Area players honored on all-region teams

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

High School basketball

SIKESTON - Several area teams were well represented for the 2006-07 basketball All-Region team as selected by the Southeast Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

In Class 4, 6-foot-5 sophomore forward Michael Porter and 6-2 senior guard Julian Beard of Sikeston were first team selections. The Bulldogs finished second in Class 4, District 1 losing to Notre Dame by two points on a 3-

pointer at the buzzer. Notre Dame captured second place in Class 4 losing to Ruskin by three points in the final.

Porter was sensational for Sikeston averaging 20.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals, 2.5 assists and 2.4 blocks a game for the Bulldogs. Porter shot an outstanding 61 percent from the field on the year.

"Michael has improved from last year," said Sikeston head coach Gregg Holifield. "He has gotten stronger and was our most consistent player all season. I think he was about the most consistent player in the area."

Beard was hampered by a foot injury all year and was never playing at 100 percent. Despite the injury which flared up worse in late February, Beard averaged 15.5 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals per game for Sikeston.

"Julian did an outstanding job for us considering he battled a foot injury for a good part of the season," said Holifield. "Julian is a hard-worker and picked up his game late in the year. He had a good season."

On the girls side in Class 4, 5-10 forward Amanda Dooley of Dexter made the first team. Dooley led a balanced Bearcat attack to 20 wins only to lose to the eventual district champs, Notre Dame, in the semifinals of District 1.

Dooley averaged 12 points, five rebounds and two steals per game for Dexter.

"We had five girls average nine points or more a game this year," said Dexter head coach Gavin Miller. "Dooley could score 20 points per night if need be. She can score from the outside or inside and the good thing for us is, I believe hasn't touched her greatest potential just yet."

Katelyn Heil, a 5-9 sophomore, made the second team in Class 4 for the Bearcats. Heil averaged 11 points and 6.5 rebounds a game. Heil also shot 54 percent field and 44 percent from the 3-point line.

"Katelyn was our most consistent player all year for us," said Miller. "She is probably our best shooter from the floor and is real strong around the basket. Katelyn is a solid rebounder and she is only a sophomore. Like Dooley, Katelyn has not reached her full potential as a player."

Charleston had two players make the first team in boys Class 3. Seniors Justin Clark and Shawn Sherrell were first team selections, while 6-5 center Jamarcus Williams made the second team. The three led the Bluejays to the Class 3 state title.

Clark averaged 19 points and seven rebounds per game, while Sherrell averaged 14 points, six assists and four steals for Charleston. Williams never got over a broken leg he suffered during football season, but he put up respectable numbers of 14 points and 10 rebounds a game.

"Quite simply," said Charleston head coach Danny Farmer who was named Class 3 coach of the year, "we don't win a state championship without those three. They all stepped at one time or another for us during the year.

Jamarcus was never 100 percent and he played in the final four with a badly hurt ankle. He is just a fighter and a winner. Justin carried us all year and when we were almost down and out, Shawn would make a big shot. I had these guys on varsity for four years and we made the final four for four straight years."

Portageville had two players make the Class 3 second team in senior Trey Mosby and freshman Kony Ealy. Mosby suffered a broken arm early in the football season and it haunted him throughout much of the basketball season.

Despite limitations, Mosby still averaged 15 points, five steals, four rebounds and three assists a game for Portageville. Ealy showed flashes of brilliance to come as he averaged 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Tony Jones of East Prairie also made the second team in Class 3. The 6-2 forward averaged 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Eagles.

On the girls side in Class 3, Kelly senior point guard Brittany Ponder was a first team selection. The Lady Hawks won a district title and defeated Doniphan in sectional play. Kelly lost to Class 3 champs Metro in the quarterfinals.

Ponder averaged 10 points, five assists and three steals per game. Sophomore forward Debra Hall was a second team selection for Kelly. On the year, Hall averaged 14 points and eight rebounds.

"Brittany would be the first to tell you that any individual honor is a result of solid team play," said Kelly head coach Rod McQuerter who was named the girls coach of the year in Class 3. "Brittany was a great senior leader and really helped our underclassmen grow and get better throughout the year. Brittany was our leader on the floor and she will be missed."

The Portageville Lady Bulldogs had senior Hannah Rone and junior Kellye Penn make the second team in Class 3. Rone averaged 13 points, four assists and three steals on the year, while Penn had 15 points and eight rebounds for a 20-win Portageville club.

Scott County Central was well represented on the boys Class 1 first team. The Braves had three players make the team in Caleb Johnson, D.D. Gillespie and Drew Thomas.

Johnson averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds per game while shooting 56 percent from the field. Gillespie averaged 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals a game while shooting 55 percent from the field.

Thomas ended his sophomore season averaging 21 points, eight rebounds and shot 53 percent from the field for a Scott Central team that won a district title and finished with 24 wins.

The Bravettes had two girls make the first team in Class 1. Seniors Brittney Peet and Samantha Jones led Scott Central to a district title and played the eventual Class 1 champions, Walnut Grove, to overtime before losing in the quarterfinals.

Peet averaged 18 points, five assists and three steals a game for the Bravettes, while Jones had 15 points and three steals for Scott Central. Head coach Semona Penrod of Scott Central was named coach of the year for Class 1.

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