PERRYVILLE -- The Class 4 District 1 boys and girls basketball district tournament will be getting underway Monday evening at the Perry Park Center in Perryville.
In the boys' bracket, the Sikeston Bulldogs will be rolling into Perryville with the No. 1 seed, receiving a bye in the first round. Sikeston's first contest will be against the winner of the St. Genevieve (4) vs Dexter (5) game, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening.
"It's going to be difficult," said Sikeston head coach Gregg Holifield. "Our first round game will be against Ste. Genevieve or Dexter, and they're both competitive and well-coached. We can't look past anyone, and we'll have to play well to win it."
Notre Dame received the No. 2 slot in the tournament, and will face the winner of the Fredericktown (3) vs Perryville (6) match-up, which is scheduled to follow the Sikeston game Wednesday.
If the tournament plays out, according to the seedings on paper, Sikeston and Notre Dame will face-off for the third time this season. Sikeston has come out on top on both occasions, but Notre Dame has their big man back in Ryan Willen. Willen is yet to see the Sikeston squad this season on the court.
"They're a good team and they've been playing well," said Holifield, when asked about Notre Dame. "They've won eight or nine straight. If we get to play them, we know we'll have to play well to beat them."
Holifield said that his team has to establish several things in their opening round game.
"We've got to come out and play our game," he said. "We've got to play aggressive defense, and we've got to get the ball where it's supposed to be on offense. It's our basic game-plan for every game."
As far as the girl's bracket goes, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them, as they come in with the No. 6 seed, and will face off on Tuesday evening against the No. 3 seed Fredericktown Lady Cats at 7:30 p.m.
Their contest will follow the Perryville (4) vs Ste. Genevieve (5) contest, slated for 6 p.m.
The Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs were granted the No. 2 seed, while the state-
ranked Dexter Lady Bearcats earned the top seed.
Both Dexter and Notre Dame will receive first-round byes, with Dexter facing the winner of the Perryville vs Ste. Genevieve game. Notre Dame will take on the winner of the Sikeston vs Fredericktown contest.
"Our first opponent will be the winner of Ste. Gen and Perryville," Dexter coach Chad Allen said. "I know that will be another tough game and it's definitely a tough district. It won't be easy to get through it but hopefully we'll persevere and get through it."
BOYS
Monday
(4) Ste. Genevieve v. Dexter, 6 p.m.
(3) Fredericktown v. (6) Perryville, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
(1) Sikeston vs. Ste. Gen/Dexter winner, 6 p.m.
(2) Notre Dame v. Fred'town/Perryville winner, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship, 7 p.m.
GIRLS
Tuesday
(4) Perryville v. (5) Ste. Genevieve, 6 p.m.
(3) Fredericktown v. (6) Sikeston, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
(1) Dexter v. Perryville/Ste. Gen. winner, 6 p.m.
(2) Notre Dame v. Fred'town/Sikeston winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 2 p.m.
From I-55:
Take the MO-51 exit (Exit 129) toward Perryville
Follow MO-51 North for 2.4 miles
Turn right onto US-61/N. Kingshighway. Continue on US-61 for 1.7 miles
Park entrance is located just south of the Perry County Sheriff's Department.