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SHS rolls past Charleston
SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs basketball team snapped a five-
game losing streak by avenging a loss to Charleston earlier in the year, beating the Lady Bluejays 46-23 at the Field House.
On Senior Night, Sikeston's lone senior, Latoya Gipson, was the star of the game, scoring 22 points with 15 rebounds and five steals.
She dominated the action and nearly single-handedly outscored Charleston (4-15) by herself.
"Latoya's been consistent most of the year," said Sikeston coach Homer Jackson. "I think she's going to leave the team in pretty good hands. We've got a lot of work ahead of us. If we're committed to doing the work I think we'll be okay."
It was one of Sikeston's most complete games of the year. They controlled the boards, forced numerous turnovers and played solid defense.
"I thought that was the difference," said Jackson. "They committed turnovers that we usually commit. Our turnovers were down, and their turnovers created some scoring opportunities for us. They were out-sized and we controlled the boards. Maybe we can build on that when we play Cape."
Sikeston's (4-16) control on the offensive and defensive boards kept Charleston from pushing the ball up the floor.
"We talked about that before the game and at halftime -- we've talked about it all year -- in the game we don't play well, we're not rebounding," said Charleston coach Michael Minner. "For a team like us, we don't shoot the ball real well, we have to rebound so we can get out and run and tonight we didn't do that."
Both teams had trouble finishing shots, including some from close around the basket.
"We came out with a gameplan to run," said Minner. "Apparently they're in better shape than us. We just didn't hit any shots. We got some good lucks early, but when you don't make layups it doesn't allow you to set up and get in a full-court press."
Sikeston trailed only at 3-2 early in the game. The Lady Bulldogs closed out the quarter strong to take a 12-7 lead after one.
Sikeston extended the lead to 22-13 by halftime and essentially put the game away in the third quarter, taking a 31-17 lead heading into the final frame.
The Lady Bulldogs steadily pulled away in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Gipson was joined among the scoring leaders by sophomore Keyarra Blissett with eight points and freshman Monika Gray-el with eight points.
Charleston was led by freshman Jerquawnda Sherrell with 13 points.
"We have those bad spurts where in a course of a two- or three-minute span we can flat out turn it over with anybody," said Minner. "A lot of it is being young. We don't know what to do with the basketball. We're taking some growing pains right now. We return most everybody and we're just trying to build something, but we'll take some lumps along the way."
Charleston will host Chaffee on Monday at 6 p.m. Sikeston will close out its regular season with a road game against Cape Central on Monday at 6 p.m.
In the junior varsity game, Charleston defeated Sikeston 13-12 in one half of action. Shelby Unger, Frankasia Howard and Tasneem Ware each scored four points for Sikeston.
SIKESTON -- The Scott County Central Bravettes dismantled Saxony Lutheran at home on Thursday night, 78-9.
It was over from the tip as state-ranked Scott Central (14-4) ran out to a 24-3 first quarter lead and a 48-5 halftime lead.
Saxony Lutheran, in its first year competing in girls basketball, had no answer for the Bravettes' quickness.
Scott Central had four players reach doubles figures led by Samantha Jones' 24 points. Brittney Peet had 16 points, Brianna Johnson had 12 points and Amanda Lawless added 12 points.
Scott Central will host Kelly on Monday with the varsity game starting at 6 p.m. There will be no junior varsity game.