SIKESTON - One thing about the Sikeston-Poplar Bluff boys basketball rivalry is that it is unpredictable.
Rarely is either team a heavy favorite over the other, and usually it doesn't matter, because the away team always wins.
But heading into Friday night's homecoming matchup at the Field House, the visiting Mules will be heavy favorites against the Bulldogs.
Poplar Bluff enters with an 18-2 record and a No. 3 ranking in Class 4A, the highest such ranking by an area team in that classification since the early 1990s.
The Mules have only lost to New Madrid County Central and Columbia Hickman, both before Christmas. And they avenged their loss to NMCC this past Tuesday 74-73.
In fact, some say this is Poplar Bluff's best team since 1993, when they finished second in the state.
"I'm very impressed with their team," said Sikeston head coach Gregg Holifield. "They have one of the top teams in the state of Missouri. We're really going to have to play well to compete with them. We just have a tremendous amount of respect for Poplar Bluff and their team. But here on our home court, I feel like our players are going to be up to the task."
But Holifield's Bulldogs are anything but predictable. The team is currently 10-9 on the season, with most of their wins being blowouts, but most of the losses being decided in the final minute.
The Bulldogs have had trouble getting on any kind of winning streak due to their tough schedule. But Holifield thinks his team will be ready for the Mules.
"We've been preparing for them the last couple of days," said Holifield. "We're really looking forward to the game. We know their personnel very well from past years. We have an understanding of what they do and we've really been working hard to try put ourselves in a position to compete with them."
The Mules are led by junior guard Tony Webb. At 6-2, the strong, athletic Webb is a force on both offense and defense.
Junior forward Cheron Pearson (6-1) doesn't bring much size to the table, but he is the team's most aggressive rebounder, especially on the offensive end.
Freshman sensation Tyler Hansbrough has picked his game up the second half of the year. He has the size (6-6), fundamentals and athleticism to create matchup problems for most teams.
Senior guards Brent Little and Ben Brummitt are both good, solid players. Little is a superior athlete and a good defensive player. Brummitt is a good outside shooter and he sees the floor real well.
Six-foot-four senior Ed McComb provides solid minutes off the bench as do senior Kyle Young and junior Desi Higgs.
"They're so athletic plus they shoot the basketball very well," said Holifield. "Tony Webb, Little and McComb are very good athletes. Then you have the freshman Hansbrough who is a just a fine player. Then you've got the Brummitt kid who is shooting the basketball very well right now. They have a great inside-outside game -- they basically have the total package going right now."
Poplar Bluff's 18-2 record is the team's best start since 1989, when they reached the state quarterfinals. Holifield knows it will take an improved effort from the past few ballgames to defeat the Mules.
"Offensively they're really gelling right now," said Holifield. "We're going to have a hard time containing them. We will just have to work extremely hard and play with better intensity than we have the last couple of games."
Sikeston is led by junior Lontas McClinton, who averages about 19 points and 10 rebounds per game. Junior guard Lavar Morgan and senior Justin Freeman both average about 12 points per game.
Juniors Michael Colon, Tori Rose and Lawrence Davis are more valuable to the team as defenders and rebounders.
"We play one senior basically so it's a time and point in the season when these juniors have to step up and decide they're going to get something accomplished," said Holifield. "We've got three weeks remaining before the district tournament and I would hope to think that we're going to come out and compete against everybody we're playing."
The Mules, who are the SEMO Conference leaders at 5-0, have defeated Sikeston two straight times in the Field House. The Bulldogs are 2-2 in conference play.
"Every SEMO Conference game is a tough one and this is going to be no different," said Holifield. "We approach every game the same. This is going to be a very difficult game for us, we know that going in and I hope we'll be up for the challenge."