Lady Bulldogs junior high takes down Cape Central

sports@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- Neither Cape Central Junior High team had much luck against host Sikeston Junior High on Thursday as the Lady Bulldogs basketball team came away with a pair of double-digit wins.

Capitalizing on hot starts, Sikeston's seventh grade squad opened the night with a 33-3 rout before the eighth grade capped the night with a 49-22 decision over the Lady Tigers.

Tebrya Benford fired up the Lady Bulldog's eighth grade squad with 20 points in the first quarter alone to lead them to a 22-2 advantage heading into the second quarter. Outscoring the Lady Tiger's 8-2 in the frame, Sikeston built a 26-point lead heading into the half.

Sikeston pulled away by as many as 30 points late in the third quarter, but Cape Central was able to fight back and keep the turbo-clock from coming into the effect in the fourth.

After a big first quarter, Benford finished the night with a game-high 26 points for the Lady Bulldogs. Sydney Stark added seven points to Sikeston's cause. Gabrielle Talley, Ashton Jordan, Taydrianna Barnett and Zaria Blissett scored four points each.

"An ugly win is better than a pretty loss any day," Sikeston coach head Keyth Blissett said. "They played hard and stuck to the game plan. That was good. It was just staying focused, keeping our intensity, teamwork and working on our defense. That's our staple."

Sikeston eighth grader Sydney Stark and teammate Zaria Blissett (24) surround Cape Central ball handler Dinah Pryor (10) Thursday night at Sikeston Junior High School. (Brent Shipman photo)

Sikeston eighth grader Sydney Stark and teammate Zaria Blissett (24) surround Cape Central ball handler Dinah Pryor (10) Thursday night at Sikeston Junior High School. (Brent Shipman photo)

In seventh grade action the Lady Bulldogs dominated the first quarter, 13-0, before going into the half up by 17 points at 18-1.

The Lady Tigers got their only basket in the third quarter, but Sikeston outscored them 15-2 in the second half to hold on for the win.

Barnett finished with a game-high seven points and Gabrielle Talley was close behind with six points. Emma Drury, Wendlyn Moblin and Beyonce Hightower had four points each.

"Our seventh grader is really improving as a unit," Keyth Blissett said. "They're fortunate they have some people in the community that's been working with them prior to getting here.

"When you don't have to work with fundamentals (because they're already there) and you can go straight to execution, it makes a big difference."

Sikeston's eighth grade improves to 6-1 on the year and the seventh grade moves to 4-2.

The Lady Bulldogs will kick off a busy week on Monday when they host Jackson Junior High School with seventh grade action starting at 5 p.m.

Seventh Grade

Sikeston 13 5 7 8 - 33

Cape 0 1 2 0 - 3

Sikeston (33) -- Jamya Smith 2, Miranda Whitt 1, Taydrianna Barnett 7, Gabrielle Talley 6, Meagan Whitt 2, Emma Drury 4, Wendlyn Moblin 4, Aereonna Woods 3, Beyonce Hightower 4. FG 15, FT 3-14, F 8. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)

Cape (3) -- Elise Buford 1, Olivia Hukel 2. FG 1, FT 1-6, F 11. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)

Eighth Grade

Sikeston 22 8 10 9 - 49

Cape 2 2 10 8 - 22

Sikeston (49) -- Jamya Smith 2, Ashton Jordan 4, Sydney Stark 7, Taydrianna Barnett 4, Tebrya Benford 26, Jefonia Biddle 2, Zaria Blissett 4. FG 24, FT 1-6, F 4. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none).

Cape (22) -- Majesty Harris 2, Anna Mattison 4, Abby Leimer 14, Robin Baber 2. FG 11, FT 0-2, F 11. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none.)