January 14, 2014
Lady Bulldogs begin anew with 61-50 win over NMCC
sports@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- The 171 mile trek north to O'Fallon during Christmas break paid big dividends for the Lady Bulldogs back home at the Sikeston Field House. Playing their first game since finishing what they were seeded, sixth, at the St. Dominic Imos Pizza Christmas Tournament on Dec. 28, Sikeston used that experience as a stepping stone into the new year as they handed New Madrid County Central a 61-50 loss on Monday...
By Chris Pobst - Standard Democrat
sports@standard-democrat.com
SIKESTON -- The 171 mile trek north to O'Fallon during Christmas break paid big dividends for the Lady Bulldogs back home at the Sikeston Field House.
Playing their first game since finishing what they were seeded, sixth, at the St. Dominic Imos Pizza Christmas Tournament on Dec. 28, Sikeston used that experience as a stepping stone into the new year as they handed New Madrid County Central a 61-50 loss on Monday.
Erica Peet led the Lady Bulldogs with 20 points and nine rebounds. Mikala Nichols and Tyra Bonner added 12 and 10 points apiece.
"We found out some good things about ourselves," Sikeston head coach Matt Schonhoff said about their first-ever appearance in the St. Dominic Christmas Tournament. "We played against some good competition and we translated that experience into some really good practices after the new year."
Sikeston lost their opening round game to host St. Dominic during the Christmas tournament but rebounded with a 54-39 victory over Timberland in the consolation semifinals. From there, the Lady Bulldogs (4-6) lost the consolation championship to Parkway West.
Though their defensive pressure was stout in 2013, Sikeston's new and improved defensive intensity coaxed the Lady Eagles into 28 turnovers on Monday. The biggest difference was their use of an eight-player rotation keeping their press fresh for most of the game. They totaled 13 steals as a team which helped in transition.
"They played unbelievable defensive pressure on us all night long," NMCC head coach David Crockett said about Sikeston.
Coupled with their defense, Sikeston also held a dominant 32-18 rebounding advantage giving them second and third chance opportunities underneath the basket.
"Being in St. Louis, we out-rebounded every opponent we saw up there and that was a ket for us," Schonhoff said. "That was a key for us tonight, especially on the offensive end. We got some second looks and sometimes those second and third looks didn't go in, but the effort was there. That's what we need."
After the two played to an early 8-8 tie in the first quarter, a basket by Peet gave the Lady Bulldogs an advantage they would not hand over. Sikeston led 18-13 at the end of the first quarter -- despite shooting 34 percent (8 of 23) from the floor -- and 35-26 at the half. The biggest reason for Sikeston's first half lead and insufficient shooting (40 percent in the first half) was numerous attempts under the basket following offensive rebounds. Both teams shot 40 percent from the floor.
"We're not real big inside and we're so used to getting rebounds in the past, but (Sikeston) dominated the boards on both ends," said Crockett. "My guards have to do a better job of blocking out and everybody kind of stood and watched. That's a testament to Sikeston. They went to the boards hard and got a lot of put-backs.
"We made shots, we just didn't get any second-chance points and we've got to have those."
Sikeston started the second half on an 8-2 run aided by a four minute scoring drought by the Lady Eagles. Sikeston used NMCC's scoring woes to take a 15-point advantage at the end of the third quarter.
"We have nights like that," said Crockett.
Sikeston's run continued in the fourth building their biggest lead of the night of 18 points with just four minutes remaining. It looked as though the Lady Bulldogs were headed for a smooth, comfy ending but an 11-2 run by NMCC sliced their advantage to nine with just over a minute remaining.
"I hate to say gave up, but we lost focus," said Schonhoff about the fourth quarter. "Credit to New Madrid there because they kept fighting. They made a run and made it a ball game in the last minute or two."
NMCC's Rashaunda Summers scored 11 of her team-high 18 points in the fourth. Amirah Ruff added three.
"We could have easily been buried there, but we came back," Crockett said. We cut it to eight or nine and we had opportunities. We just couldn't finish. The girls played hard and kept battling and that's all you can ask for."
Kiera Steward put a hold on NMCC's scoring run late in the fourth by breaking free in transition twice within the last minute to seal the 11-point win for Sikeston.
Peet's 20 points was another boost for the Lady Bulldogs, who usually rely on Nichols' consistent scoring.
"Within our offense we got Erica some open looks and she did a good job of converting," said Schonhoff. "I thought Mikala did an outstanding job of playing a total game -- on the offensive and defensive end. She hit shots in the first half to extend the lead and made some nice passes."
NMCC 13 13 6 18 -- 50
Sikeston 18 17 12 14 -- 61
NMCC (50) -- Shanterra Waters 6, Amirah Ruff 6, Keisha Raines 5, Whitney Williams 12, Rashaunda Summers 18, Octavia Smith 3. FG 18 FT 12-19 F 8. (3-pointers: Ruff 1, Raines 1. Fouled out: none.)
SIKESTON (61) -- Kiera Steward 4, Dominique Roach 8, Tyra Bonner 10, Mikala Nichols 12, Erica Peet 20, Ariana Beard 7. FG 28 FT 5-9 F 18. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)
Junior Varsity
__Sikeston 51, NMCC 12__
Sikeston's Zayteanna Williams scored 25 points as the Lady Bulldogs junior varsity basketball team defeated NMCC 51-12.
Kayla Graham added eight points for the Lady Bulldogs and Larysa McClellan chipped in six.
Monica Davis led the Lady Eagles with three.
NMCC 5 2 5 0 -- 12
Sikeston 12 12 16 11 -- 51
NMCC (12) Chelsea Sylvester 1, Monica Davis 3, Virginia Villarreal 2, Keionte Tillman 2, Nicole Thomas 2, Alyssa Caines 2. FG 5 FT 2-10 F 9. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)
SIKESTON (51) -- Alexis Boyd 4, Larysa McClellan 6, Antravia Green 4, Zayteanna Williams 25, Kayla Graham 8, Takilia Scott 2, Tori Helms 2. FG 22 FT 7-9 F 16. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)
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