DDD Sports

DEXTER — The Doniphan Donettes hope to end a 15-year dry spell at the Twin Rivers Lady Royals Christmas Classic. The Dexter Bearcats hope to add to their trophy collection with a tournament-best 11th championship in the event’s 23-year history. The tournament’s 16 coaches believe both will have an opportunity to achieve those goals, voting Doniphan the top seed and Dexter second for the tournament, which begins Saturday, Dec. 18 at Broseley...

Final exams don’t start for another week for the students at Southeast Missouri State, however, the Redhawks’ men’s basketball squad is going to face a daunting test sooner, rather than later, when they host Evansville tonight at the Show Me Center at 6:30 p.m.

The Bloomfield Wildcats received contributions from up and down their roster in a 72-39 rout of Gideon on Tuesday night at Gideon High School. Nine different Bloomfield players scored with Andrew Francis producing a team-high 14 points. James Barks and Dawson Hill added 10 each. Hill made a team-high three 3-pointers...

Area coaches released their All-Region football team on Wednesday morning. The team is made up of players nominated by their coach. The number of players named to the team is based upon the team’s seed in district. They are: 1st Place: 8 Offense, 8 Defense, 3 roving nominations...

It was win-or-go-home for Notre Dame and Kennett, who faced off in the consolation bracket of the 16th annual SEMO Conference Tournament. The Bulldogs (1-2) lived to fight another day after coming away with a 74-52 victory against the Indians (2-3) on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at the Sikeston Field House...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Upset-minded Notre Dame led second-seeded Jackson by as many as eight points in the first half, but the Indians tightened things up defensively in the second half to wear the Bulldogs down. The Indians outscored seventh-seeded Notre Dame 34-22 in the second half to pull out a 61-53 win Monday night in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament at Sikeston Field House...

Four Scott City players scored in double digits and the Rams cruised to a 73-43 win over Meadow Heights at Chaffee High School to advance to the championship game of the Lady Devil Invitational. Senior Kacie Daigger led Scott City for the second straight night with 19 points. She went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line and hit three 3-point baskets...

The Richland Rebels used a balanced attack to open SCAA play with a 76-45 victory over Bell City on Monday night in a boys basketball game at Bell City High School. Four Richland players scored in double figures. Jaden Pope produced a game-high 21 points, Damon Ivy and Jacob Walley had 19 apiece, and Hunter Sanders added 12...

The Dexter boys’ basketball (2-1) team cruised to a relatively comfortable win against Kennett (2-2) on Monday, Dec. 6, in the play-in game of the Southeastern Missouri Conference Tournament, but coach Chad Allen was far from satisfied. “We definitely came out pretty flat tonight,” Allen said. ...

GIDEON – Caruthersville fought back from a 16-10 second-quarter deficit with a huge fourth-quarter rally to beat South Pemiscot 60-58 on Friday and win the Bulldog Classic at Gideon High School.

The second-seeded Scott City Rams took care of business early, turning an 11-point first-quarter advantage into a 54-point shellacking against seventh-seeded Puxico on Saturday in the first round of Chaffee's Lady Devil Tournament. Scott City turned up the defense in the second quarter, holding the Indians scoreless while putting up 25 unanswered points en route to a 70-16 win...

GIDEON – Kennett got an incredible offensive performance from senior Ben McMullan on Friday to get past Senath-Hornersville 65-61 in the third-place game of the Bulldog Classic at Gideon High School.

GIDEON – Cooter opened its boy’s basketball game against Gideon on Friday by exploding for 44 points in the first half en route to an 81-59 throttling of host Gideon in the consolation championship game of the Bulldog Classic.

MISSOURI MEDIA RANKINGS A look at rankings from a 10-member panel of media members from around the state with current record, points based on votes with first place votes in parentheses and previous ranking. CLASS 6 Also receiving votes: SLUH (7-4) 13...

Eric Reed Jr. set a season-high mark in scoring as Southeast Missouri State earned a double-digit win over Webster. Reed scored a team-high 26 points — the junior guard's highest output so far this season — and three other Redhawks scored in double figures en route to a 76-64 win against the Gorloks on Saturday at the Show Me Center...

In a similar showing as the SEMO men's team had on Saturday, the Redhawks women had four players score in double figures en route to snapping a three-game losing streak. Senior Deanay Watson recorded a double-double with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds en route to blowing out Harris-Stowe 95-57 on Sunday at the Show Me Center...

