Sports

SIKESTON — Below is a list compiled of the Standard-Democrat area’s 12 best girls’ basketball players: Height: 5’10” Coach: Alisha Wills ABOUT HER: An all-around player for the Lady Bulldogs this season, Allen did nearly everything that Sikeston asked her to do. ...

SIKESTON — In three years playing varsity basketball, Sikeston senior Taydrianna Barnett racked up over 1,500 points. One thousand seven hundred sixty-seven to be exact. That mark earned Barnett Class 4, District 1 All-District, and SEMO Conference All-Conference honors. She is also the 2020 Girls’ Standard-Democrat Player of the Year...

The 2019-20 SEMO Conference all-conference girls basketball awards have been released. Poplar Bluff senior Kiley Bess is the SEMO Conference Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Bess, who has signed to play basketball at St. Louis University, led the conference in scoring with 166 points in regular-season conference action. She averaged a team-high 24 points per conference game...

The 2019-2020 SEMO Conference all-conference boys basketball awards have been released. Sikeston senior Payton Howard is the SEMO Conference Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Howard, who has signed to play baseball at St. Louis University, led the conference in scoring with 175 points in regular-season conference action. He averaged 22 points per conference game...

Carroll Williams is wistful about his long tenure as head coach of the Southeast men’s golf program, ended by the university’s board of regents 15 years ago this spring. “All told, I coached golf at SEMO for 30 years,” Williams said. Williams, 82, is principal of Cape Christian Community School these days, which will be absorbed July 1 by Lynwood Christian Academy...

SIKESTON — Former Sikeston guard Parker Long is heading back to the area. Long announced on Twitter Saturday that he had committed to Southeast Missouri State University and first-year men’s basketball coach Brad Korn.

NEW MADRID, Mo. — New Madrid County Central standout Lily Johnson is taking her softball career to the next level. Johnson recently signed a letter of intent to play softball for Union University in Jackson, Tenn. Last spring, as a junior, Johnson pitched in 19 games for the Lady Eagles. She logged 240 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.16 in 2019...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — After serving as an assistant coach for the past six years at East Prairie, Ian Penrod is taking over the reins for Portageville next season. Penrod will be the third coach in the last three seasons for the Bulldogs, and it will also be his first head coaching opportunity...

BENTON, Mo. — Finishing his third season as head coach at Kelly, Darrin Pruitt earned Coach of the Year honors from the Scott-Mississippi County Conference. After an 8-15 season in his first year, Pruitt has led the Lady Hawks to back-to-back winning seasons, culminating in a 16-11 mark in 2019-20...

The Missouri State High School Activities Association issued an update regarding the status of spring sports amidst the COVID-19 pandemic Tuesday. “While schools across the state are determining the best course of action during this unprecedented time, the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) office staff continues to prepare for Spring Championships,” MSHSAA said in a press release. ...

Area players were honored Wednesday with the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association's All-State team. In Class 1, David Layton of Oak Ridge and Delta's Eric Berry were honored. In Class 2, Oran's Tyson Goodale, Jack Below of Advance, Campbell's Blake Fowler and Neelyville's Curtis Fowler were honored along with Oran's Kaylee Payne and Katie Webb, and Neelyville's Lexi Liau...

SIKESTON — Danny Farmer’s announcement to retire after the state championship game of the Class 3 Show-Me Showdown was one that he told his team at the beginning of the season. For nearly five months, his decision was a secret. On the sidelines with one team for over 20 years, Farmer now heads into a different direction — one without game plans and practices — while the Bluejays do the same...

SIKESTON — It was a dream come true. Those were the words that former Charleston Bluejay Demarcus Sharp said after earning an offer from Dana Ford and the Missouri State University Bears. Sharp announced his commitment to the program on Wednesday via his Twitter account...

For the first time in my life, I’m going to quote someone associated with the New York Yankees. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. When words resonate, you pass them along. “The universe is in a holding pattern,” said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, in speaking to the media Monday from the team’s spring training facility in West Palm Beach, Florida...

Advance senior Jack Below has been named basketball player of the year in the SCAA. Below averaged a conference-high 33 points per game, leading the Hornets to a 23-5 record and a second-place finish in the SCAA standings.

SIKESTON — Multiple Standard-Democrat area basketball players earned spots on their respective All-District teams recently. Sikeston seniors Payton Howard and Clark Steward both made the team for Class 4, District 1. Senior Taydrianna Barnett and sophomore Karris Allen both made it on the girls’ side as well...

SIKESTON — Just as spring sports begin to start through the state of Missouri, a worldwide pandemic shuts all of it down. Still, with a hope that their respective seasons will begin, three Standard-Democrat coaches are looking to hopefully start their seasons and give their seniors a chance to play with their friends one final time...

