Basketball

The calendar has turned for the Jackson boy’s basketball program from last season but the Indians find themselves in an eerily similar situation.

Alandry Below scored a game-high 24 points and two other Advance Hornets scored in double figures as Advance pulled away from Charleston in the last three quarters, winning at home in dominating fashion Monday 63-38 to win their fifth in a row. Kaylee Cline helped the cause for the Hornets scoring 15 points and Danielle Markham added 12 points in the victory...

NAYLOR — After scoring a season-high 52 points in a win Saturday, the Poplar Bluff girls basketball team nearly matched its season-low point total Monday night. The Mules shot 21% from the field, turned the ball over 12 times and couldn’t recover from Naylor’s 12-point run to start as the Eagles won 41-18...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — If there was one regular-season game that New Madrid County Central girls basketball coach Toby Heeb had circled on his calendar, it was Jan. 18. A battle between two brothers ended with the younger one on top, as NMCC defeated Delta 77-59...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Checking in for the first time this season with 5:39 left in the first half Saturday, former Sikeston Bulldog Parker Long was more than happy to have a chance to play on a bigger stage. There seemed to be a weight lifted off his shoulders after months of waiting and watching as numerous Division-I players had their waivers granted and had the chance to play...

SIKESTON — Leadership comes in many different ways. For Notre Dame senior Delaney Dohogne, what she brings to the basketball team is her willingness to receive coaching, apply that on the court and when helping her teammates — and doing all of that while never having a frown on her face...

JACKSON, Mo. — Many teams don’t have the luxury of saying that they hung with one of the top teams in the state of Missouri. Oran can now say that they have, though, after battling with the No. 1 team in Class 4 Saturday afternoon in the 6th Annual Lady Indians Showcase at the Jackson Event Center. Park Hills Central (13-1) defeated the Lady Eagles 53-40...

In the battle between the SEMO Conference Tournament champions and the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament champions, New Madrid County Central defeated Cape Central 49-25 on Friday at Cape Central.

SIKESTON — A hot start from the Sikeston junior varsity boys basketball team was all they needed in its rout of Park Hills Central Tuesday. The Bulldogs led 21-11 after the first quarter and 44-18 at halftime in its 73-35 win over the Rebels. Dontrez Williams led all scorers with 17 points, while Creighton Sarakas had 15. Brendon Hamilton and Tyler Owens each added 11 points for Sikeston (5-1) as well...

CAMPBELL - Under the new playoff format that allows the higher seed to host head-to-head district games obtaining a high seed in a district tournament has added value this season. The state-ranked Campbell Camels boys basketball squad is among the squads in contention for a top seed with the state playoff rapidly approaching...

GIDEON — The Clarkton Reindeer varsity boys basketball team maintained a substantial, but increasingly narrow lead in all four quarters as it took down rival Gideon 52-44 Friday night Gideon and Clarkton went into the expectedly fierce rivalry game with closely aligned seasonal averages. Clarkton’s record was 5-7 to Gideon’s 5-6. Both teams had also scored an average of 55 points per game prior to the matchup...

ELLSINORE, Mo. — After spending the past two years in Van Buren, the Yellow Sucker trophy has returned to East Carter. The Redbirds led by a point heading into the fourth quarter and held on to win 63-51 Friday in Ellsinore. “We worked a long time to get our program back to where it is steady and competitive like it was in the early 2000s. These guys just put in a lot of work,” East Carter coach Jordan Penn said...

The Kelly Hawks picked up a road win Friday by beating an upstart Chaffee team 60-54, improving their season record to 7-7. Kelly, who had previously only won one of their last 4 games, got a game-high 24 points from junior Gavin Jansen, who recently picked up his 1,000th career point this past week...

By BRIAN ROSENER Sports Editor O’FALLON, Mo. — The Poplar Bluff boys basketball team couldn’t overcome Kirkwood’s size and a rough start Friday night in the championship game of the Rotating Eight Tournament. The Pioneers finished with 17 more rebounds than Poplar Bluff and had nine second-chance points in a 47-39 win over the Mules at Ft. Zumwalt West...

Drum roll, please. After seeing a lot of chatter on who the top-10 boys and girls basketball teams are in the region, I have put together a list of who I think deserves to be mentioned. Here is the absolutely accurate (see the sarcasm) boys’ list: New Madrid County Central (9-0)...

SIKESTON — Heading into the Field House Thursday, the Sikeston girl’s basketball team knew it was a heavy underdog against a well-rounded Notre Dame bunch.

HOLCOMB - The Holcomb Hornets varsity girls basketball squad entered its season hoping to put together a perfect performance in the Bootheel Conference. “One of our girls’ biggest goals is to win every single conference game and then perform well in our conference tournament,” Holcomb coach Alexa Stockton said. “We know it’s a tough task but we are trying to mark them off one by one. But it’s tough."...

