Poplar Bluff

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

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...

CENTERTON, Ark. — Gatlin Taylor and Lucas Robertson won their weight class Saturday while Ben Colclasure, Logan Hite and Gavyn Hays also reached the finals as the Poplar Bluff boys wrestling team placed third at the Bentonville West Tournament. Hays suffered his first loss of the season in the 220-pound final while Riley Sater, Johnathan Martin and Jakob Hopkins also placed for the Mules in the eight-team tournament...

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)...

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...

CENTERTON, Ark. — Lexi Rowland and Breann Thresher reached the finals in their weight class as the Poplar Bluff girls wrestling team tied for third Friday at the Bentonville West Tournament. Rowland beat Hannah Scroggins of Rogers (Ark.) in 9-8 overtime to win the 132-pound division while Thresher finished second and McKayla Brown placed fourth...

The Cape Central Tigers girls swim team found themselves at the top of the leader board Thursday at the Rec Center Relays swim meet, ahead of Poplar Bluff, Jackson, Notre Dame, and Farmington. Central had a top score of 96 while Poplar Bluff finished second with 76 points, Jackson finished third recording 40 points, and Notre Dame and Farmington tied for fourth with 28 points each...

Audrey Rahlmann, Julia Smothers, Kacey Gregory and Olivia Kirkman teamed up for Poplar Bluff’s fastest 400-yard freestyle relay time of the season Tuesday, capping a meet win that featured eight wins by the Mules. Kirkman won two individual events and helped the medley relay win while Gregory, Smothers and Simone Anders also won at the Black River Coliseum Aquatic Center...

After heading to Tennessee last weekend and Arkansas this weekend, the Poplar Bluff wrestling team got to roll out the mat at the Senior High Gym for a change Tuesday. “Hearing that crowd, it’s a different feeling,” Poplar Bluff senior Johnathan Martin said. “It gives you a little bit of adrenaline on the mat, just a nice feeling.”...

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...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — After losing to Cape Central by 30 to open the season, the Poplar Bluff girls basketball team headed into the fourth quarter Thursday night down only a point to the Tigers. The Mules missed a chance to take the lead with 2 minutes to play, and Central padded its lead before sinking free throws and the host, 42-36, at the Senior High Gym...

A mixed-up Mules lineup swept all 11 events Thursday as the Poplar Bluff swim team beat Farmington 122-46 at the Black River Coliseum Aquatic Center. Six different swimmers won the eight different individual events as split-up relays pushed each other in the medley and 200-yard events. Poplar Bluff’s 400-freestyle relay had its best time of the season, one of 12 personal records...

When their season-opening tournament was canceled, the Poplar Bluff boys basketball team was able to replace it at a time they had an opening. “We’re just happy and blessed to be able to play a game, to pick up a tournament,” Mules coach William Durden said. “After getting one early in the year dropped, especially this time of year, it’s kind of nice to be able to go there and play.”...

SIKESTON, Mo. — The Poplar Bluff boys wrestling team won a pair of duals Tuesday as the Mules improved to 14-3. Poplar Bluff’s girls earned an 18-12 win over host Sikeston as Alexis Rowland and McKayla Brown each earned pins. The Mules had seven pins in beating the Bulldogs 63-12, and beat Valle Catholic 66-12...

The Cape Central girls swim team lost a rather close contest to Poplar Bluff Tuesday with a final score 97-73. Individual Tiger results from the meet include: 200 Medley Relay: 2. Natalie Voshage, Ella Hahs, Emilie Dickson, Addison Seabaugh - 2:18.50...

DONIPHAN — In less than 3 minutes, the Donettes turned a close game on its head. Doniphan scored 14 unanswered points in less than 3 minutes in the second quarter, tripling its lead to 21 points, and went on to beat Poplar Bluff 56-27 Monday in both team’s first game of the new year...

The Poplar Bluff girls swimming team outscored Jackson overall 110-70 to win a dual held at Jackson High School Monday. Individual Jackson results include: 200 Medley Relay: 1. Maddie Dean, Courtney Huckabee, Emma Morris, Dawson Tally - 2:11.48 3. Callie Shemwell, Lauren Slack, Juli Evans, Haley Bieser - 2:39.14...

ROLLA, Mo. — Poplar Bluff missed a chance to finish off a win in regulation but didn’t miss in overtime to claim a tournament championship Wednesday night. The Mules attacked the basket, scoring six straight points after falling behind for the first time in the entire game in the opening minute of overtime. They gave up just four points in the extra four minutes to beat Rolla 66-58 to claim the three-day Holiday Tournament...