DENVER, Indiana – Growing up one of five children born to a small-level farmer and his stay-at-home wife, my wife never had the financial resources or the time available to take family vacations.

A slew of basketball players from the Missouri Bootheel have been named to all-district teams. Listed below are the boys and girls all-district basketball teams for Class 1, District 1; Class 2, District 1; and Class 3, District 1. Class 1, District 1 All-District Team...

POPLAR BLUFF — A day after MSHSAA essentially put the spring sports season on hold, Poplar Bluff athletes were practicing in hopes that the season is not lost amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. “I don’t even know what’s going to happen,” Poplar Bluff senior Emily Spencer said Tuesday during soccer practice at Mules Stadium...

After canceling the remaining basketball playoffs Monday, MSHSAA sent an email to schools outlining the status of spring activities amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic. "As of today we are not canceling spring sport championships," the email said. However, if a school has "determined that they are closing for a period of time" then "no practices or games should occur during that time." Schools that are in session make the decision on if and when practices and games should take place...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Long-time Charleston head coach Danny Farmer announced after Saturday's state championship game that he was going to retire. Farmer said that he told his team at the beginning of the season. He finished his career with the Bluejays with a 485-178 record — good for a 69 percent winning percentage...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — It wasn’t their time. Charleston’s quest for a 12th state championship was gone in a hurry on Saturday against Cardinal Ritter in the finals of the Show-Me Showdown at JQH Arena in Springfield. From the second-quarter-on, the No. 2 team in Class 3 never let up on the Bluejays, defeating them 88-32. The score marked the most lopsided win for a team in championship game history in any class...

SPRINGFIELD – Every coach competing in the MSHSAA Boy’s and Girl’s Basketball Semifinals Friday at Missouri State University was pleased to still be playing well enough that their season was continuing, and interim Oran coach Larry Boshell was no different.

SPRINGFIELD – On average, the Oran boy’s basketball team scores 17 points per quarter and generally has around 35 at halftime of its games.

SPRINGFIELD - In early January, no one within the Oran boy’s basketball program knew for sure if the Eagles would be playing at this stage of the season, and it certainly was questionable whether senior forward Todd Priggel would be.

Poplar Bluff and Notre Dame high school officials were working Thursday night to plan for the MSHSAA Class 5 quarterfinal on Saturday featuring the girls basketball team with spectator limits. MSHSAA announced it was making adjustments to the basketball playoffs in a conference call with schools as state and local health officials announced a second case of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in Missouri...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — It wasn’t a typical Charleston Bluejays finish on Friday. The Bluejays trailed 22-20 at halftime, but still clawed their way to a 51-49 win against Monroe City, in the semifinals of the Class 3 Show-Me Showdown at JQH Arena in Springfield...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Guarding East Buchanan freshman Gracie Kelsey proved to be Oran’s downfall on Friday. At 6-1, the freshman put on a show for the limited crowd in attendance, finishing with a game-high 26 points on 10 of 14 shooting. She also neared a double-double, with eight rebounds, and was a pest on defense with five steals, in the Bulldogs’ 66-37 win in the semifinals of the Class 2 Show-Me Showdown, in Springfield...

Andy Sawyers is used to the satisfying sound of a bat making solid contact. The sight of a perfectly executed double play pleases him. An outfielder leaving his feet and successfully snaring a line drive brings a smile. Sawyers, in his fourth year as Southeast Missouri State baseball coach, will have to content himself with memories...

SIKESTON — It all comes down to this. Three Standard-Democrat area basketball teams are vying for a shot at a state championship starting Friday, on the campus of Missouri State University, in Springfield. Both the Oran girls’ and boys’ basketball teams are making the trip, while the Charleston boys’ team joins them...

FARMINGTON — As the Ava boy’s basketball team discovered very early in its MSHSAA Class 3 Quarterfinal loss to Charleston Saturday, it’s difficult to scout – or prepare for – the Bluejays.

FARMINGTON, Mo – With a senior-heavy roster full of returning starters, the Charleston Bluejays entered the season with the same goal as every other year in recent memory: reach the final four and compete for a state title. Despite struggling most of Saturday afternoon offensively against Ava in the Class 3 quarterfinals, the Bluejays third-straight trip to Springfield never felt in doubt...

SIKESTON — Storming the floor is something that the Oran Eagles have done a lot in the past four years. Just as the Oran girls basketball team celebrated on Saturday, the boys followed suit, after defeating Thayer 45-39, in the quarterfinals of the Class 2 State Tournament, at the Sikeston Field House...

