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Class 4, District 1: Sikeston moves on after 36-24 win over Perryville
CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The lead was well in hand but Perryville provided a noticeable scare.
Though tired legs that built a once 16-point lead midway through the fourth quarter began to slow, the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs withstood a furious Lady Pirate comeback to advance to the Class 4, District 1 semifinals after a 36-24 win on Saturday at Cape Central High School.
"At the end we started tired and fatigue started setting in," Sikeston senior Mikala Nichols said. "We just had to calm down and I just said, 'let's just hold the ball.' Everything turned out okay."
That tactic, plus some free throws, pushed the Lady Bulldogs into a matchup with the No. 2 Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs, which was rescheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. due to inclement weather.
Sikeston (14-12) led 30-14 with 4:15 left to play but did not score another field goal for the remainder of the game. Such offensive lulls have plagued the Lady Bulldogs for most of the season.
"(Perryville was) stuck on 14 for about 8 or 9 minutes and we just couldn't extend it," Schonhoff said. "We just could make (shots) that were five feet in, that's just been our story all year. If we could do that, I think we could be a different level ball club."
While Sikeston struggled, Perryville shook off a 1 of 6 shooting start to the fourth quarter and hit four of their next six shots to close their deficit to just eight with 2:32 remaining.
"I thought our push in the fourth quarter kind of shocked them a little bit, but we still had missed opportunities," Perryville head coach Vicki Lohmann. "We should have made a layup here and there and a couple free throws."
After two free throws from sophomore Erica Peet with 2:12 left, Perryville's Ahnie Hoff capitalized on an offensive rebound with a put-back layup for another eight point deficit with 1:15 showing on the scoreboard.
But Peet hit four straight free throws in the last one minute and nine seconds to secure the win.
"Free throws were key in the end," Schonhoff said.
Sikeston's big advantage was a direct result from their defensive prowess. They forced 18 turnovers in the first half which led to an 18-8 lead following the first two quarters.
"It's kind of how our season's gone all year long," Lohmann said. "We worked on it, talked about breaking through their press and we had a lot of fumbles on the ball touches and taking the ball and just dropping it into their hands.
"They're reaching for the ball and that's what they do," Lohmann added about Sikeston's defense. "They knock it away and go after it and convert the easy layup."
Perryville (6-14) committed 34 turnovers in all compared to Sikeston's 16.
"The only thing we thought of on defense is to just keep pressure on them," Nichols said. "If we keep pressure on them the cookie will crumble."
Sikeston's 10-point lead was gained despite shooting 31 percent (7 of 22) in the first two quarters which included a 3 of 17 (17 percent) performance in the second quarter alone.
"We missed a lot of shots, but from tip to final buzzer I thought our defensive intensity was excellent," said Schonhoff.
Peet paced the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points and created chaos throughout Perryville's offense with eight steals. Her classmate, Tyra Bonner, added nine points.
"(Peet) missed a lot inside and could have had a better game, but she patrols that middle," Schonhoff said. "When she's able to score in the middle that opens up Mikala so she can get some open shots."
Nichols, who struggled from the field, finished the game with five points.
Sikeston heads into their matchup with Notre Dame guaranteeing their first winning record since finishing 6-17 a season ago. Sikeston and Notre Dame have played once already this season with Notre Dame winning 56-26.
"Our ability to secure and handle the basketball against their pressure and make shots," Schonhoff said about keys to facing Notre Dame. "We did a good job the last time we played them in the first half of recognizing shooters and closing out. Then they started catching fire in the second half.
"If we can make shots and hang with them, maybe something can happen in the end. We just have to have good things happen for us to be in the ballgame at the end.
| Perryville | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 | -- | 24 |
| Sikeston | 11 | 7 | 4 | 14 | -- | 36 |
PERRYVILLE (24) -- Ahnie Hoff 7, Allison Moldenhauer 2, Kylie Bilek 2, Desiree Brown 13. FG: 11 FT 2-7 F 16. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)
SIKESTON (36) -- Keira Steward 3, Tyra Bonner 9, Mikala Nichols 5, Erica Peet 15, Miranda Harrison 2, Alana Basham 2. FG 12 FT 11-21 F 17. (3-pointers: Steward 1. Fouled out: none)