Malden clobbers Bloomfield; Royals slip past Mules

MALDEN -- Bloomfield suffered a disappointing, 70-40, loss on the road Friday against the Malden Green Wave.

Malden out-played Bloomfield in each quarter, taking a 16-11 lead after one and pushing the difference to 36-28 at the half.

"We felt confident with our game plan coming into the contest, but were unable to execute any of it," Bloomfield coach Dustin Hick said. "We knew what we wanted to do, but we never seemed to really get in sync throughout the game.

"We were right there throughout the first half and felt we played poorly," Hicks added. "We had hoped to play with a lot more tenacity in the third quarter and it just wasn't there so we gave our starters some much deserved rest in the fourth quarter."

Kyle Williamson led all scorers with 20 points while Cory Smith dropped in 14, but Hicks wasn't really pleased with the team's overall performance.

"I was pleased with the individual efforts of Cory Smith and Kyle Williamson, but it seemed as a collective unit we were disinterested in the outcome of this game," Hick stated. "It's the first time I can say that about this team all season and hopefully we can respond with a better performance next Friday against Bell City.

Bloomfield slipped to 8-6 on the season.

Twin Rivers 71, Poplar Bluff 70

Kenny Johnson hit a runner with 4 seconds left to lift the Royals in the annual battle of Butler County rivals.

Johnson scored 20 of his 29 points in the second half to lead Twin Rivers.

Jay Raulston scored 17 of his 20 in the second half to lead the Mules.

The Royals led by nine with 4:29 left in the fourth quarter, but Poplar Bluff rallied to take the lead on Raulston's bucket with 1:50 to go.

The teams traded the lead at the free-throw line before Raulston's putback with 17 seconds on the clock.

Twin Rivers inbounded the ball to Johnson who dribbled up court and down the lane for the lead.

Poplar Bluff had a long 3-pointer fall short at the buzzer as the Mules lost their fourth straight.

Chris Kilgore added 19 point for Poplar Bluff while Dylan Stockton added 13 for the Royals, who have won two straight.

Sikeston 63, Scott City 36

SEMO News Service

SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs butted heads with the Scott City Rams Friday night, but when the final buzzer sounded it was Sikeston who stood triumphant with a 63-36 victory.

Last season was a different story when these two teams squared off with the Rams pulling an upset at home over the Bulldogs 68-61.

"We didn't play very well there last year and our players do remember that," said Sikeston head coach Gregg Holifield. "We got a couple players back from last year's team and our young kids saw it too."

Determined not to let history repeat itself, Holifield had that thought on his team's mind as they came out focused and ready to go.

Cal Lane, a 6-3 junior, got the action started for the Bulldogs when he connected on a 3-pointer to put his team up 3-1 in the early going. However, Scott City battled back, eventually tying the game at 9-9 on a Jay Simmons 3-pointer with 1:40 left to play in the first quarter.

This would be the last time the Rams would be in shouting distance for the lead as Sikeston turned up the volume on both sides of the ball, going on a 10-0 run to close out the first period.

"I thought we came down, rushed shots and didn't have a real good shot selection in the early going," said Holifield. "Once we settled in and became patient, things picked up and we kind of got the things we wanted.

"Overall we came out with good intensity and our defensive effort was good."

Scott County Central 75, Charleston 70

SEMO News Service

CHARLESTON -- "Rebounding." That's what 6'1 senior Caleb Johnson said gave his Scott County Central Braves (12-2) the edge in their game against the Charleston Bluejays Friday night. The Bluejays (10-6) went into the rivalry game with a slight height advantage over the Braves, but, Scott Central out-rebounded and out-scored the Bluejays on their way towards the victory, 75-70.

"We had to hit the boards," Braves coach Ronnie Cookson said. "That was one of the key things we had to do. We couldn't let them get the ball and start running with it. If we didn't rebound, we were going to be in trouble."

Scott Central did that and more, recording 34 total rebounds. Johnson was responsible for 13 of those 34 for the Braves, and also led all scorers with 26 points.

Charleston recorded 23 total rebounds.

