sports@standard-democrat.com
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston eighth grade basketball team advanced to the championship game of the Cape Central Junior High Tournament with a 48-19 win over the host school on Wednesday night.
Sikeston bolted out to a 13-3 lead and a 34-5 halftime lead and were never threatened.
The Bulldogs played without leading scorer Kevin Jones who missed the game due to illness, but coach Derek James was pleased with the way his team performed in his absence.
"I was really happy with the way our guys stepped up and took care of business," James said. "That is the sign of a true team when you take away a player of Kevin's caliber and players fill his absence and don't miss a beat. I'm really proud of the team."
Sikeston was led by Trey Jenkins with 16 points. Drayton Pobst followed up with seven points.
The Bulldogs (14-0) will play Poplar Bluff for the championship tonight at 6:15 at Cape Central Junior High.
Sikeston 13 21 9 5 -- 48
Cape Central 3 2 8 6 -- 19
SIKESTON (48) -- Trey Jenkins 16, Drayton Pobst 7, Nathan Pullen 6, Jashawn Sherrell 6, Nate Self 5, Elijah Faulkner 4, Noah Hicks 2, Ricky Scott 2. FG 18, FT 9-21, F 16. (3-pointers: Self 1. Fouled out: none).
CAPE CENTRAL (19) -- Anthony Brown 13, Chalen Robinson 2, Trevaughn Robinson 2, Alex West-Pardon 1, Hayden Smee 1. FG 6, FT 7-16, F 13. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: T. Robinson).
__Freshman__
__Sikeston 68, Cape Central 54__
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston freshman basketball team defeated Cape Central 68-54 Wednesday on the road.
Don Larry led Sikeston with 20 points. Titus Fields added 14 and Austin Branch chipped in 10.