HILLSBORO, Mo. — The Poplar Bluff boys wrestling team rolled through four duals Wednesday but lost to host Hillsboro in the championship match 54-14 to place second at the Don Fuhrmann Duals. “They don’t have any weaknesses in their lineup,” Mules coach Kelton Thompson said of the unbeaten Hawks...

ROLLA, Mo. — After scoring on three of their first four possessions and building a double-digit lead, things got a lot harder for the Poplar Bluff boys basketball team Tuesday night. The Mules struggled to find the bottom of the net and got out of rhythm against a team they had already beaten by 20 just 10 days prior...

ROLLA, Mo. — The Mules broke out of the gate Monday and ran away, building a 42-point lead by halftime. Poplar Bluff beat Gateway City Elite 83-32 to open the Rolla Holiday Tournament at St. James Middle School. The Mules (5-2) will face a Waynesville team they beat by 20 just 10 days earlier in the semifinals Tuesday...

Hunter Jenkins tore a muscle in his right bicep along with two ligaments making a tackle in the third game of the season. “It was bad,” the Poplar Bluff junior said recently. “The doctors told me I’d be out for the rest of the season.” If he took another shot to the arm it could require surgery, Jenkins said...

The magical basketball mystery tour for the Poplar Bluff boys team continues this week with a trip to Rolla for an eight-team tournament. With the Poplar Bluff Showdown being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic as teams were unable to make the trip, the Mules feel lucky to be playing at all, coach William Durden said...

The Jackson girls wrestling team placed sixth out of 12 teams at the Cape Central Tiger Classic Friday, scoring 54 points as a team. Cape Central placed 12th, amassing 5 points as a team. Individual matches include: 102: 4th - Jackson - Kaiden Weisbrod lost to Belle White(North County) 4-2(Fall 0:24)...

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. — After a hot start shooting the ball Saturday afternoon, the Poplar Bluff boys basketball team cooled off. But the Mules never lost their cool, or the lead and beat Waynesville 59-39 to finish the Route 66 Shootout 1-1 after losing by two points to Parkview the previous night...

SIKESTON — Two players scored double-figures in Cape Central’s 49-30 win over the Sikeston seventh-grade team Tuesday. TySeanDre’ Edwards had 16 points, while Marquel Murray had 15. Ben James led Sikeston with 15 points and was the only double-digit scorer. Kobe Thomas had six points, while Will Lape had three, Myion Kirby and Peyton Mitchell two, and Terrell Williams and Drake Williams each had one point...

Both the Jackson boys and girls wrestling teams came out on top in a tri-match with Potosi and DeSoto. The Jackson boys team beat Potosi 72-6 and beat DeSoto 67-6. The Jackson girls team won the overall beating Potosi 30-12 and DeSoto 27-24. Individual match results include:...

Four Delta players were in double figures Monday night as the Lady Bobcats used a huge first half point margin to dominate Charleston, easily winning 83-28. The Holweg sisters(Kendall and Presley) led the charge with 24 and 19 points respectively. Delta led the game at the by a 47 point margin and coasted after that...

CABOT, Ark. — Lucas Robertson took home a hammer Saturday as the Poplar Bluff wrestler won his weight class at the Bring the Hammer Tournament. The Mules finished third as a team as Gatlin Taylor, Jakob Hopkins, Desmond Howell and Logan Ringstaff all finished second as Gavin Hicks, Dace Wisdom and Riley Sater finished third...

POPLAR BLUFF — Olivia Kirkman and Kacey Gregory each won two individual events, Simone Anders was first to the wall in another and Poplar Bluff won a relay to win a home meet Monday. The Mules scored 156 points to beat Notre Dame (108 points) and Saxony Lutheran (33).

In the moments following his team completing a season that was dominating of all opposition faced, Jackson High School football coach Brent Eckley could have accepted the praise that was coming his way – and with good reason – he deserved all of it and then some. However, in a brutally honest comment, Eckley, who had just guided the Indians to a 42-7 beating of Platte County in the MSHSAA Class 5 State Final, turned the acclaim towards his players.

SIKESTON — Fourteen games ago, the Poplar Bluff boys’ basketball team earned a victory over Sikeston. But, streaks are supposed to end, and the Mules did just that on Thursday evening in the third-place game of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Sikeston Field House with an 81-65 victory over the Bulldogs...

The postseason for winter sports in Missouri will look different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MSHSAA announced Friday. MSHSAA released district assignments for winter sports and also announced that it will modify some postseason activities due to concerns with the virus...

