Charleston

SIKESTON — Charleston coach Jamarcus Williams wasn’t surprised by the 81-53 thumping his team took from Jackson in the semifinals of the SEMO Conference Tournament. After all, the Bluejays (4-3) have sleepwalked through parts of the early stages of the season, already equaling their loss total from last season and aren’t playing with the same determination and desire that won the team a MSHSAA Class 3 State Championship a year ago

It took Jackson head coach Kory Thoma just three games in the saddle to coach his team to a victory over a reigning state champion.

SIKESTON — For the second time in less than a week Charleston defeated Notre Dame with a lopsided score. This time it was in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament, as the top-seeded Bluejays (4-2) won 68-41 over the eighth-seeded Bulldogs (1-3) at the Sikeston Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Dec. 6...

BENTON, Ky. — New Madrid County Central split a pair of games while competing in the Marshall County Hoopfest in Benton, Kentucky this past weekend. The Class 3, No. 2 Eagles (4-1) fell 65-60 to Louisville Christian Academy (Ky.) on Friday, Dec. 2, but bounced back with a 61-54 win over Paducah Tilghman (Ky.) on Saturday, Dec. 3...

Meadow Heights (3-0) had four players in double digits on Wednesday night as the Panthers got past Charleston (1-2), 73-49. Freshman Jaycee Shelton led the Panthers with 24 points and 11 rebounds in the game, while junior Rachael Hellebusch’s 23 points trailed while adding another 11 rebounds...

The 77th annual Gridiron Banquet may have had an indirect sign of being doubly lucky, but chances are that this year’s E.E. “Bus” Carr Trophy winner didn’t need much of it this past fall. Scott City junior Mark Panagos was presented as the newest recipient of the highlight award of the banquet, held at the Black River Coliseum and presented by the Poplar Bluff Letter Club...

DEXTER – Nearly two years ago, Dexter High School sophomore guard Cole Nichols stepped to the free throw line in a game at New Madrid County Central with the opportunity to “ice the game.”

Class 1 1. South Iron 2. Green City 3. Bunker 4. Higbee 5. St. Elizabeth 6. Platte Valley 7. Thomas Jefferson 8. Leeton 9. Winston 10. Northwest Hughesville Class 2 1. Westran 2. Salisbury 3. Ash Grove 4. Bernie 5. Bishop Leblond 6. Putnam County 7. Hartsville...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Ko’Terrion Owens had a near-perfect performance for Charleston in a 76-48 win over Covington at the Riverbend Shootout on Saturday, Nov. 26. The junior led the Bluejays (2-0) with 24 points on 14-of-15 total shots, grabbed 10 rebounds, blocked two shots and dished out an assist in the lopsided victory at NMCC High School...

You can certainly make this definitive statement regarding fourth-year Dexter High School boy’s basketball coach Chad Allen: He has little fear when it comes to scheduling tough competition.

NATCHITOCHES – Two game-clinching performances led DeMarcus Sharp to the first individual honor of his Northwestern State career. Sharp was named Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week on Monday afternoon after leading the Demons to a pair of road wins, including the first true road victory against an Associated Press Top 25 team in program history...

CHARLESTON – A little more than a month ago, the Charleston R-1 Board of Education named its new superintendent to replace Jeremy Siebert, who will be retiring at the end of the 2022-23 school year, and the Board can thank longtime educator and coach Danny Farmer – sort of - for the hire.

BLOOMFIELD — Well, well, what about those girls from Bloomfield? The Lady Wildcats ended a two-year streak of winless basketball by taking down Charleston 47-36 at home Friday night. Bloomfield (1-0) broke away from a 10-all first quarter and methodically pulled away for the win...

NATCHITOCHES, La. — Led by a trio of Southeast Missouri natives, the Northwestern State men’s basketball picked up a monumental win at 15th-ranked TCU on Monday, Nov. 14. The Demons (3-2) erased a 12-point second-half deficit to win 64-63 over the Horned Frogs (2-1) after former Charleston standout Demarcus Sharp nailed a clutch go-ahead jumper in the lane with one minute and 14 seconds left in the game...

The Charleston boys and the Notre Dame girls received the top seeds in the upcoming SEMO Conference Basketball Tournaments. The boy's tournament will be played Dec. 5-9 at the Sikeston Field House. Charleston, the defending Class 3 state champions, come in with the top seed returning seniors Rico Farmer, Trey Stanback, Almareion Williams, junior Ko’Terrion Owens and sophomore PJ Farmer...