O’FALLON, Mo. — After giving up six first-half 3-pointers, the Poplar Bluff boys basketball team locked down its perimeter defense Thursday night. Whitfield missed all 11 shots from beyond the arc in the second half and got very few second chances. The Mules, meanwhile, didn’t miss much from the foul line to earn a 50-43 win in the semifinals of the Rotating Eight Tournament...

The Cape Central girl’s basketball squad got on its bus Thursday with just five varsity players due to an injury to point guard Ki Bogan and some other athletes that were also out. So the Tigers were in a perplexing situation to start with and when you add in that they had to go on the road to play a really talented team in Jackson, well, the eventual outcome was understandable.

Notre Dame found itself in a proverbial dog fight Friday night! But, to whom you might ask yourself? The Bulldogs have dominated everyone in these parts. It was with an all girl's, catholic school off of Gravois Road in St. Louis named Cor Jesu Academy with a record of 6-7...

PERRYVILLE — There’s a perception in sports that the chemistry between a quarterback and wide receiver in football very well may translate to the basketball court, as well. In the case of St. Vincent basketball, the quarterback and his wide receiver are the top two scorers for that team also.

SIKESTON — All season long, turnovers have plagued the Sikeston boys basketball team. On Tuesday night, the Bulldogs turned the tables and used turnovers to post an 85-74 win over a guard-dominated Park Hills Central team. Sikeston came out aggressive in their full-court press right from the tip and forced seven Park Hills Central turnovers in the first quarter to jump out to an early lead. ...

CHARLESTON, Mo – In a game that resembled more of a free throw shooting contest, the Charleston Bluejays struggles at the line against visiting New Madrid County Central stood out. A combined 72 shots were taken at the foul line, with the Bluejays only hitting on 39 percent of their 31 attempts, allowing the Eagles to stay unbeaten on the season with a 67-55 win...

BENTON, Mo. — Ever since a 30-point win over Kelly in the finals of the 2019 Oran Invitational Tournament, the next three meetings between Oran and the Hawks have come down to two possessions or less. Add Tuesday’s night matchup between the two Scott-Mississippi County Conference rivals to the list as well. ...

As a freshman a year ago, Cape Central center Cameron Williams showed glimpses of ability but those outings were interspersed with games in which he didn’t produce much. Fast-forward to this season and the 6-foot-7 athlete has been much more consistent in his production.

Four boys basketball teams and four girls basketball teams from the Semoball coverage area remain state-ranked in the latest basketball poll released by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Tuesday night. The Campbell boys, which have won 11 straight to improve to 11-1 overall, have moved up a spot to No. 4 in Class 2. The Oran boys (9-3) remain at No. 6 in Class 2...

GREENVILLE, Mo. — After six lead changes in a second half where the largest lead was six points, Greenville dialed up an iconic March Madness moment to try and force overtime. On the clipboard during a timeout, Greenville designed Bryce Drew and Valparaiso from the 1998 NCAA Tournament for the game's final play...

The Cape Central girl’s basketball team hosted and defeated Kelly 56-49 on the Tigers’ Senior Night Monday.

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Walking off the court after a three-point, overtime loss to New Madrid County Central in its second game of the season, the Sikeston girls basketball team had an idea of what they needed to accomplish to take-down a talented opponent...

KENNETT - The Bernie Mules varsity boys basketball squad saved the best for last in its road contest against the Kennett Indians. Bernie fell behind 30-18 a couple minutes into the second half but outscored Kennett 35-13 the rest of the way as rallied for a 53-43 victory...

There was no shortage of excellent performances on the basketball courts throughout Southeast Missouri last week and Campbell player Blake Fowler and Notre Dame’s Leah Jansen were at the top of those.

Nothing has been easy for any high school basketball program this winter, as teams are valiantly trying to remain healthy due to the COVID situation and actually be able to conduct games.

Chase Conrad scored a game-high 19 points, and the Meadow Heights boys basketball team beat the Wildcats 61-48 Monday night at Bloomfield High School. Tristen Mayfield added 14 points and Kade Lindgren had 10. Lane Bader paced Bloomfield (1-9) with 11 points, and Jeffrey Jarrell had 10...

The Oak Ridge Blue Jays put up 20 points in the first quarter, outscoring the visiting Puxico Indians by 11, and the Indians were never able to recover, losing to Oak Ridge 59-31 Monday. For Puxico, it was their 11th loss of the season(combined with 2 wins to have their record now 2-11)...

