Sikeston snaps 11-game losing streak to Saxony Lutheran with 51-39 win

Sikeston's Amayari Blissett attempts a shot during a girls basketball game against Saxony Lutheran, on Monday, January 4, 2021, at Saxony Lutheran High School, in Jackson, Mo.

Alex Wallner/Standard Democrat

JACKSON, Mo. — For the first time in eight seasons, the Sikeston girls' basketball team upended Saxony Lutheran on Monday night.

In doing so, the Lady Bulldogs not only ended an 11-game skid against the Crusaders but avenged a consolation championship game loss in the SEMO Conference Tournament earlier this season, as well. Sikeston (5-6; 1-0 SEMO Conference) defeated Saxony Lutheran 51-39.

"We had a look at them in the SEMO Conference Tournament, and that was a tough loss for us," Sikeston head coach Alisha Wills said. "We were without two of our players. So, we knew we were capable, we have everybody back, everybody's healthy, and that's what it took — a total team effort. We subbed a lot of people in, rested some legs, and got it after it from the jump."

From the beginning of the game to the time the final buzzer sounded, Sikeston never trailed.

Knowing this was a game they had to win after dropping two-of-three in the St. Dominic Christmas Tournament and four of their last five, the Lady Bulldogs started well offensively.

Sikeston opened the game on an 8-1 run, behind some hot shooting from junior Amyari Blissett.

Blissett hit her first two 3-point attempts of the game and finished with a game-high 21 points. She made five 3-pointers altogether, with her final triple coming right as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter. She shot 5 of 11 (45 percent) from behind-the-arc.

Through eight games this season, the guard has scored over 20 points three times, including each of the last two contests.

"She had a great game in our last game in the St. Dominic Tournament," Wills said. "That confidence carried over, which is what I hoped to see tonight. We did a lot of shooting before we left today, and I think it's taking confidence in her shot, knowing that she can knock it down.

"We have to do a good job of seeing the open people. Looking up, looking around the floor, and finding that open person. If somebody is hot, like she was tonight, then we got to get the ball in her hands."

There are two primary options for Sikeston, and both made their presence felt on multiple occasions Monday night.

Alongside Blisset was junior Karris Allen, who neared a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds. She is averaging 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game this season, playing in all 11 contests.

Despite both of Sikeston's primary weapons having impactful nights, Saxony Lutheran (5-5; 0-1 SEMO Conference) still managed to hang around, as neither team had the smoothest start. Both teams combined for 22 turnovers in the first half, with Sikeston forcing 12 Saxony Lutheran miscues.

"Sometimes you get in such a high gear that it goes both ends," Wills said. "That's what we have to work on; we have to know when to calm down and shut our motor down. Our turnovers came from being too quick and being impatient with things."

The Crusaders trailed by nine points after the first quarter and at halftime and needed a spark to make the game even closer.

That wound up not being the case, though, as Saxony Lutheran finished the contest by getting outscored 25-22 in the second half.

"We have some deficiencies trying to score," Saxony Lutheran head coach Lance Tollison said. "We got to get better at that kind of stuff, and the turnover bug bites us about every other game. Usually, we have to clean it up as the game goes along, but we dug ourselves too big of a hole. That's what it was tonight, we fell too far behind, and we struggled, but we have to keep working."

Senior Alice Hogendobler led Saxony Lutheran with 12 points and was the only double-figure scorer.

Sikeston now owns its first victory over a Class 5, District 1 opponent. It's the first win over a district opponent this season in two attempts.

"This was a big one for us," Wills said. "District, conference, everything, this was a good win. We've been within reach a couple of times and fallen short. I hoped that we had all the components it was going to take tonight to get the job done."

Sikeston hosts Charleston on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

SIKESTON (51) — Amyari Blissett 21, Karris Allen 19, Chelsi Moore 9, Ashanti Moore 2. FG 22, FT 1-3, F 24. (3-pointers: Blissett 5, Allen. Fouled out: Kirsten Fairhurst, Nayla Bonner)

SAXONY (39) — Aliace Hogendobler 12, Maddox Murphy 9, Emma Voelker 5, Abagyle Britton 5, Sydney Turner 5, Ana Mueller 2, McKenna Webb 1. FG 12, FT 11-25, F 13. (3-pointers: Hogendobler 3, Murphy. Fouled out: none)