District tourney kicks off Monday
DEXTER -- Both the Notre Dame boys and girls basketball teams garnered the top seeds for the Class 4, District 1 that begins Monday at Dexter's new Bearcat Events Center.
The Notre Dame boys currently sport an 19-5 record and are ranked eighth in the latest Class 4 poll. But while Notre Dame is the top seed, they look to be challenged by Sikeston, who is currently 18-3 and ranked third in the latest Class 4 poll.
Notre Dame defeated Sikeston 66-61 on Dec. 18 at Notre Dame. Neither team has been challenged by district opponents with both rolling through the competition. Besides beating Sikeston, Notre Dame has beaten Dexter (76-49) and Fredericktown (73-31).
Sikeston, the defending Class 4, District 1 champion, has defeated Dexter twice (64-23, 75-44), Ste. Genevieve (100-30), Perryville (83-25) and Fredericktown (90-30).
Both Notre Dame and Sikeston will receive first round byes with Notre Dame facing the winner of Perryville and Ste. Genevieve Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Sikeston taking on the winner of Dexter and Fredericktown at 7:30 p.m.
"There's some awfully good teams in (the district)," Sikeston coach Gregg Holifield said. "Dexter is really playing well right now and we know that Dexter or Fredericktown will really play us well."
Dexter, the third seed, is 14-11 on the season and have only played Sikeston and Notre Dame in the district, losing all three games. The Bearcats will take on sixth-seeded Fredericktown on Monday night at 7:30 p.m.
Fredericktown is 4-19 and besides losing to Sikeston and Notre Dame, the Blackcats have lost to Perryville (50-48). Dexter defeated Fredericktown 54-37 in the first round of the district tournament last season.
Perryville earned the four seed and is 9-13 and already has one win over first round opponent Ste. Genevieve, 76-60 on Dec. 22. Ste. Genevieve will enter district play with a record of 10-14. Last season Perryville upset Ste. Genevieve 59-51 in the first round of districts. The two teams will play Monday night at 6 p.m.
Girls
The Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs enter district play as the favorite, currently ranked second in Class 4 with a 20-4 record.
Dexter, the defending Class 4, District 1 champions, are seeded second with a 13-9 record. Notre Dame defeated Dexter 60-50 on Tuesday night at Notre Dame in a possible preview of the district championship game.
Both teams receive a first round bye with Notre Dame taking on the winner of Fredericktown and Ste. Genevieve at 6 p.m. Thursday while Dexter will face the winner of Perryville and Sikeston at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Notre Dame has not lost to any district opponents while Dexter has only one district loss, that being to Notre Dame. The Lady Bearcats have beaten Sikeston (69-34), Fredericktown (62-55) and Perryville (65-44).
Sikeston enters district play as the sixth seed, sporting a 7-13 record with district losses to Dexter (69-34) and Notre Dame (90-22). The Lady Bulldogs have been playing better in February, winning four of their last seven games.
"I'm still hopeful with our chances in district," said Sikeston coach Homer Jackson. "As long as Asia (Liggins) stays healthy, Keyonna (Blissett) stays healthy, Jerrica (Taylor) continues to contribute and we get some good play out of these JV players, I think we'll be OK."
Sikeston's first round opponent, Perryville, comes in with a 9-13 record and has only one district win, that being a 43-34 decision over Ste. Genevieve.
Fredericktown comes into districts with an 11-13 record while Ste. Genevieve is 12-12. The Lady Blackcats defeated Ste. Genevieve 53-48 on Jan. 28.