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Sikeston fifth and sixth grade girls basketball team setting a foundation
SIKESTON -- Establishing a solid base is essential for anything worth building.
Some who want the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs basketball program to excel understand that need and are taking the extra steps to ensure a secure foundation.
Attention to the lower ranks of girls basketball has been an added focus within the Sikeston community. The Sikeston fifth and sixth grade girls basketball team is where it begins.
"It's been great that we have people step up and help our program to where they want Sikeston girls basketball to be one of the best programs in the area," Sikeston head coach Matt Schonhoff said.
The fifth and sixth grade Lady Bulldogs are headed by former Eagle Ridge Christian head coach Kim Myers, who has also helped the junior high and high school program at East Prairie. Myers, with the help of co-coach Brian Blissett who has been with the group for four years, took over the team at the beginning of the season after stepping down from coaching two years ago. Schonhoff has no affiliation with the team.
Tryouts in October saw 24 girls contend for spots and two teams quickly formed. The teams were assessed during practices and tournament's in Kentucky and Tennessee. 10 players were originally chosen but nine would eventually make up the team that would compete in the Cape Girardeau basketball league.
Myers keeps her attention on solidifying the basics of basketball.
"Focus is made on fundamental basketball and team work," she said. "Ball handling, passing and good defense is our main focus with the girls. In my opinion, if they don't have good ball handing skills, dribbling, passing and good defense, it doesn't matter how good they run plays if they can't dribble and pass the ball down the court."
Improvement has been seen throughout their season which came to fruition during a recent girls tournament at Scott County Central High School.
The Lady Bulldogs defeated both Scott Central and Delta but lost in the championship game by four points to Dexter, who is considered the top girls program in the area.
"The girls work very hard and play very well as a team," said Myers.
Myers said Taydrianna Barnett is their top scorer averaging eight points a game. Gabrielle Talley is their second-leading scorer and both are their top rebounders. Megan Witt and Aereonna Woods handle point guard duties and Jamya Smith is becoming a consistent jump shooter, according to Myers.
"All the girls on the team are showing much progress in skills and will be ready to play junior high ball next year," Myers said.
Sikeston went through their Cape league schedule with a 7-1 record. Their lone loss was due to a forfeit because they were playing in another tournament championship game that day. They stand with a 13-6 record which included both league and travel tournaments.
They begin a tournament this weekend at Trinity Lutheran School in Cape Girardeau and will host a Sikeston Shootout on March 22 at the Sikeston Junior High School.
"Our motto is '4th Quarter'," Myers said. "The girls chant this at the beginning of fourth quarter during each game, as does the fans. They believe that if they can play as hard in the fourth quarter as they do the first quarter they win regardless of the score."
Introducing fundamental basketball at an early age is nothing new. To help chances of success, multiple people take the time to teach the game the right way.
"Take for instance, Dexter," Schonhoff said. "With their senior crop that they have, those girls have been together since forever. They've been taught the right way and can shoot it. We have come into this year where our best shooting is 15-feet and in. We can not extend defenses. Good teams, no matter if you're a boy or girl, if you can extend defenses that's a huge bonus.
"I'm glad that Kim and Brian have done this," Schonhoff added. "From what I hear the girls have been learning, winning some basketball games and doing very well."