Sikeston defeats Lafayette

Sikeston's Darryl Howard dribbles the ball up the floor against St. Joseph Lafayette in the second half of a Class 4 semifinal game at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. (Chris Pobst photo)

COLUMBIA -- The Sikeston boys basketball team defeated St. Joseph Lafayette 64-43 in a Class 4 state semifinal game on Thursday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (29-0) will play in the state championship game against St. Francis Borgia (who defeated Soldan 71-58 in the other semifinal) on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Borgia has beaten the Bulldogs in the quarterfinals the last two seasons, winning the state title in 2009 and finishing second in 2010.

For more on Thursday's semifinal game, see Friday's print and online edition of the Standard Democrat.

ST. JOSEPH LAFAYETTE (43) -- Tim Nelson 16, Caleb Bates 8, Ian Toalson 14, Tyrai Skeen 2, Xavier Kurth 3. FG 19, FT 8-12, F 16. (3-pointers: Bates 2, Nelson 1. Fouled out: none).

SIKESTON (64) -- Janeil Hatchett 17, Darryl Howard 11, Terry Jamison 2, Will Holifield 2, Corey Porter 9, Eldridge Gibson 8, Vashawn Ruffin 9, Keldon Warfield 2. FG 26, FT 15-21, F 15. (3-pointers: Howard 1, Holifield 1, Ruffin 1. Fouled out: none).