SIKESTON — It’s safe to say that there were nerves in the back of Oran junior Katie Webb’s mind as she headed to the free-throw line with the game on the line, Saturday afternoon at the Sikeston Field House. Webb, however, moved past those nerves and sank both of her attempts from the charity stripe — which ended up being the clinching shots — as the Lady Eagles defeated the defending Class 2 state champion Thayer Bobcats, 41-40, in the quarterfinals of the Class 2 State Tournament. ...

SIKESTON — Clay Graviett loves pool. “Whenever I was about three-or-four-years-old, I used to have wooden soda crates,” Graviett said. “I used to stack them up to where I could see over the pool table so I could shoot. I’ve been playing pool ever since I was three-four-five-years-old. I enjoy it.”...

The Oran boy’s basketball team had little margin for error in its Class 2 Sectional game against Brentwood Tuesday at Jackson High School.

POPLAR BLUFF — The Thayer Bobcats dictated the tempo, and the Bernie boys basketball team didn’t knock down shots or rebound well enough to speed things up. The Mules kept kicking, though, in Thayer’s 42-35 victory in the MSHSAA Class 2 sectional playoff Wednesday night at the Libla Family Sports Complex.

JACKSON, Mo – So far this postseason Oran has appeared on another level from their competition. After running away from St. Vincent for a 29-point win in the Class 2, District 3 title game, the Lady Eagles put an even more dominant showing on against Crystal City in Wednesday’s sectional matchup at Jackson High School...

DEXTER, Mo. — It didn’t take long for Charleston to make its presence felt in Wednesday’s sectional matchup against Scott City at the Bearcat Event Center. The Class 3, District 1 champion Bluejays got out to a 10-0 lead in the game’s first 2 1/2 minutes en route to a 91-40 victory over the Rams...

DEXTER - Any time Doniphan got some momentum, Emily Brune took it away. Saxony Lutheran's 1,800-point scorer finished with 29 points as the Crusaders won 63-43 in the MSHSAA Class 3 sectional Wednesday in Dexter. "She's a playmaker. We needed her tonight especially. We struggled," Saxony coach Sam Sides said. "We were kind of hot and cold shooting 3s. We made a few there to get separation, but then we couldn't make anything."...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Thirty-two minutes couldn’t decide a winner between Sikeston and Cape Central in Tuesday night’s Class 4, District 1 Tournament semifinal, at Notre Dame Regional High School. Records get put aside come postseason play, and for Sikeston, that was the case, as the Bulldogs battled to the very end, albeit in a 52-47 loss to the Tigers. The defeat ended Sikeston’s season at 16-10 and was the third-straight loss to Cape Central this season — and fourth altogether...

BLOOMFIELD - With under a minute left and Naylor up by double digits, the roughly three dozen strong in the Naylor student section started chanting "Senior Season" as the team's only senior Faith Sullivan stepped to the foul line. With one senior and longtime basketball and softball coach Gene Deckard entering retirement after this school year, "Senior Season" has been a theme since September...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — At two different points of Monday’s Class 4, District 1 Tournament quarterfinal between Sikeston and Ste. Genevieve, the Lady Bulldogs managed to make things interesting. That though was not sustainable, as the Dragons downed Sikeston 60-48 to end its season at 15-11...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The third-seeded Sikeston Bulldogs made quick work of the sixth-seeded Perryville Pirates in the first round of the Class 4, District 1 Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame Regional High School. The Bulldogs went on an 18-0 run that spanned the first and seconds quarters to blow open the game as Sikeston defeated Perryville 85-28 to advance to the semifinals where they will play second-seeded Cape Central at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — There was no quit from the Sikeston girls basketball team in its first-round matchup, against Dexter, in the Class 4, District 1 Tournament on Saturday afternoon. Trailing by double-digits at different stages of the first half, Sikeston didn’t look nearly its strongest, in its 66-65 win...

FREDERICKTOWN – Spencer Stratman has gained a lot more knowledge through his four years as a student at Scott City High School than just in the classroom.

In each team's final game of the regular season, it was Sikeston capping off a 14-win campaign with a 49-47 home victory over Jackson in recent girl's high school basketball action.

KENNETT, Mo. - A couple of minutes into the third quarter Doniphan Donettes coach Adam Epps elected to change defenses after the New Madrid County Central Eagles scored the first six points of the second half to pad its lead to 42-20. “We knew we had to do something different,” Epps said. ...

KENNETT, Mo. — Charleston hasn’t felt the sour taste of defeat in a district tournament in quite some time. March 5, 2010, to be exact. The Bluejays dominance — once district play rolls around — continued on Friday night, at Kennett High School, as the Bluejays defeated New Madrid County Central, 74-53, to win the Class 3, District 1 Tournament championship...