-32, F 18. (3-pointers: Holifield 3, Howard 1. Fouled out: none).

Junior Varsity

In the junior varsity game, Sikeston improved to 14-0 with a 77-53 win over Farmington Tuesday.

Sikeston led 18-10 after one quarter and continued to extend their lead throughout the rest of the game.

Eldridge Gibson led Sikeston with 15 points as five Bulldogs reached double figures. Vashawn Ruffin ended with 13 points while Markeith Bratcher, Terry Jamison and Keldon Warfield each finished with 10 points apiece. Warfield also pulled down 11 rebounds while Kil'ron Coleman scored nine points and pulled down seven rebounds while dishing out five assists.

FARMINGTON (53) -- Kyle Warren 6, Connor Davault 5, Chase Busenbark 8, Logan Bradley 10, Monis Zereik 2, Roper Garrett 9, Alec Sebastian 13. FG 19, FT 13-18, F 15. (3-pointers: Bradley 1, Sebastian 1. Fouled out: none).

SIKESTON (77) -- Tyler Anderson 2, Markeith Bratcher 10, Vashawn Ruffin 13, Caleb McGee 6, Terry Jamison 10, Lucas Napier 2, Eldridge Gibson 15, Keldon Warfield 10, Kil'ron Coleman 9. FG 33, FT 10-18, F 14. (3-pointers: McGee 1. Fouled out: none).