KENNETT - The Dexter Bearcats varsity girls basketball squad played from behind most of the way but hit enough shots late to rally past the Kennett Indians. Dexter overcame a 41-37 deficit in the final two minutes to win at Kennett 46-43 Monday. “I don’t think we turned it over as much the second half,” Dexter coach Eric Sitze said of the come-from-behind win. ...

O’FALLON, Mo. — The Poplar Bluff boys basketball team shook off some rust in the first half and turned up the defensive pressure in the second half Monday night to advance at the Rotating Eight Tournament. The Mules allowed just one basket after Ft. Zumwalt West got within eight early in the third quarter and extended their run into the fourth to pull away for a 54-34 win...

Alandry Below scored 13 of game-high 35 points in the first quarter, and the Advance girls basketball team beat Eagle Ridge Christian 64-46. The Hornets jumped ahead 24-7 after one quarter of a game played Monday night at Advance High School. Advance led 38-26 at halftime and 54-35 after three quarters...

ELLSINORE, Mo. — East Carter spent a lot of time in practice preparing for Doniphan’s press. The preparation worked wonderfully … until Doniphan changed defenses. The Redbirds scored five field goals in the first 4 1/2 minutes, largely after beating the press for an easy basket, and led by seven points...

CARUTHERSVILLE - On Friday the Caruthersville Tigers varsity boys basketball team was looking for a big win as they hosted the Portageville Bulldogs in their homecoming contest. The Tigers (4-3) came roaring onto the floor in the first quarter, leading by five at the end of the first period. Caruthersville kept the momentum going in the second frame as they extended their lead to double digits. By halftime, the Tigers had a 14 point cushion, 37-23...

HAYTI - Hayti varsity boys basketball coach Travis Day said after the one-point overtime victory over Senath Hornersville Tuesday his squad would have to play close to perfect to have a chance in beating the Class 4, No. 2 ranked New Madrid County Central Eagles Friday...

The Whippets edged Gateway Legacy 60-57 Saturday at the “Brownie” Smith Legends of the Hardwood Classic in Van Buren. Kaylee King scored 35 points, including all but two of Ellington’s fourth-quarter points Saturday in Van Buren. Dylan Price added 13 points and Ella Morton had 10 for Ellington, which trailed by a point entering the fourth quarter...

BENTON, Mo – Coming into Friday’s contest against Woodland, Kelly junior Gavin Jansen stood just seven points away from joining the exclusive 1,000 point clubs for the Hawks. It took under seven minutes for Jansen to hit that mark, finishing the night with a game-high 27 points to lead Kelly to an 80-52 win, snapping a three-game losing streak...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — District championships are becoming second-nature for the Charleston boys basketball team, making celebrations hard to come by in recent years. Against Sikeston on Friday night, though, there wasn’t a lack for celebrating, as Bluejay players rushed the student body after defeating their long-time rival, 70-64. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Bluejays...

DONIPHAN — Twin Rivers needed to get the last points in a quarter one last time. The Royals struck last in each of the first three quarters, but an attempted 3 to force overtime missed and Doniphan hung on to win 53-50 on Friday in Doniphan. The biggest lead of the game was eight points, nobody led by more than two possessions in the second half, and there were three lead changes in the fourth quarter...

It took a little extra time but the Kennett Indians varsity boys basketball team found a way to secure its first SEMO Conference victory Friday night. Ben McMullan hit a clutch 3-pointer in the final minute of the fourth quarter to force overtime and Kennett won the extra session 18-5 as it outlasted visiting Jackson 66-53...

HOLCOMB - The Campbell varsity boys basketball squad extended its winning streak Friday night in Holcomb, surging past the Holcomb Hornets 78-42 on their homecoming. Consistent scoring and tactful ball-handling gave the Camels the advantage as Holcomb struggled with foul trouble and ultimately failed to gain the momentum needed to match or stop Campbell’s offense...

The Dexter boy’s basketball team is in the process of sending a message of competitiveness to the rest of the SEMO Conference.

Sophomore Cade Sutton scored a game-high 30 points, leading Bunker to a 61-38 victory over Puxico on Saturday at Van Buren. Bunker, who received votes in the latest Class 1 state coaches poll, has lost only twice this season, both times to top-ranked South Iron...

NAYLOR — Ethan Muse sank a pair of 3-pointers in the opening half of the opening quarter to help Neelyville build a 10-2 lead. Each time Naylor inched its way back, it seemed like Muse connected from long distance Friday night. “He’s a kid that if he gets hot he can hit it,” Neelyville coach Patrick Morton said of the junior...

SIKESTON — It was a game that was never in question. Sikeston routed Charleston at the Field House on Thursday night, behind an excellent defense showing. The Lady Bulldogs allowed 10 points in the first half, on their way to defeating the Bluejays 65-22...