Districts for winter sports were released on Friday morning, with New Madrid County Central dropping to Class 3 for the 2022-23 season. NMCC finished third in Class 4 last season and return juniors Jadis Jones and AJ Ruff while junior BJ Williamson also returns after missing last season...

Statistical leaders from the Sikeston Standard-Democrat coverage area through district championships. PASSING RUSHING RECEIVING TACKLES SACKS INTERCEPTIONS t-20. Ethan Sutton, P’ville, 1...

Success breeds heightened expectations but that’s a problem the Charleston football program is happy to have. The Bluejays recently completed an outstanding season, finishing 8-3 overall and advancing to the MSHSAA Class 1, District 1 Championship. “I will only be happy when we can make this consistent and build something great,” said Charleston coach Justin Hutchings. ...

If the adage that an athlete is only as good as their last performance is true, then Charleston senior boy’s basketball player Fletravion Stanback is really, really good.

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Portageville’s Mason Adams did a little bit of everything Friday night in helping the Bulldogs defeat Charleston 58-16 in the MSHSAA Class 1, District 1 Championship. The junior threw for a touchdown, blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass while helping guide Portageville (10-2) to its first district championship since 2002...

When the eight seniors, who currently suit up for the Charleston High School football team were in the first grade, Justin Hutchings was already laying the foundation for the success that those student-athletes (and Hutchings) have enjoyed this season.

Anyone that has been around Charleston High School athletics has an understanding of how the Blue Jay student-athletes are going to be guided through their four years in the school.

PERRYVILLE – After losing 14 of its 16 football games over the past two seasons, the Charleston High School football squad has embarked on a journey of redemption in 2022.

After just two wins in the past two seasons, the Charleston football team has rebounded with a breakthrough year. But the Bluejays (7-2) still have goals they hope to complete, including an upset at St. Vincent (7-2) in the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 Tournament on Friday night...

Statistical leaders from the Sikeston Standard-Democrat coverage area PASSING RUSHING RECEIVING TACKLES SACKS INTERCEPTIONS t-19. Ethan Sutton, P’ville, 1...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Propelled by a strong rushing attack and suffocating defense, Charleston earned its first playoff since 2018 with a 34-8 victory over Caruthersville at John H. Marshall Field on Friday, Oct. 28. The Bluejays (7-2) finished with a 414 to 240 advantage in total yardage over the Tigers (4-5) after overcoming a slow start and a halftime deficit...

Final regular season statistics for the Standard Democrat coverage area PASSING RUSHING RECEIVING TACKLES SACKS INTERCEPTIONS t-18. Ethan Sutton, P’ville, 1...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — For just the second time in the past decade, Charleston knocked off rival Sikeston on the gridiron. The Bluejays (6-2) used some explosive plays to earn the win and took advantage of opportunities while missed chances and self-inflicted wounds cost the Bulldogs (1-8)...

FRUITLAND, Mo. — Woodland dominated Charleston in the Class 2 District 2 quarterfinals on Thursday night at Saxony Lutheran High School. The Cardinals won 25-13, 25-6, 25-17 to advance to the semifinals to take on second-seeded Scott City. “I felt like the girls really acted like they enjoyed the sport tonight,” Woodland coach Emily Johnson said. “I thought we passed the free balls really well and overall we serve-received very well too.”...

Check back for updates as we countdown to kickoff. The high school football regular season comes to an end this week and district seeds will be determined heading into next week's opening round. Two one-loss teams in New Madrid County Central and Portageville will get the ball rolling on Thursday night in a battle of high-powered offenses and stout defenses...

Statistical leaders from the Sikeston Standard-Democrat coverage area PASSING RUSHING RECEIVING TACKLES Player, Team SACKS Player, Team INTERCEPTIONS Player, Team t-17. Ethan Sutton, Portageville, 1...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — The Charleston volleyball celebrated senior night and proved to be superior in a straight-set win over Cooter on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at CHS. The Lady Bluejays (8-20-1) recognized seniors Khilra Bogan, Jimmy Hudson, Danisha Jackson, Claire Nichols, Akydra Rivers and their families before the team’s final home game of the season...

It is a nice way to get the postseason volleyball tournaments started with a good-ole fashioned rematch — especially one that could offer some drama. Clearwater, who defeated Greenville in four competitive sets only recently, will get a chance to ward off the Lady Bears when the two square off in a 4-5 match at Saxony Lutheran 5 p.m. Thursday in Class 2 District 2 action...

