Complete game

Sikeston wears down Portageville in second half

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- An all-around game from the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs helped them race past the visiting Portageville Lady Bulldogs 70-45 Monday at the Sikeston Field House.

As a whole, Sikeston shot 38 percent from the floor but went 6 of 15 from behind the arc (40 percent). Sikeston shot 43 percent from inside the 3-point line while four players scored in double digits.

"If you play good defense and hit shots, you're probably going to win," Sikeston head coach Matt Schonhoff said. "I thought we did that well tonight. All of it -- offense, defense -- everything was good tonight."

Mikala Nichols led the way with 19 points, including three 3-pointers. She also dished out six assists. Erica Peet, who led the team with 12 rebounds, scored 16 points. Yolanda Johnson poured in 14 points after shooting 6 of 8 from the floor. Hayli Chapman chipped in with 12 points, which included two 3-pointers.

"Outside shooting is something we've been working hard on," Schonhoff said. "Throughout the year we have not been a good shooting team from the outside. Sometimes luck comes our way."

After a tight first quarter where Sikeston (6-15) captured a 13-12 lead, the home team started to separate themselves from Portageville.

Behind eight points from Johnson, Sikeston outscored Portageville 21-15 in the second quarter to take a 34-27 advantage with them into halftime.

"I think we played pretty well in the second quarter," Portageville head coach Barry Branscum said. "I thought we moved the ball well and handled the press well. We were getting shots we wanted and I think that's why it was as close as it was at halftime."

Portageville hit a bit of a snag within their starting lineup when starter Jennifer Ifland, who had scored eight points up to that point, suffered a head collision which sidelined her for the remainder of the game.

"We got into some foul trouble and had (Ifland) go down. Those aren't excuses, but (Sikeston) did a good job of making us turn the ball over," Branscum said.

The third quarter is where Sikeston made their mark.

Peet scored 14 of her 16 in the third, continually beating Portageville (8-14) in transition or simply taking the ball away as head of the defensive press for a quick score.

Sikeston held a comfortable 54-31 lead going into the final period.

"They did a really good job of pressuring us in the third quarter," Branscum said. "We had a little trouble handling that."

Sikeston, who was given the sixth seed for the upcoming Class 4, District 1 tournament, claimed a lead as big as 30 points while in the fourth quarter.

"I see us right now as we were right after Christmas," said Schonhoff, referring to when the Lady Bulldogs won their first three games following Christmas break. "For us to compete we have to play extremely hard. Hopefully, this is a start to the final three games of the regular season for us and have a good head on our shoulders going into districts."

Portageville 12 15 4 14 -- 45

Sikeston 13 21 20 16 -- 70

PORTAGEVILLE (45) -- Brianna Pitts 4, Jill Kellams 12, Jenna Hawkins 1, Jennifer Ifland 8, Taylor McCoy 20. FG 17 FT 10-19 F 14. (3-pointers: McCoy 1. Fouled out: none.)

SIKESTON (70) -- Hayli Chapman 12, Dominique Roach 2, Mikala Nichols 19, Erica Peet 16, Miranda Harrison 3, Yolanda Johnson 14, Alana Basham 4. FG 28 FT 8-14 F 17. (3-pointers: Chapman 2, Nichols 3, Harrison 1. Fouled out: none.)