Sikeston girls basketball drops conference opener to Notre Dame

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Though shooting percentages weren't far off from one another, the Sikeston girls basketball team was dwarfed by Notre Dame in opportunities to score.

Sikeston had 16 less field goal attempts and 29 turnovers during a 59-30 loss to Notre Dame Thursday at the Sikeston Field House in their SEMO Conference opener for both.

Sikeston shot 32 percent (13 for 41) from the floor while Notre Dame topped out at 35 percent (20 for 57). Notre Dame also had 19 less turnovers than a Sikeston team still trying to find ways to cope without three of its starters.

Sikeston's Taydrianna Barnett tries to shoot around Notre Dame's Sydney Newell in a high school basketball game Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at the Sikeston Field House.

Sikeston's Taydrianna Barnett tries to shoot around Notre Dame's Sydney Newell in a high school basketball game Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at the Sikeston Field House.

This was Notre Dame's second win over Sikeston in three tries this season. Sikeston's win came Dec. 21 during the third place game of the Kelso Supply Holiday Classic when Tyeshia Mitchell, Kiera Steward and Alexis Boyd were all on the floor.

Steward, who is injured, scored 21 that game and Mitchell added 20. Boyd missed her second game in a row due to injury.

"Not having those three makes a huge difference," Sikeston coach Alisha Wills said. "It was an off night. Despite all the adversity and everything that we're battling right now is that they never gave up. They're not using not having those guys as an excuse... I'm very proud of them for that."

The brightest spot for Sikeston's offense came from Taydrianna Barnett. The freshman led all scorers with 17 points on 8 of 17 shooting. No other Sikeston player scored more than four.

"She's stepped into a huge role," Wills said about Barnett.

Notre Dame was led by Sam Brennan's 13 points, five rebounds and three steals. Lexi Welter added 10 points and six rebounds while Faith Essner scored 10 with six rebounds and three steals for Notre Dame, who's in the third game of a five-game road stretch.

"Except for missing about 25 layups, which is the easiest thing in the world to do and to fix, I saw a lot of heart and togetherness," Notre Dame coach Renee Peters said. "They're doing the right things, we just missed a lot of shots tonight. Defensively I thought we played well. I think our press was a little bit more effective tonight and I like the way we ran the floor."

Notre Dame's Megan Heisserer (15) is congratulated by teammates and coaches after hitting a half-court shot to end the first quarter against Sikeston in a high school basketball game Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at the Sikeston Field House.

Notre Dame's Megan Heisserer (15) is congratulated by teammates and coaches after hitting a half-court shot to end the first quarter against Sikeston in a high school basketball game Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at the Sikeston Field House.

Notre Dame (6-5, 1-0 SEMO Conference) raced out to a huge lead in the first quarter and never looked back. They shot 9 for 16 from the field and led 17-2 after a 15-0 run that lasted 2:38.

"That's got to be our M.O.," Peters said. "With our lack of size we've got to hit them strong and hit them with the peddle down... It was a nice start."

Without Steward running the point, Sikeston (5-9, 0-1) had 16 turnovers and shot just 7 for 25 in the first half. They trailed 33-16 at the break.

Sikeston managed just five shot attempts in the third quarter, making three of them. They were 1 for 3 from the floor through the first five minutes and trailed 46-23 by quarter's end.

"We never successfully ran an offense tonight," Wills said. "I think sometimes we rely so much on transition that when we have to play that half court game we stumble. It's not that we don't work on it. It's frustrating on my end because I'm trying to find the right thing."

Sikeston, who has lost five of their last six games, out-rebounded Notre Dame 35-30. Larysa McClellon led that charge with nine and Olivia Nash added seven.

Notre Dame will travel to Cor Jesu Academy on Saturday and then Kennett on Monday to round out their run of road games.

Sikeston will take part in the 2nd Annual Jackson Lady Indians Showcase on Saturday against South Iron at 1:30 p.m.

Notre Dame 22 11 13 13 -- 59

Sikeston 9 7 7 7 -- 30

NOTRE DAME (59) -- Faith Essner 10, Megan Heisserer 9, Allie Ziegler 7, Rachel Conrad 2, Sam Brennan 13, Sydney Newell 4, Julia Williams 4, Lexi Welter 10. FG 20 FT 13-19 F 8. (3-pointers: Essner 1, Heisserer 1, Brennan 3, Williams 1. Fouled out: none.)

SIKESTON (30) -- Antravia Green 4, Larysa McClellon 3, Olivia Nash 2, Zaria Blissett-Hall 1, Sydney Short 3, Taydrianna Barnett 17. FG 13 FT 2-6 F 15. (3-pointers: McClellon 1, Stark 1. Fouled out: Blissett-Hall.)