Stories from Saturday, March 16, 2013

davidj@standard-democrat.com COLUMBIA -- The Dexter Lady Bearcats' trip to the Class 4 final four didn't go as planned. One day after falling to the 12th-ranked team in the nation 66-25, the Lady Bearcats continued to struggle offensively and dropped the Class 4 third place contest to talented Smithville 54-35...

sports@standard-democrat.com COLUMBIA -- One heartbreaking loss was enough. The Sikeston Bulldogs did not want another. After losing in overtime to Normandy on Thursday in the semifinals, the Bulldogs rebounded with a thrilling victory in the Class 4 third place game to defeat Liberty North 55-54 on Friday at Mizzou Arena...

sports@standard-democrat.com ORAN -- Coming off back-to-back Show-Me Showdown appearances, expectations will once again be high for the Oran Eagles as they continue their search for that elusive first state title. Before the Eagles can hope to make any noise in the playoffs, however, they'll have to spend the early part of the season replacing a group of graduates who were crucial to each of Oran's past two postseason runs...

sports@standard-democrat.com CHARLESTON -- If wouldn't be a stretch to call last season one of the worst in the Charleston Bluejays' recent history. After a inspiring run to the final four the year prior, the Bluejays suffered through a 4-20 campaign that featured it's share of growing pains and an almost completely new lineup...

sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- It still weighs heavily on their minds, but the Sikeston Bulldogs baseball team is itching to erase the disheartening way their season ended last year. Just one out away from closing out the seventh-seeded DeSoto Dragons in the Class 4, District 1 tournament, Sikeston booted two balls in the field and allowed DeSoto to take a 3-2 advantage in the top of the seventh inning which led to their early exit...

Excavators are busy along Highway 61 from Sikeston to Matthews clearing ditches. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation the project, designed to improve drainage along the roadway, should take another two weeks.

scottw@standard-democrat.com MINER -- Miner officials are hoping to flood the ballot box with support for a major drainage project. On April 2, voters in Miner will be asked to approve a quarter-cent retail sales tax to fund the project. "We need to get everybody out to vote and support this sales tax," said Alderman Terry Cole. "This is a tax I really think we need to pass. I'm just hoping people understand what we're doing and that we can get the people out to vote on it."...

leonnah@standard-democrat.com EAST PRAIRIE -- Voters in the East Prairie R-2 School District will decide April 2 whether to give Mississippi County its first safe room and multipurpose building, which would benefit students on a daily basis and the community during emergency situations...