Bulldogs open season Monday in the Fountain City Classic

Sikeston’s Cleo Taylor (3) fights for a rebound against New Madrid County Central Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, at New Madrid County Central High School. Taylor will return to the floor with the Bulldogs when Sikeston opens the season Monday at the Fountain City Classic in DeSoto, Missouri. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat)

The Sikeston Bulldogs basketball team will open their season Monday in the 7th Annual Fountain City Boys Classic held in DeSoto, Missouri.

Sikeston was seeded second in the eight-team tournament, after finishing 12-9 a year ago. The Bulldogs won a district title before losing to North County in a Class 5 sectional game.

Sikeston returns Dylan Turner, Cleo Taylor, Carson Beaird, Tyler Owens and Tyren Owens, all who saw plenty of minutes a year ago. Dontrez Williams, Creighton Sarakas, Harrison Arndt and Morgan McCauley will all see minutes as well this season.

The Bulldogs will take on seventh-seeded DeSoto in the opening round Monday at 7 p.m. The Dragons finished 14-12 last season, falling to North County in the Class 5, District 2 Tournament.

DeSoto is 1-1 to open the season, falling to Northwest Cedar Hill 66-43 and defeating the St. Louis Patiots 54-29. The Dragons have been balanced early this season with Dominique Bourn, Cody Petty, Jack Hooper and Michael Schmidt all averaging over 8 points per game.

University City earned the top seed in the tournament, coming off their 16-4 season a year ago. Other seeds are: Poplar Bluff (3), Cape Central (4), North County (5), Rockwood Summit (6), Fox (8).

The schedule is:

Monday

University City v. Fox, 4 p.m.

Cape Central v. North County, 5:30 p.m.

Sikeston v. DeSoto, 7 p.m.

Poplar Bluff v. Rockwood Summit, 8:30 p.m.

Friday (at DeSoto Junior High)

University City/Fox loser v. Cape Central/North County loser, 4 p.m.

Poplar Bluff/Rockwood Summit loser v. Sikeston/DeSoto loser, 5:30 p.m.

University City/Fox winner v. Cape Central/North County winner, 7 p.m.

Poplar Bluff/Rockwood Summit winner v. Sikeston/DeSoto winner, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday

Seventh place game, 2:30 p.m. (at DeSoto Junior High)

Fifth place game, 5:30 p.m. (at DeSoto Junior High)

Third place game, 2:30 p.m. (DeSoto High School)

Championship, 5:30 p.m. (DeSoto High School)