Second half push lifts Sikeston eighth grade, seventh grade falls to Bluff

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Overcoming a one-point halftime deficit, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs eighth grade basketball team rode a hot second half to a 35-23 win over Poplar Bluff on Tuesday.

Sikeston trailed 11-10 at the break, but outscored the Lady Mules 14-8 in the third quarter to take a five-point lead into the fourth. Tebrya Benford and Zaria Blissett Hall contributed six points each in the rally while Deonna Clemons add the only other basket in the quarter.

Sikeston out-paced Poplar Bluff in the fourth quarter 11-4 to hold on for the win.

"We trusted each other and started playing together," Sikeston head coach Keyth Blissett said of the strong second half. "They started looking for the best place to be successful and the best place to put the ball. When they did that they learned a little bit."

Sikeston's Zaria Blissett Hall puts up a shot against Poplar Bluff on Tuesday in an eighth grade contest at Sikeston Junior High. (Brent Shipman photo)

Sikeston's Zaria Blissett Hall puts up a shot against Poplar Bluff on Tuesday in an eighth grade contest at Sikeston Junior High. (Brent Shipman photo)

Benford led the cause with a game-high 14 points on the night while Hall was close behind with 13 points.

In seventh grade action, the Lady Mules bested the Lady Bulldogs 49-14 to leave Sikeston with a split on the night. Poplar Bluff jumped ahead 22-5 heading into the second quarter and never looked back.

Megan Witt and Taydrianna Barnett scored five and four points for the Lady Bulldogs respectively.

The loss comes on the heels of a 23-22 decision over Jackson on Monday.

Sikeston's eighth-grade now stands at 7-2 on the season with the seventh grade at 5-3.

The Lady Bulldogs will host Dexter Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. in their final home games.

Eighth Grade

Sikeston 4 6 14 11 - 35

Poplar Bluff 5 6 8 4 - 23

SIKESTON (35) -- Ashton Jordan 2, Sydney Stark 3, Tebrya Benford 14, Zaria Blissett Hall 13, Deonna Clemons 3. FG 15, FG 4-8, F 10. (3-pointers: Stark 1. Fouled out: none.)

POPLAR BLUFF (23) -- Berry 2, Deken 2, Gregory 6, Rowland 13. FG 11, FT 1-5, F 8. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)

Seventh Grade

Sikeston 5 4 5 0 - 14

Poplar Bluff 22 11 10 6 - 49

SIKESTON (14) -- Taydrianna Barnett 4, Miranda Witt 2, Megan Witt 5, Gabrielle Talley 3. FG 4, FT 6-16, F 11. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)

POPLAR BLUFF (49) -- Bess 19, Turner 2, Bass 2, Kingree 5, Alexander 8, Misner 13. FG 21, FT 6-12, F 14. (3-pointers: Bess 1. Fouled out: none.)