Cole Nichols produced his second-straight 30-point game, and Truman Krapf made six 3-pointers in the Dexter Bearcats’ 73-57 victory over Malden on Friday night at Malden High School. Nichols scored 30 points three days after scoring 31 against Charleston. He scored nine points in the first quarter, as the Bearcats took an 18-15 lead. He scored 19 in the second where they began to pull away. He went 11 of 15 from the free-throw line, including 9 for 9 in the fourth quarter...

BERNIE — The fifth-seeded Bloomfield Wildcats were ready to celebrate a win in the third-place game of the Bernie Invitational boys basketball tournament on Friday night. With 1.5 seconds left in the game, second-seeded Holcomb inbounded the ball from under the Wildcats’ goal, launching it from one end to the other. Bloomfield’s Christian Hartlein swatted the ball toward midcourt...

Southeast Missouri State junior punter Zach Haynes is one of 10 finalists for the 2021 FCS Punter of the Year Award. Haynes recorded the sixth-longest punt of the FCS season — the longest punt in the Ohio Valley Conference this year — when he booted a 76-yarder against Eastern Illinois...

Southeast Missouri State suffered a 29-point loss to Saint Louis on Friday, falling to the Billikens at home 83-54 for the Redhawks' third straight loss. The Redhawks fell to 2-6 on the season and 1-3 on their home court. SEMO played tight with SLU in the first quarter but the Billikens began to pull away in the second, outscoring the Redhawks 19-7 and finishing the quarter with a 14-2 run...

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team's successful season has come to an end. The Redhawks were swept by No. 7 Kentucky on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, falling 25-15, 25-14, 25-19. SEMO was outmatched in the first two sets but played neck-and-neck with the Wildcats in the third. The Redhawks led 10-9 in the third set before Kentucky went on a 9-2 run to take a six-point lead...

HAYTI – The Hayti girl’s basketball squad has six seniors on its roster, while Campbell, conversely, has seven players. Total. And no seniors.

BERNIE — Through two rounds of the Bernie Invitational boys basketball tournament, Puxico may have become known as “Upset City.” After upsetting third-seeded Twin Rivers in the first round, sixth-seeded Puxico (2-0) knocked off second-seeded Holcomb 63-58 Thursday night in the semifinals, setting up a showdown against top-seeded Bernie (2-0) in the championship game at 8:30 p.m. Friday...

HAYTI – Just three days after falling to Portageville by a 58-28 margin to open the Al Jackson Classic at Hayti, the Caruthersville girl’s basketball team fought back on Thursday to battle the Bulldogs much tougher in the third-place game, before falling 67-50.

Scott City senior guard Kaice Daigger had a huge third quarter where she scored 14 of her game-high 30 points, and the Rams destroyed Charleston 75-21 on the road Thursday. Daigger made six 2-point baskets in the third quarter and drilled 8-of-13 free-throw attempts in the game, often fouled by making a move toward the basket by Blue Jays defenders who were never able to stay with the quick and shifty guard...

Wyatt Williams scored 23 points to lead East Prairie to a 56-54 victory over Clarkton on Thursday. The Eagles tied the game at the end of the first period and fell behind the Reindeer by eight points at the half. East Prairie began to make its comeback by the end of the third period, trailing by one. The Eagles out-scored Clarkton by three in the final quarter...

HAYTI – First-year Caruthersville High School girl’s basketball coach Cory Grooms may want to watch the famed prep basketball movie “Hoosiers” in order to prepare herself for the 2021-22 season.

HAYTI – Portageville got strong first quarters from senior Akiyah Jordan and sophomore Laney Stone to beat South Pemiscot 62-30 in the consolation bracket of the Al Jackson Classic at Hayti on Wednesday.

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team suffered a 78-61 loss to Southern Illinois on Tuesday night at the Show Me Center. The Salukis opened up with a 27-16 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, holding a 19-point lead at halftime...

Portageville 58, Caruthersville 28 Akyiah Jordan scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Portageville Lady Bulldogs over the Caruthersville Lady Tigers 58-28. Portageville outscored Caruthersville 21-3 in the 3rd quarter to put the game out of reach. Laticia Hamilton led...