By BRIAN ROSENER Sports Editor PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Hannah Corcimiglia sank five 3-pointers as the Poplar Bluff senior scored a career-high 19 points, and the Mules earned their first win of the season Thursday night. After averaging 25 points in their first three games, the Mules got points from six different players in a 45-29 win at St. Vincent...

SIKESTON — Notre Dame defeated Poplar Bluff Mules 61-58 on Wednesday in the championship semifinal round of the SEMO Conference Boy's Basketball Tournament at the Sikeston Fieldhouse to advance to the title game Friday.

The finalists for the Carr Trophy given to the top player in the SEMO Conference were announced Wednesday, a week before the award will be presented at the 75th annual Gridiron Banquet. Jordan Jarrett of Kennett, Jackson’s Connor Tollison and Cael Welker are up for the award given annually since 1979...

The Cape Central girls swim team defeated Jackson Tuesday at Jackson, winning the overall team score. Individual results include: Event 1: 200 Medley Relay- 1. CC- Ava Duncan, Bella Dennis, Marianne Dean, Grace Sanders - 2:03.91 2. Jack- Marissa Pemberton, Courtney Huckabee, Emma Morris, Dawson Tally - 2:07.44...

SIKESTON — Cape Central’s first foray into life after Tyrus Reddin didn’t go as planned Monday. The Tigers didn’t have Reddin, who graduated last spring as the most successful Cape Central basketball player in history, and their inability to score was apparent, as Cape fell to Poplar Bluff 58-42 in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Boy’s Basketball Tournament at the Sikeston Fieldhouse.

Poplar Bluff’s offense has improved each game as this year’s team looks for new scoring threats. The Mules trailed by a point after 10 minutes of play, but steadily fell behind after that, losing to West Plains 48-22 on Monday at the Senior High Gym in Poplar Bluff...

Poplar Bluff outscored Notre Dame, Jackson, and Saxony Lutheran 585 to 318 to 308 to 89 to win the Early Bird Invitational swim meet Saturday. Individual scores include: 1. Girls 200 Medley Relay: 1. Jackson- Marissa Pemberton, Courtney Huckabee, Emma Morris, Dawson Talley- 2:05.63...

SIKESTON — Sikeston dominated Poplar Bluff in the 7th Grade Sikeston Invitational, Wednesday. The Bulldogs had nine players score in its 53-18 win. Kobe Thomas paced the Bulldogs (4-2) with 12 points, while Will Lape, Ben James, and Drake Williams all had seven...

ALL-SEMO CONFERENCE Members of the All-SEMO Conference football team as selected by the conference coaches with a player's school, year, height and weight listed: NORTH OFFENSE QB — Cael Welker, Jackson, sr., 5-11, 185; RB — Daniel Dickerson, Jackson, sr., 5-11, 200;...

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. — Poplar Bluff wrestlers went unbeaten in four weight classes and had five second-place showings as the Mules won the Ste. Gen Scramble on Saturday. Lucas Robertson, Justin Mitchell, Desmond Howell and Gavyn Hays each placed first and combined for 13 pins leading the Mules to their six-point victory...

SIKESTON — Basketball can be a game of runs, which was evident during the Poplar Bluff and Kennett contest on Saturday morning. The Mules went on a 25-1 run after trailing 3-0 to start the game. A run that stretched from the first quarter into the second, and one which saw Poplar Bluff (1-0) lead by 17 points, 25-8, in its 63-29 victory in the play-in game of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Sikeston Field House...

Poplar Bluff won three events and had more top-three finishes than the rest of the field to win the Early Bird Invitational on Saturday. Olivia Kirkman won the 50-yard freestyle for Poplar Bluff, which also won two of the three relays.

The Poplar Bluff High School golf program will be joining the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, the school district announced Friday. R-1 Athletic Director Kent Keith said in a statement that he received a letter Wednesday from the MSHOF Executive Director Jerald Andrews with the news...

DEXTER – There aren’t going to be many opponents feeling sorry for the Poplar Bluff girl’s basketball program this winter after the success it achieved last season.

The Poplar Bluff wrestling program is using protocols for protection against COVID-19 as a way of improving this winter. To protect wrestlers from the virus and keep the team from getting shut down should an outbreak occur, wrestlers are broken up into two groups. Poplar Bluff wrestling coach Kelton Thompson has split the team by skill level with first- and second-year wrestlers in one group and more advanced wrestlers in another...

Having swimmers that are versatile in all the strokes and distances has been a strength of the Poplar Bluff girls swim team, helping the Mules win the program’s second conference title last season. “We’re not big enough to specialize,” Mules coach Beth Lewis-Muse said. “We found out a long time ago when you don’t specialize it makes the team stronger across the board.”...