Sports briefs

BENTON -- Josh DeBrock tied the Bobcats' scoring output on his own.

DeBrock scored a game-high 22 points, including four 3-pointers, as the Hawks improved to 10-11 with an 85-22 win over Delta.

Kelly jumped out to a 34-point lead at halftime, and bumped the lead to 60 entering the final quarter.

Omar Campos added 12 in the win.

Chase Rhodes led Delta with 11 points.

DEXTER -- The Lady Bearcats erased the Tigers' two-point lead after the first quarter and held on for the victory.

Wendi Zickfield led Central with 15 points, while Taylor Kirn added 12 points. Sadie Pittman grabbed six rebounds for the Tigers (11-11).

The win improves Dexter's record to 18-3 overall and assured the Lady Bearcats of at least a share of the SEMO Conference title with an 8-0 record. Four players finished in double figures for Dexter, with Jill Temples and Ashlee Taylor leading the way with 13 points each. Katelyn Heil finished with 11 (nine below her season average) while Sammy Waldner chipped in with 10.

JACKSON -- The Scott County Central Bravettes defeated Saxony Lutheran 46-

35 Thursday.

The Bravettes led by two points entering the final quarter before outscoring the host Crusaders 17-8 in the final frame for the road victory. Brianna Johnson led Scott County Central with 19 points, while Kisha Ross added 10.

Saxony Lutheran (3-15), playing with seven freshmen due to injuries, were led by River King with 13 points.

BELL CITY -- Nick Niemczyk hit five 3-pointers and tallied 35 points before fouling out late in the game as Bell City fended off a furious Clarkton comeback for an 81-78 victory in boys basketball Thursday.

The Cubs (20-2) led by 16 points at the half, but Clarkton outscored Bell City 52-39 in the second half to close the gap.

Phillip Gross netted 19 points and Austin Bush drained three 3-pointers to aid Bell City.

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- With his team reeling, Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach Scott Edgar made a significant change to the Redhawks' starting lineup.

For the first time all season, sophomore point guard Roderick Pearson began a game on the bench, with junior college transfer Hank Harris getting his first Southeast start.

Edgar wanted Pearson to relax a bit and avoid the early foul trouble that has plagued him this season.

"My intent was to try and make the game easier for him, not to put a lot of pressure on himself," Edgar said.

Pearson said he did feel more relaxed, and he had a solid performance, but the change did not help Southeast end its slump.

The Redhawks suffered their eighth loss in nine games, 75-63 at Morehead State on Thursday night.

Southeast (12-13, 7-8) dipped into an eighth-place tie in the 11-team Ohio Valley Conference. Only the top eight squads make the OVC tournament.

"We just need to stick together and keep playing hard," junior guard Kenard Moore said.

The Eagles (12-10, 9-5), picked 10th in the OVC preseason poll, remained tied for third place after sweeping the season series with the Redhawks.