sports@standard-democrat.com
POPLAR BLUFF -- The 55th annual Poplar Bluff Letter Club Basketball Banquet was held on Wednesday to honor the All-SEMO Conference basketball teams.
Topping the list this year was Sikeston senior Vashawn Ruffin, who was presented with the John Gibbs Award for the most outstanding boys basketball player in the SEMO Conference. Ruffin was also selected as the top free throw shooter in the conference after leading the Bulldogs on another run to the Class 4 final four, where they finished third.
Two of Ruffin's teammates, J.T. Jones and Markeith Bratcher, also made the team while Sikeston head coach Greg Holifield was honored as boys Coach of the Year.
Other local players making the cut include Charleston's Michael Hull and Ryan Parham and New Madrid County Central's Willie Jimerson. Jimerson was also named the top scorer in the conference.
On the girls' side, Dexter senior Braittany Harris won the Bob Gray Award for the most outstanding girls basketball player in the SEMO Conference. Harris recently guided the Lady Bearcats to a fourth-place finish in Class 4.
She was joined by teammates Alison Jarrell and Hannah Noe on the all-conference team. Their head coach, Chad Allen, was named the girls Coach of the Year.
Harris was also honored as the top scorer in the area with Noe picking up top free throw shooter honors.
The full list of all-conference players includes:
Boys
Vashawn Ruffin, Sikeston, 5-10, sr.
Karson King, Jackson, 6-5, jr.
Jamal Cox, Cape Central, 6-6, jr.
Michael Hull, Charleston, 5-10, sr.
Willie Jimerson, New Madrid Central, 5-9, soph.
Ryan Parham, Charleston, 5-11, sr.
J.T. Jones, Sikeston, 6-3, jr.
Markeith Bratcher, Sikeston, 6-0, sr.
Blake Reynolds, Jackson, 6-7, soph.
Stacy Gipson, Poplar Bluff, 6-7, soph.
Quinn Poythress, Notre Dame, 6-5, soph.
Girls
Danielle Farmer, Poplar Bluff, 5-1, sr.
Cassidy Harris, Poplar Bluff, 5-10, soph.
Alayah Cooper-Johnson, Cape Central, 5-8, sr.
Brittany Harris, Dexter, 6-0, sr.
Alison Jarrell, Dexter, 5-10, jr.
Danielle Daume, Jackson, 5-5., jr.
Annie Siebert, Notre Dame, 5-6, jr.
Miranda Fowler, Notre Dame, 6-0, sr.
Hannah Noe, Dexter, 5-9, jr.
Megan Williams, Jackson, 5-11, sr.