The Braves jumped out to take a 20-8 lead after one quarter of play. Scott Central kept the lead at around ten points for most of the second, but bumped it up to 13 points going into halftime with a 37-24 lead.

In the third quarter, the Bluejays cut the lead down to as little as four after a two hand slam by Brian Parham and a five-footer by Jerquawn Sherrell made it a 43-39 ball game. But, Scott Central ended the third quarter with a run of their own, out-scoring the Bluejays 15-4 to make it a 57-43 game with one more quarter left to play.

The Braves kept adding on to their lead during the fourth quarter, going up by as much as 18 points at on time. Charleston would battle back though, mostly from 3-point shooting by Antonio Riggens and Donal Dixon who hit four 3-pointers down the stretch, to make it a 75-70 final.

New Madrid County Central 62, Cape Central 60, OT

By Josh Mills

SEMO News Service

NEW MADRID--New Madrid County Central won it's fifth game in a row on Friday night, as they defeated the Cape Central Tigers in an overtime thriller, by a score of 62-60.

The game started off with a quick 3-pointer from Cape Central's Anthony Watts, only to have the favor returned on NMCC's first possession by Dontre Jenkins, and that set the tone for the whole evening.

After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Eagles took over the lead 19-12 heading into the second.

The Tigers went on a short 3-point shooting frenzy late in the second quarter, with Shane Nolen's two 3-pointers and one from Anthony Watts, sending Cape Central into the locker room at halftime with a two point lead, 33-31. The Tigers outscored NMCC in the second quarter 21-12.

At halftime, NMCC head coach Travis Day said he told his kids that they were starting to look like the Eagles' teams of the past.

"(I told them) I thought that in the second quarter, we took a step back from how we've been playing," Day said. "They hit about two or three 3-pointers in a row on us, and I thought we hung our heads and started feeling sorry for ourselves. I basically challenged them, I said 'Guys, I don't care who's in this locker room, we're going to battle. You're either with me or you're not'."

Day's challenge must have gotten through, because in the second half, the Eagles came fighting back, stepping up the defensive pressure out front on Cape Central, causing the turnover's to start raining down instead of the 3-pointers.

Although the Tigers outscored NMCC in the third quarter, 13-10, the momentum was beginning to swing the Eagles way, as they headed into the fourth and final quarter of regulation.

In the fourth quarter, the game had countless lead changes after NMCC battled their way back from an eight point deficit.

It was Jenkins once again from beyond the arc for the Eagles, evening the score at 49 apiece with 4:29 left to play, and from there the madness began.

Two minutes after the big 3-pointer, Jenkins fouled out, causing NMCC to rely on a bench player to run the offense. The Eagles handled the pressure well, and despite having Kony Ealy, Lance Price and Justin Beasley all in foul trouble, they battled into the final minute of regulation, where it was Ealy who followed up a Price missed lay-up, for a rebound, followed by a foul, and a chance to even the score back up at 55.

Ealy hit one, and the score was evened, leaving Cape Central a chance to go for the win after calling a timeout with 5.8 seconds left.

The Tigers drove the length of the floor, and a desperation 3-point attempt failed to connect, setting up bonus action in overtime.

The overtime began the same way that regulation did, with NMCC controlling the tip, but giving up points to Cape Central first, as Nolen scored two to put the Tigers ahead 57-55.

Chase Johnson was then sent to the line after a missed opportunity on the Eagles end of the floor, where he hit one of two, extending the lead to 58-55 in favor of Cape Central.

With 1:49 remaining, Price was sent to the line for NMCC, hitting one of two, and the next trip down the court, he was the defensive force, causing a turnover with a steal, and setting up Josh Minner for a shot in the lane, where he was fouled.

Minner was clutch, as he hit both free-throws, tying the game at 58.

The next visit to the Tigers end of the floor was also unkind, as it was Price again with the steal, who in turn set-up Ealy with two points from inside the paint, giving NMCC a 60-58 lead.

Cape Central seemed to be going down, until Bell drove the lane, dropping a spin-move on the Eagle defense and converting for two points and the tie at 60 apiece, with 40 seconds remaining on the clock.