The Saxony Lutheran Crusaders won their season-opening game in the Rolla “Duke” Herbert Tournament on Tuesday in Crystal City, beating the St. Louis Patriots 86-30. Saxony Lutheran was led in scoring by sophomore Luke Eggemeyer who pumped in 19 points...

After a neck-and-neck first quarter that saw Eagle Ridge deadlocked with Legacy Christian (Fairview Heights, Ill.) at 14-points each, the Eagles outscored the Fire 28-21 in the second and third periods to pull away and pick up a 53-47 win at home on Tuesday...

JACKSON, Mo. — Jackson's girls basketball team opened Monday night's game against New Madrid County Central on an 18-0 run. The Indians never looked back. Jackson was dominant on both sides of the ball in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Girls Basketball Tournament, beating the Eagles 63-27 at Jackson High School...

Leopold seniors Mason Deck and Caleb Schaab put on a show in an opening-round win over Delta. The duo paced the Wildcats in an 82-39 win over Delta on Monday to advance in the Woodland Invitational Tournament. Deck and Schaab combined for 57 of Leopold’s point total, with Deck leading the way with a game-high 29 followed by Schaab’s 28. No other Wildcat finished in double figures...

BERNIE — The sixth-seeded Puxico Indians opened the season with a bang Monday night in the Bernie Invitational boys basketball tournament. The Indians knocked off third-seeded Twin Rivers 76-52 to record the biggest upset of the first round. Fifth-seeded Bloomfield recorded the night’s first upset, beating fourth-seeded Neelyville 49-43...

The finalists for the Carr Trophy and Derland Moore Award are set for the 76th Poplar Bluff Letter Club Gridiron Banquet, which will be held Wednesday, Dec. 15, at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff. Kennett running back Jordan Jarrett, Hayti quarterback Trayvon Thomas and Poplar Bluff quarterback Kannon Carr are the finalists for the Carr Trophy, presented annually since 1979 to the most outstanding player in the conference...

The Southeast Missouri State volleyball team will face defending national champions Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament’s Lexington Regional on Friday. Kentucky (24-4) — seeded seventh in the tournament — will host the Redhawks at 6:30 p.m. local time in Lexington, Ky...

The Campbell Camels boys basketball program enters its 2021-22 campaign in search of a new identity after graduating nine seniors off of last season’s varsity squad that finished 25-4, won the Bootheel Conference Tournament, and claimed the Class 2 state title.

Incoming coach Bart Chance has the luxury of inheriting a squad that is blessed with experience as he takes over the Malden Green Wave girls basketball program. Malden returns all but one of its starters off of last season’s varsity squad that finished 12-11.

First-year Malden Green Wave boys basketball coach Mike Kilgore wants his players to display enthusiasm when they step onto the court this season. “I want our guys to be excited and be happy to be on the floor,” Kilgore said. “I want them to represent their school more than anything. If they work hard for their school I think we will be alright.”

SAN ANTONIO — The Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball team dropped both remaining games in the Incarnate Word Thanksgiving Classic this weekend. The Redhawks were beat 74-68 by Portland on Saturday and 75-68 by Montana on Sunday. Despite the team going 0-2 over the weekend, freshman guard Phillip Russell had a solid weekend...

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — The Southeast Missouri State women’s basketball team was blown out 81-63 by Arkansas-Pine Bluff on the second day of the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic. The Redhawks came out strong, but a nine-point fourth quarter ultimately doomed SEMO, which fell to 2-4 on the season...

MARCELINE – In its recent 26-22 MSHSAA Class 1 Quarterfinal win over Monroe City, the Hayti football team demonstrated that it was athletic and talented enough to overcome committing a dozen penalties, turning the ball over three times, AND digging itself a 22-point deficit, and still come out on top.

SAN ANTONIO — Southeast Missouri State junior guard Chris Harris knows how to end a game dramatically. Tied with Incarnate Word at 76, Harris hit his only 3-point basket of the game at the final buzzer to lift the Redhawks past the Cardinals 79-76 on the opening day of the Incarnate Word Thanksgiving Classic...

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — After building a 17-point lead, Southeast Missouri State survived a late rally by Mississippi Valley State, beating the Delta Devilettes 82-76 on Friday in the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic at Reed Green Coliseum. The Redhawks built a 17-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Delta Devilettes began chipping away at SEMO's lead. With 3:07 left in the game, MVSU pulled within two points of the Redhawks before SEMO would pull away for good...

