Expectations remain the same for new-look Sikeston Bulldogs

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Ten years ago if the Sikeston Bulldogs boys basketball team went 27-3 and finished third in the state playoffs, it would have been considered the best season in school history.

But times have changed.

Expectations are different.

The Bulldogs have tasted a state championship.

A third place finish, while a great accomplishment, is simply not good enough anymore.

Last year's 27-3 record is the second best mark in school history behind the 30-0 team in 2011, but it felt like a missed opportunity after falling in overtime in the Class 4 semifinals to Normandy.

Simply put, it was a disappointing finish to a great season.

Despite losing some key players to graduation, including Class 4 Player of the Year Vashawn Ruffin, Sikeston head coach Gregg Holifield returns enough talent to give him hopes of another strong season heading into Tuesday's home opener against Blytheville, Ark.

"Of course, we set our goals pretty high," said Sikeston head coach Gregg Holifield, now in his 16th year at the school. "We want to win the district and move on to the state tournament and compete for a state championship. We fell a little short last year and our guys want to get back to that level, again, this year."

Holifield isn't the only one with high expectations.

The SEMO Conference coaches also expect Sikeston to be strong as evidenced by their voting of the Bulldogs to be the top seed in the upcoming SEMO Conference Tournament in two weeks.

The Bulldogs got the lofty seed despite only two starters returning from last year. But it is a testament to the respect that Holifield has achieved in assembling the powerhouse he has built at Sikeston, compiling a record of 147-20 the past six seasons.

Although the team doesn't have a large number of varsity experienced players, this year's team will feature one of the most senior-laden groups Holifield has ever had.

"We have eight seniors and they've been a group that has had success all the way back to the seventh grade," Holifield said. "There will be some new faces to the varsity that aren't really new faces to our program. A lot of these guys have been around, paid their dues, and are going to have a chance to get out there and contribute this year."

The biggest reason for the high expectations is the return of first team all-state forward J.T. Jones, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior that averaged 18.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game last year to lead the team.

He also led the team with 32 blocks and was second on the team with 100 assists and 57 steals. He has very deep shooting range, hitting 42 3-pointers on the season and is one of the top ball handlers on the team.

"J.T. has been really good," Holifield said. "He's had a great pre-season, showing great leadership. The thing about J.T. is that he loves to win and is a great teammate. He's very unselfish and has been a really good player for us his entire career. He's played in all the big games -- had some great moments. I fully expect him to lead us and have a great senior year."

Jones' front-court mate returning is 6-3 senior Reese Porter, who averaged 9.2 points and 5.3 rebounds last year while hitting a team-leading 63 percent of his shots.

After Jones and Porter, the only player returning that saw significant playing time last year is 6-1 senior Jairius Ray, who was having a breakout summer before suffering a broken leg in late June.

Ray, who averaged six points and five rebounds, including 14 boards in the state semifinal game, is still recovering from surgery on the leg.

Corbyn Blissett, a 6-1 junior who was an expected starter a year ago before missing the entire season with a torn ACL injury in his knee, is expected to have an impact this season at point guard. But his recovery has been halted after breaking his finger, which also required surgery.

It's been a trying offseason for the Bulldogs with serious injuries to two players expected to have major roles on the team.

"Both of them have had significant injuries to overcome," Holifield said of Ray and Blissett. "They are great kids, with great attitudes. Corbyn had to sit out all of last year and came to practice every day, sat, and basically encouraged his teammates from the sidelines all year long. That's tough to do. I know he's very anxious to get back out on the floor this year. Jairius, the same way. I know he is anxious to get out there. He has to be patient, but he has such a great attitude about things. We are very fortunate to have those kind of kids in our program."

One player returning that spent most of the season on the junior varsity until having two breakout games in the final four is 6-3 senior Chris Scott, who has continued to grow into his long, lanky frame.

Scott has 3-point shooting touch and will be depended on for ball handling duties.

"He had a big state tournament for us last year," Holifield said of Scott. "He's getting better and better."

After showing substantial improvement this summer, 6-1 senior Zach Harrison is expected to contribute.

"He's a steady kid that can shoot, is hard-nosed and has paid his dues," Holifield said.

Seniors Dantrell Brown and Marqese Parks, who are both considered among the top defenders on the team, add depth to the backcourt.

Six-foot-2 senior Steven Baker, a state champion track athlete, is back out for the team and will provide strength and athleticism.

Ja'lon Marr, a 6-2 junior, and 6-3 junior Luke Williams will see significant minutes.

Sophomores Dominique Dyes (5-10), Jalen Mallory (5-5), Juwon Kimble (6-1) and Deterio Newman (6-0), will fill out the remainder of the roster.

"We feel really good about our depth," Holifield said. "We feel like we have quite a bit of experience in spots and quality depth. We have a nice mix of senior leadership and some talented younger players, which is always a good thing to have. We have kids who have bought into our system, our way of doing things, and they have a great deal of pride in our program."

The Bulldogs have won five straight district championships and if they have any intentions of keeping the streak going, they will have to maneuver their way through a brutal district tournament that will be held at Cape Central High School.

District opponents Cape Central, Kennett and Notre Dame all return most of its top players from a year ago and all figure to be top teams in the area this season.

"Our district will be as tough as any district in the state, I truly believe," Holifield said. "It will be a very difficult tournament to win and the winner of it will have earned it, that's for sure."

Given Sikeston's current injury situation and its lack of varsity experienced players returning, it may take some time for the team to reach its full potential, but Holifield's goal every year is the same.

"Our goal, like every season, is to come in and work hard every day, get better every day, and be as good as we can be by the end of the year -- we want to be playing our best by the district tournament," he said. "Like any year, we're ready to get started and see where we stand, but I really like the way we've practiced. We've had a great work ethic so far.

"We have a lot of seniors. Many of those guys played in that final four last year, so they know what it feels like to get there and be so close to winning. And we still have two guys -- J.T. and Reese -- that played on that 2011 team, so they know that feeling, too. If everything comes together, I think we can have a really nice team."