Lady Bulldogs fall to host St. Dominic 51-42 in first round

sports@standard-democrat.com

O'FALLON -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs fell into the consolation bracket of the 21st Annual St. Dominic Christmas Tournament after a 51-42 loss to the host school on Friday night.

Sixth-seeded Sikeston was scheduled to play No. 7 seed Parkway West on Saturday but results were not available at press time.

Against St. Dominic, Sikeston trailed just 24-23 at the half, but scored three points in the third quarter which allowed the Crusaders to extend its lead.

But it was missed opportunities in the second quarter that left Lady Bulldog head coach Matt Schonhoff shaking his head after the game.

"I think we left too much on the floor in the first half," Schonhoff said. "Missed layups and free throws, which going into halftime we would have had the lead. We would have had the momentum."

Sikeston (4-3) trailed 14-10 after the first quarter but turned up its defensive pressure in the second quarter, recording numerous steals and forcing turnovers, but they were not able to capitalize, sometimes on breakaway layups.

"That's part of the whole frustrating thing," Schonhoff said. "We should be past the nerves. I can't explain it. I don't understand it. In the second quarter the girls got a lot of steals but we couldn't convert. That's definitely the deciding factor I thought. I thought the girls played hard but it's a very disappointing loss."

It led to the offensive drought in the third quarter as St. Dominic took a 38-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

"In the third quarter they really sucked the air out of the ball and the shots we did get up weren't going in," Schonhoff said.

Sikeston got no closer than seven the rest of the way.

The Lady Bulldogs were 16 of 41 (39 percent) from the field and turned the ball over 19 times in the game.

Sophomore Tyeshia Mitchell led Sikeston with 12 points. Junior Erica Peet followed up with nine points, 13 rebounds and five steals.

SIKESTON (42) -- Tyeshia Mitchell 12, Erica Peet 9, Kiera Steward 7, Larissa McClellan 4, Ariana Beard 3, Miranda Harrison 3, Tyra Bonner 2, Alexis Boyd 2. FG 13, FT 7-14, F 19. (3-pointers: Steward 2, Harrison 1. Fouled out: Bonner, Peet).

ST. DOMINIC (51) -- Alex Cook 22, Katie Kasubke 10, Sophie Downey 7, Abby Hermann 6, Madeline Bauer 4, Katelyn Isaak 2. FG 15, FT 18-29, F 14. (3-pointers: Hermann 1. Fouled out: none).