Sikeston uses quick start to trounce Mules

Sikeston's Corey Porter (43) shoots between Poplar Bluff defenders Jake Rathbun, left, and Kendric McCain (5) during a SEMO Conference game Friday in Poplar Bluff. (Paul Davis, SEMO News Service)

POPLAR BLUFF -- There have been moments this season when the Sikeston Bulldogs look like an unstoppable force.

The first quarter against Warrenton and the second quarter against Farmington rank as two of those moments.

Add the first quarter against Poplar Bluff to the list as they demolished the Mules 71-26 in a SEMO Conference tilt on Friday night at E.T. Peters Gymnasium.

The Class 4 No. 1 ranked Bulldogs blitzed Poplar Bluff with a 29-5 first quarter and put it on cruise control the rest of the way as they improved to 20-0 on the season.

It's the fifth time in the last six seasons that Sikeston has hit the 20-win barrier.

"That's a great achievement for our program and we're happy to do it, but we have to stay focused on our goals and what we want to accomplish," Sikeston coach Gregg Holifield said.

The Bulldogs were focused on Friday as they jumped out to a 17-2 lead, and just like that, the rout was on.

"We came out with good energy and pressure on the basketball," Holifield said. "We forced some turnovers and just got going. That's how we play and that's how we have to play. I think our players did a really good job of coming out and creating turnovers and forcing tempo."

Seniors Will Holifield and Darryl Howard did the most damage as they combined for 19 of the team's 29 points in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs scored 20 of those points off of 13 Poplar Bluff turnovers.

Sikeston forced 32 turnovers in the game, leading to 43 points.

"Even the best teams on any given night get hit with buzzsaws -- for us, this was a buzzsaw game," Poplar Bluff coach Lamont Frazier said. "From the time they threw it up, they were after it. Good ball team -- that team is a team on a mission. When you have a team that's committed to being that successful, it's great to be a coach."

While the Bulldogs were converting turnovers into points, the Mules simply could not find any space to shoot. The times they did have open looks, they rimmed them out -- sometimes from point blank range.

"I thought defensively we did a good job of getting to their shooters on the catch, not allowing them to have looks," Holifield said. "We extended out and we try to protect the 3-point line and tonight on the catch we were getting to shooters -- by the time they caught it we were up in them and made it difficult, from their perspective, to get open looks."

The Mules (10-12, 2-2 SEMO Conference) went just 1-for-10 from 3-point range and shot just 10-32 from the field overall.

Frazier indicated that Sikeston's fast-paced style of play forced his team out of its comfort zone.

"That's the way they play -- we knew it coming into it," Frazier said. "The two styles are completely different. They can live with some of the mistakes that we can't live with just because our personnel doesn't allow us to run it up and down the floor and make mistakes. We really have to be solid in terms of execution on both ends of the floor."

After Sikeston's first quarter explosion, the Mules settled down a little and played their strongest basketball of the night, but still trailed 45-18 by halftime.

Sikeston blew the game wide open with a 19-6 third quarter to lead 64-24 heading into the fourth quarter to enforce the mercy clock the rest of the way.

"By facing (Sikeston) you get a measuring stick," Frazier said. "You measure where you are. For me, I'm glad we had it. I wish things would have been a little different but they weren't. They're a good ball team but i honestly think we're a good ball team."

Holifield and Howard each scored 18 points and each had four steals to lead the Bulldogs.

"I thought Will played well -- he shot the ball well," Holifield said. "He was good defensively and he closed out on shooters. He had a good night. Darryl had great energy and did a great job up front on our press and really set the tone and tempo. And he hit some big shots."

The Bulldogs out-rebounded the Mules 32-22 and the recorded a whopping 25 steals.

Sophomore Vashawn Ruffin came off the bench to score 10 points with four assists. Janeil Hatchett had seven rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Poplar Bluff was led by Kendric McCain's seven points. The Mules played without leading scorer Jake White, who was out with an ankle injury.

"I wish Jake well -- he's worked hard and he's a good player," Holifield said. "(Poplar Bluff is) a good team. They're a contender in the 5A district. Night in and night out they play tough and hard-nosed and they've got a chance to do something. It was our night. It was just one of those things that happens and things just went our way."

Sikeston is now 5-0 in the SEMO Conference. The Bulldogs are scheduled for a makeup game with DeSoto on Monday at the Field House with junior varsity action starting at 5 p.m.

"This group we have, they seem to focus night in and night out," Holifield said. "You can't have a letdown. You have to work as hard as you can and if you do that then good things usually happen."

SIKESTON (71) -- Will Holifield 18, Darryl Howard 18, Vashawn Ruffin 10, Corey Porter 7, Terry Jamison 5, Janeil Hatchett 4, Eldridge Gibson 4, Caleb McGee 3, Keldon Warfield 2. FG 21, FT 14-19, F 16. (3-pointers: Holifield 3, McGee 1, Howard 1. Fouled out: none).

POPLAR BLUFF (26) -- Kendric McCain 7, Ike Anders 6, Nick Shrum 4, Jake Rathbun 3, Stacey Gipson 2, Zach Sexton 2, Rhys Griffith 2. FG 9, FT 5-8, F 16. (3-pointers: Anders 1. Fouled out: Joey Bloodworth).

Junior varsity

Sikeston's J.V. team improved to 17-0 on the season and 5-0 in the SEMO Conference with a 65-39 victory over Poplar Bluff (2-10, 1-3).

After a 12-12 first quarter, Sikeston took control of the game. They led 31-21 at the half and 49-27 heading into the fourth quarter.

Sikeston was led by freshman J.T. Jones with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Kyland Gross had followed up with 14 points. Jetterance Harris grabbied seven rebounds off the bench.

Poplar Bluff was led by Mark Benton's 15 points.

SIKESTON (65) -- J.T. Jones 19, Kyland Gross 14, Reese Porter 6, Chris Word 5, Markeith Bratcher 4, Blake Flannigan 4, Jeterrance Harris 3, Audrea Golden 3, Cord Sheehy 3, Jairius Ray 2, Rayshundre Jackson 2. FG 22, FT 12-19, F 20. (3-pointers: Gross 2, Sheehy 1. Fouled out: none).

POPLAR BLUFF (39) -- Mark Benton 15, Stacey Gipson 8, Zach Sexton 6, Lance Gray 6, Tyhiem Towns 2, Trae Norton 2. FG 14, FT 8-16, F 15. (3-pointers: Gray 1. Fouled out: none).