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Lady Bulldogs rout NMCC
NEW MADRID - The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs basketball team picked up a SEMO Conference road win on Thursday night over the New Madrid County Central Lady Eagles, 59-29.
Sikeston took control of the game early with a suffocating zone defense and transition baskets.
"We did a good job of rebounding tonight," said Sikeston head coach Fred Johnson. "After we got the rebound, we got the ball out and ran. Some shots fell for us early and we had a lead and didn't let it go."
The Lady Bulldogs scored the first seven points of the contest, as NMCC could not find the basket early on.
Micah Nesselrodt ended the scoring drought for the Lady Eagles with a 3-
pointer midway through the first quarter.
The Nesselrodt 3-pointer was the only basket for the Lady Eagles in the first quarter, as Sikeston ended the first on a 6-0 run and led 13-3 at the end of the quarter.
"Sikeston was just too athletic for us," said NMCC head coach Lance Tollison. "I was pleased with the way we rebounded, but the girls could not buy a basket tonight."
The Lady Bulldogs kept the pressure on NMCC and went on a 10-0 run in the second quarter and led 25-6 with three minutes to play in the quarter. The Lady Eagles continued to struggle with knocking down shots, while Sikeston was busy with putting NMCC away. At the half, Sikeston led 33-10.
Martika Davis, a 5-foot-9 sophomore, led Sikeston in the first half with 12 points and five rebounds (three offensive).
Allison Blurton had eight points, four rebounds and three assists. Latoya Gipson also had a nice first half with five points and four rebounds for the Lady Bulldogs.
The deficit could have been worse in the first half, if the Lady Bulldogs hit some open shots and easy opportunities.
"We did miss some opportunities in the first half," said Johnson, "but I will take what I can get. Sometimes a lack of concentration can get into the girls mind with a wide-open look. At other times, the girls took the wrong angle on layups. They were going straight at the basket and when you do that, you have to shoot around the goal."
Lameka Newsom led NMCC in the half with five points and had four rebounds.
Nesselrodt was the second leading scorer for the Lady Eagles with her 3-
pointer in the first half.
Sikeston did not relax in the third quarter and put the stamp on the game, outscoring NMCC 14-7 in the third and led 47-17 heading into the final quarter.
"We had our chances early in the game," said Tollison. "If the girls would have made some of the open shots, the results might have been different. Not saying we would have won, just that it would have been more interesting."
NMCC and Sikeston scored 12 points apiece in the fourth quarter, but Sikeston had the big lead and won the game 59-29.
Davis led Sikeston with 20 points and had seven rebounds in the contest. Blurton chipped in with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Point guard Amber Minner had a nice game for Sikeston with eight points, seven rebounds and a team leading five assists.
Keyarra Blissett and Gipson tied for the rebound lead for the Lady Bulldogs with nine apiece.
Heavenly Wren led NMCC with seven points and nine rebounds. Newsom had seven points and seven rebounds, while Tsia Matthews tallied six points and seven rebounds for the Lady Eagles.
Sikeston won the rebounding battle over NMCC 43-34. Sikeston had 18 offensive rebounds, while NMCC had 15 offensive rebounds. The Lady Bulldogs had 15 assists, while the Lady Eagles had five assists.
Sikeston recorded eight steals and NMCC recorded two steals. NMCC committed 14 turnovers in the game, while Sikeston had eight.
NMCC (10-8) will travel to Scott Central on Monday night.
Sikeston (12-5) will also hit the road on Monday, as they will travel to Broseley to take on Twin Rivers.