SHS overcomes Scott City rally to win in OT

Sikeston's Keyonna Blissett and Scott City's Stacey Heisserer try to track down a loose ball in the first quarter on Thursday night at the Sikeston Field House. Sikeston won the game 59-53 in overtime. David Jenkins, Staff

SIKESTON -- It took overtime, but the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs were able to extend their current winning streak to six games while handing visiting Scott City only their third loss of the season in the process.

After bringing a 10-point advantage into the fourth quarter Thursday evening, the Lady Bulldogs watched the Lady Rams mount a late comeback to tie things up at 52-52 with 42 seconds left in regulation, sending the two teams into overtime.

There, Sikeston's defense forced four Scott City turnovers while Taneshia Pulley and Asia Liggins opened the frame scoring back-to-back baskets in helping propel the Lady Bulldogs to a 59-53 victory.

"I think the big thing tonight was our pressure," Sikeston head coach Matt Schonhoff said. "I think we tired them out. When we're just constantly pressuring, putting good ball pressure on, we're a tough team to beat."

Opening the game on an 8-2 run in the first three-and-a-half minutes of play, the Lady Bulldogs (13-6) were able to grab the lead early and hold it through the first three quarters of play. It was after Sikeston's Keyonna Blissett opened the fourth quarter with a basket to extend her team's lead to 12, that Scott City started to chip away at their deficit.

Starting when Andrea Gray hit a free throw with just over seven minutes left in regulation, Scott City (14-3) opened up a 10-2 drive that pulled the Lady Rams to within four points of Sikeston with 4:51 left in the frame.

The final points of the run came in the span of 11 seconds as Katie Hogan stole a Sikeston pass leading to Michaela Cobb getting fouled going up for a shot, hitting both the basket and the free throw. Just seconds later, Katie Rhymer turned a Lady Bulldogs' turnover at mid-court into another two points to close the gap to 47-43.

Following Sikeston pushing their lead back out to six, the Lady Rams hit four consecutive free throws in the final two minutes of regulation to cut their deficit to two before Hogan dropped in one last bucket from the paint with 42 seconds left to tie the game at 52-52.

"They showed how much they wanted it in the second half," Scott City head coach Ricky Keller said of his team. "I think we finally started taking care of the ball. Our pressure I thought hurt them in the fourth quarter.

"We probably should have went to it a little bit earlier."

Though both teams got final shots off in the last 30 seconds, each came up empty handed to force overtime.

It was after both teams had came up unsuccessful on their first few drives that Pulley put her team ahead for good, driving up the lane for a basket with 2:54 left to play.

Following Liggins above mentioned basket on an open shot in the paint, Scott City's Lindsey Ressel scored the Lady Rams' only point in extra frame, hitting the first of a one-and-one.

Sealing the game, Pulley hit 1 of 2 free throws before Liggins dropped in the final bucket with 1:14 left.

"We played really well as a team," said Liggins. "We capitalized on their mistakes and if we made a mistake we didn't get down. We just played hard and stayed focused throughout the whole game."

Schonhoff credited his team's execution on defense from letting Hogan dominate the game like she's capable of.

"I think we had like 43 or 44 deflections and 26 or 27 steals," he said. "We were able to harass them to where it kept Hogan back and allowed some other people some shots.

"While they were being hurried we were able to get rebounds, outlets and attack the basket."

Leading the charge for the Lady Bulldogs, Liggins finished the night with 22 points, shooting 9 of 11, while grabbing 10 rebounds and two steals. Blissett added 13 points and 11 steals to Sikeston's cause.

For the Lady Rams, Hogan came away with 20 points, on 8 of 13 shooting, 16 rebounds and five blocks. Stacey Heisserer had 14 points and three steals.

SCOTT CITY (53) -- Lindsey Ressel 5, Stacey Heisserer 14, Michaela Cobb 16, Melanie Lacey 2, Katie Rhymer 5, Katie Hogan 20, Andrea Gray 1. FG 18, FT 15-21, F 21. (3-pointers: Hogan 2. Fouled out: Lacey, Gray)

SIKESTON (59) -- Tyangela Gibson 8, Keyonna Blissett 13, Darqueshionna Howard 2, Vonteria Applewhite 8, Asia Liggins 22, Janai Ivory 1, Taneshia Pulley 3, Aleah Little 2. FG 26, FT 7-24, F 20. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)