SCOTT CITY — The Scott City football team achieved a milestone no other Rams team has in 18 years. The Rams have won the SEMO South Conference championship. Behind another big night from junior quarterback Mark Panagos and a stout defense, the Rams rolled to a 49-14 win over Charleston on Thursday night at Scott City High School to win the SEMO South for the first time since 2004...

The sixth annual Sikeston Field of Faith will be held on Sunday, Oct. 16 at the Sports Complex.  There will be a free tailgate event with food and games like cornhole and hillbilly golf at 5:30 p.m., while the main event begins at 7 p.m. on the soccer fields. ...

Statistical leaders from the Sikeston Standard-Democrat coverage area Player, Team Player, Team Player, Team...

Saxony Lutheran (20-7-3) took a three-set win at Poplar Bluff (7-22-1) on Tuesday, winning sets 25-20, 25-14 and 25-11. The Crusaders next host Scott City (23-8-3) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, while Poplar Bluff hosts Eminence (7-20-3) at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — After having their game against Hayti canceled last week and with a bye week set for this week, the Charleston Bluejays went looking for an opponent and found Memphis Hillcrest. Hillcrest traveled to Charleston Friday and the Bluejays proved to be rude hosts, blistering the Memphis school 68-8...

Check back for updates as we countdown to kickoff. The Chaffee Red Devils and Scott City Rams will meet for the 58th time on Friday night, while St. Vincent travels to St. Pius X for a crucial I-55 Conference matchup. Cape Central hosts Sikeston in both teams' final SEMO North contest, Jackson returns to The Pit and Charleston will host Memphis-Hillcrest (Tenn.) to fill its bye week following last week's cancelation...

Five wins – three doubles and two singles – in just 53 minutes propelled the Kennett Lady Indians to a spot in the Class 1 District 1 championship. Going up against Charleston at the same time Dexter played Willow Springs to determine the contestants in the finals, Kennett shut out the Blue Jays to keep moving up the ladder to state...

Standard Democrat high school football stat leaders through Week 6 Statistical leaders from the Sikeston Standard-Democrat coverage area...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — For the first time in school history, the Charleston Bluejays volleyball team won the Charleston Bluejay Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Saturday. Charleston defeated Richland; Oran; Cairo, Illinois and Malden to win the tournament...

The Jackson Indians made quick work of the Notre Dame Bulldogs to claim their fourth-straight SEMO Conference Championship Thursday night at the Cape Sportsplex. The Indians beat the Bulldogs in two sets, both by the score of 25-17. Indians coach Dave Mirly pointed to the set his team dropped to Notre Dame Wednesday as a driving force for their motivation...

Check back for updates as we countdown to kickoff. With no Thursday night games scheduled, a sense of normalcy returns for Week 6 of the high school football season. Jackson looks to wrap up the SEMO North championship when the Indians travel to Sikeston in what could be coach Brent Eckley's 100th win with the program...

The Scott City Rams dropped one set on the path to claiming the No. 1 seed in the South division of the SEMO Conference Tournament on Wednesday night at the Cape Girardeau Sportsplex. The Rams beat Charleston (25-17, 25-13), Kennett (25-21), New Madrid County Central (25-8, 25-15) and Oran (25-12, 25-19)...

Bell City (17-2-1) hosted Woodland (5-12-1) on Tuesday and took down the Cardinals in four sets, winning the second, third and fourth sets at 25-17, 25-14 and 25-15. Woodland took the first set with a 25-21 win. Senior Caroline Rhodes and sophomore Mallary Barks led in kills with 11 each, while junior Rhodie Long’s 27 assists led Woodland’s offense. Senior Hailey Brotherton’s 18 digs led the Cardinals...

Statistical leaders from the Sikeston Standard-Democrat coverage area PASSING RUSHING RECEIVING TACKLES Player, Team t-8. Jamarion Smith, Portageville, 27 SACKS Player, Team INTERCEPTIONS Player, Team...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Jamarion Smith is the definition of a workhorse running back. The junior was the driving force behind Portageville’s 34-28 win over Charleston at John Harris Marshall Stadium on Thursday, Sep. 22, carrying the ball 46 times for 330 yards and five touchdowns...

Check back for updates. Football starts early this week with a pair of Thursday night games as Sikeston hosts Poplar Bluff in a SEMO North game and Portageville travels to Charleston in a SEMO South game. {https://www.semoball.com/story/2960604.html As reported earlier, a shortage of football officials in the region made it necessary for games to be moved to Thursday or Saturday this fall.)...