Scott Central star to play for Three Rivers

POPLAR BLUFF - Region XVI point guards beware. One of the top defenders in Southeast Missouri is coming to a gym near you.

That defender is Scott County Central's Brittney Peet and the 5-5 point guard signed her letter of intent Thursday to play basketball with Three Rivers next season.

"Her quickness is her biggest asset and you can't teach speed," Three Rivers coach Jack Childress said.

"She can give teams fits on the defensive end of the floor."

Peet enjoys playing defense, which may not be said about most high school basketball players.

"I like to play defense and I don't really want to shoot the ball all that much," Peet said.

Peet might be a strong defender, but she can also put the ball through the hoop. She averaged 21 points per game as she led Scott County Central to a 19-8 record and a trip to the state quarterfinal round of the playoffs. She also averaged 7.5 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals per game.

"For her size, she's the best defender in the state," Scott County Central coach Semona Penrod said.

"She'll have to work on her offense but most of that is that she is just too unselfish and doesn't look for her shots."

Peet, who held Naylor's Hailee Deckard to eight points below her season average despite giving up about five inches in height, chose Three Rivers over State Fair and Mineral Area because she wanted to stay close to home so her mom could get a chance to see her play.

"She'll fit right in," Childress said. "When the pressure was on this year she stepped up in the clutch."

Peet outscored Deckard 18-15 in that regular season game against the Lady Eagles and Scott County Central beat Naylor, 40-39. Scott County Central was eliminated from the state playoffs after losing to Walnut Grove in overtime. Walnut Grove went on to win the Class 1 state title.

"I'm proud she's come as far as she has," said Penrod, who retired from coaching this past year after coaching Scott County Central for 13 years and coaching all together for 21. "She was a pleasure to coach and I am excited to see her move on.

"Jack has a great program and I'm looking forward to watching Brittney grow at Three Rivers. She'll be a great asset to the program."