NMCC inbounded the ball, and Day quickly called a timeout with 33.7 left to go in overtime.

As the crowd began to gather along the rails in the upper-deck in the NMCC gym, Price had possession of the ball and took control, driving the lane and with 3.2 seconds left he hit for two points as the Tiger defense came up too late.

Cape Central had 3.2 left on the clock, as it was Jajuan Bell who had a chance for the highlight, but his shot failed to connect, sealing the fifth win in a row for the Eagles, with the 62-60 win.

"This was a heck of a game," Day said. "It was one of those I wish I was in the stands watching. What I like about our team was that we kept fighting. We had a few out due to sickness, and we lost our point guard halfway through the fourth quarter, but we kept fighting."

"They're (Cape Central) a great 3-point shooting team," he added. "We just needed a couple of those to not fall, and they helped us out there."

Price, who hit the game winning shot, for a moment was speechless after the game.

"It felt great," Price said. "I was thinking that I had the ball in my hands, and it was all on me, because I missed the first two free-throws. (Cape Central's) defense was real tough, and they played hard. It was a battle."

Price finished the game with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Ealy led the Eagles in scoring, with 15 points, going 5-for-6 at the line. He also recorded 15 rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block.

Minner chipped in 14 points, nine rebounds and a block, while Jenkins helped out with 13 points and five steals.

On the losing end, Cape Central was led by Bell in scoring, with 20 points, going 4-for-7 at the charity stripe and connecting on two 3-pointers, while Watts and Nolen each added 13 points apiece. Watts had three 3-pointers of his own, while Nolen hit two 3's.

NMCC hosts Twin Rivers on Tuesday, with junior varsity action starting at 6 p.m. and the varsity contest to follow.

In junior varsity action, Cape Central came out on top, 66-31.

The Tigers trailed by one after the first quarter, but outscored NMCC in the second quarter, 23-2, and 30-15 in the second half, sealing the victory.

Blake Ozbun led in scoring for Cape Central with 22 points, connecting for two 3-pointers.

For the Eagles, Tyler Johnson scored 12, going 4-for-7 at the line.

Portageville 67, South Pemiscot 58

STEELE -- The Portageville Bulldogs defeated the South Pemiscot Bulldogs on the road Friday night 67-58.

Portageville led 32-30 at the half and increased their lead to 49-44 after three.

Portageville (7-5) was led in scoring by Byron Wright's game-high 19 points. D.J. Birdwell 15, Terrale Jones 11.

South Pemiscot was led by Caleb McIntyre 15 while Maurichio Clay and Bruce Smith each chipped in 11.

Portageville will be in action again Friday when they host Malden.

Oran 64, St. Vincent 54

ORAN -- The Oran Eagles defeated St. Vincent at home 64-54 Friday night.

The Eagles trailed going into the fourth quarter 42-41, but outscored St. Vincent 23-12 in the final frame.

Cody Romas and Cody Campbell led Oran with 19 and 18 respectively while Kurt Rendlemen added 10.

St. Vincent was led by Justin L'Hote's 16 and Josh Rollet's 13.

Oran (6-7) will be in action again on Tuesday when they take on East Prairie in the first round of the Scott-Miss Tournament held in Delta.

Campbell 75, Risco 64

RISCO -- The Risco Tigers fell behind 19-11 after one quarter and never could recover, falling to Campbell 75-64 at home Friday night.

"We didn't play bad" said Risco coach Brandon Blankenship. "We only had 14 free throws and hit almost 80 percent from the free throw line. Campbell just played better than we did."

Kyle White led Risco with a game-high 23 points. Michael Davis and Kyle Hayes had 12 and 11 respectively.

Campbell was led by Jordan Baggett's 19 points. Andrew Pearson and Justin Fowler chipped in 14 and 11 respectively.

Risco (2-9) will travel to Cooter Tuesday.

In junior varsity action Campbell won a close contest 51-47. Risco was led in scoring by Zack Williams who finished with 20. Joe Campbell had 22 for the Camels.