Sikeston wrestlers nip NMCC

SIKESTON -- It came down to the final match of the evening as Sikeston edged New Madrid County Central 42-36 in a dual wrestling meet at the Field House on Monday.

With NMCC leading 36-30 and Sikeston assured of six more points with a forfeit in the heavyweight division, the outcome of the match rested on the result of the 215-pound match between Sikeston's Chris Northern and NMCC's Jeremy Brooks.

Northern clinched the win for the Bulldogs with a pin of Brooks at the 1:40 mark.

Craig Burton, a 119-pounder, won the only other Sikeston match that wasn't decided by default. Burton pinned Maywon Gates in 23 seconds. Sikeston, 4-7 in duals, won five matches by forfeit to three for NMCC.

"The few kids that we actually had wrestle just did not wrestle well," said Sikeston coach Ivan Robison.

"This Monday night dual was tough for us because we wrestled Thursday, then Saturday and the kids had to make weight again today. They've had to make weight now three times in six days and that's just really hard for a kid.

"We had a couple that had to cut six or seven pounds by tonight and they were just totally wore out when it came time to wrestle."

Sikeston hits the mats again on Friday for a two-day, 15-team event, the St. Charles Tournament.

Complete results

103 -- Dee Bizzell (S) won by forfeit.

112 -- Open

119 -- Craig Burton (S) won by pin fall vs. Maywon Gates, 0:23.

125 -- Cole Burch (NM) won by pin fall vs. Cody Anderson, 5:40.

130 -- Martez Bobo (NM) won by pin fall vs. Seth Baker, 5:09.

135 -- Logan Berry (S) won by forfeit.

140 -- Ashton Cantrell (S) won by forfeit.

145 -- Gavilan Bland (S) won by forfeit.

152 -- Jake Vandever (NM) won by pin fall vs. Zach Friend, 2:31.

160 -- Delimio Taylor (NM) won by forfeit.

171 -- Ryan Fowler (NM) won by forfeit.

189 -- Demarcus Allison (NM) won by forfeit.

215 -- Chris Northern (S) won by pin fall vs. Jeremy Brooks, 1:40. 275 -- Joe Johnson (S) won by forfeit.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

CARUTHERSVILLE -- Ali Blurton was clutch in the closing moments as Sikeston nipped Caruthersville 75-73 on Monday night.

Blurton sank six of seven free-throw attempts and what proved to be the game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter to cap a come-from-behind victory for the Lady Bulldogs.

"She (Blurton) really stepped up," said Sikeston coach Tiffany King.

Blurton (29) and Whitney McCray (21) combined for 50 points as Sikeston improved to 4-8.

The Lady Bulldogs went to the free-throw line a whopping 38 times, converting 20.

The Lady Tigers were 5-for-13 from the charity stripe.

Leola Hubbard paced Caruthersville with 18 points, while Fanchor Wiley and Kyisha Ricks added 16 and 10, respectively.

Sikeston hosts Notre Dame on Thursday with the junior varsity tipping off at 6 p.m.

STEELE -- Portageville's Lady Bulldogs clinched the win with five seconds remaining in a Bootheel Conference barnburner with South Pemiscot on Monday.

With the score knotted at 56, Portageville's Lauren Kellams stepped to the line and sank one of two free throws for the game winner.

Trailing by five points with two minutes to go, the Lady Bulldogs (9-1, 5-0) rallied to take a three-point lead on Cheryl Smith's two free throws with 20 seconds left.

Then at the 14-second mark, South Pemiscot's A. Booker drilled a 3-pointer to tie the contest at 56.

"I told the girls this was going to be our biggest test of the season so far," said Portageville coach Eric Ellerbrook, "and they stepped it up and beat a good team, a well-coached team."

Hannah Rone and Faith Long topped the Portageville scoring column with 13 and 12, respectively.

Shubanks led South Pemiscot with 19, while A. Booker had 14 and M. Booker 12.

Portageville's junior varsity (5-0) defeated South Pemiscot 35-24.