Brian Rosener is the keeper of the Semoball Cup which is presented to the school with the most successful season. It is based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams and individuals. The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Rosener has been the sports editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since December 2001. He was born and raised in St. Louis, where he attended Lindbergh High School and Webster University. He is married to Jennifer, a Poplar Bluff native, has a son Jack and a dog named Satchel who stands in for his @semoballBrian photo.

Mules 2-0

Posted Friday, November 28, 2008, at 7:04 PM

UPDATE -- The Mules beat McCluer, the top-ranked St. Louis team, 61-57 Saturday at the Show-Me Center. More in Sunday's DAR. Here's a look at Friday's game:

NEW MADRID -- Riley Raulston opened his senior year with a bang Friday afternoon at the Riverbend Classic.

Raulston scored 39 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Mules to a season-opening 70-55 win over Memphis Central.

The Mules trailed for just a few seconds after Central, which won 22 games last season and is ranked eighth in the greater Memphis area, scored first. Raulston answered with a 3-pointer, the first of his seven, as Poplar Bluff put together a 9-0 run. T he Mules finished the game on a 15-0 run.

Central's Cameron Clear tied the game at 55-55 with 3:56 left in the fourth quarter but Poplar Bluff's Chris Kilgore scored on a spinning move in the paint. Riley later canned another 3 from the top of the key then got a defensive rebound setting up Kilgore's reverse layin for a 62-55 lead with 2:06 left.

Riley put an exclamation point on the win with a thunderous dunk in the final minute after a rebound and long pass from brother Jay, who did not hit a field goal but was 5-of-7 at the free-throw line.

Jay had seven rebounds and a block while Kilgore scored 14 points to go with six rebounds.

Central was led by Masceo Harmon's 21 points but the Warriors (1-1), who started a front line of 6-4, 6-5, 6-7 and 6-7 were outrebounded 35-33 by the smaller Mules.

Poplar Bluff led 34-27 at halftime and the game was tied 49-49 heading into the final quarter.

Jake White and Todd Bullington each scored four points for the Mules while Ben Knuckles added two points.

The Mules face McCluer, the top-ranked large school team in St. Louis, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Comments

View 1 comment

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

I heard McCluer was without their stud point guard, Shaquille Boga. Is that right? Either way, it's a good win and good start for the Mules. They're Christmas tournament is going to be tougher this year with them playing well. What teams are in it this year, Brian? I plan on coming over to Bluff for a game or two again this year.

-- Posted by yah-yah on Mon, Dec 1, 2008, at 8:11 AM

Brian Rosener's response:
No Shaquille and it was McCluer's first game of the season.

Respond to this blog

Posting a comment requires free registration:

If you already have an account, follow this link to login
Otherwise, follow this link to register