The Marceline and Hayti High School football squads are a study in contrast in several ways.

The Kennett Indians varsity girls basketball squad enters its 2021-22 campaign in search of new offensive weapons after graduating its top scorer off of last season’s team that finished 14-12.

When Josh Mathis took the job to coach the Delta C-7 Chargers boys basketball program last summer he wasn’t sure his numbers would be high enough to have a junior varsity and varsity squad.

Alandry Below went an astounding 15-16 from the field on Tuesday, scoring 35 points at home to lead the Hornets past St. Vincent, 68-54. Below started the scoring barrage by netting eight points in the opening quarter, 10 points in the second period, six points in the third, and wrapped up by producing 11 in the final frame...

The Chaffee Red Devils got their 2021-22 season off to a great start on Tuesday, defeating Marquand-Zion on the road, 81-47. Chaffee led after the end of one quarter, 21-18, and built its lead to 11 by halftime. The second half belonged solely to the Red Devils as they out-produced the Tigers offensively, 42-20...

The Kennett Indians boys basketball program enters its 2021-22 campaign hampered by the injury bug.

The Scott City girls basketball team, under new coach Seth Landewee, won its opening season game against Herculaneum at the Amped Lifestyle Shootout held at the Farmington Civic Center on Saturday, 56-55. The Rams opened up a six-point advantage at the end of the first period, leading the Blackcats 16-10. However, Herculaneum gained momentum in the second quarter and took a six-point lead into halftime, 31-25, outscoring Scott City 19-9...

HAYTI – At halftime of Hayti’s MSHSAA Class 1 football quarterfinal game against Monroe City on Saturday, you would’ve been hard-pressed to find any Indian follower that felt a shred of confidence in their favorite team prevailing on this day.

There are probably no more successful MSHSAA Class 1 football programs than Hayti and Monroe City over the past six seasons.

Here are the MSHSAA winter sports district assignments for Semoball area schools. ^-girls only C6D1: Fox, Jackson, Lindbergh, Northwest, Oakville, Poplar Bluff, Seckman, SLUH. Cor Jesu-^ C5D1: Cape Central, DeSoto, Farmington, Festus, Hillsboro, North County Sikeston, Windsor-Imperial...

Southeast Missouri State junior hitter Colby Greene wasted little time putting points on the board. Greene smashed eight of her game-high 14 kills in the opening frame Thursday, sparking the top-seeded Redhawks' three-set win over No. 8 seed Eastern Illinois in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinals at Houck Field House...

The Southland Rebels boys basketball program enters its 2021-22 campaign looking to develop new leaders after losing most of its varsity starters to graduation. “We graduated four of our starters last year,” Southland coach Charles Stormes said. “We have three guys returning who rotated into the fifth starting spot last season. All three of those guys have a little bit of varsity time but after that, we are pretty young.”

The Campbell Camels girls basketball squad enters its 2021-22 campaign hoping the hard work put in during the off-season pays off in a big way.

The Advance Hornets didn’t win their fourth-straight MSHSAA Class 1 state volleyball championship this fall, but senior Alandry Below earned her third-straight all-state honor. Below was one of six Semoball area athletes to make the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association all-state teams...

The Holcomb Hornets girls basketball squad enters its 2021-22 campaign hoping to extend its recent success after securing its first district title in school history last season.

Expectations remain high for the Holcomb Hornets boys basketball program entering its 2021-22 campaign.

RISCO, Mo. — The Risco Tigers boy basketball squad has the luxury of experience and depth, one thing they haven't had much of the past few years. The Tigers return three starters from a year ago off a 9-13 team that fell to Scott County Central in the C1D1 semifinals a squad that could never find there way due to an abundant of injuries...

__College__ __Women’s Basketball__ Stephen F. Austin 83 SEMO 59

ST. LOUIS — Jim Bidewell looked down from his seat on stage during the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame St. Louis Enshrinement Ceremony on Sunday afternoon and saw Ozzie Smith in the crowd. “I got really nervous after that,” Bidewell said. “I thought this is bigger than I thought.”...

Senath-Hornersville Lions girls basketball coach Nicki Pierce hopes what her squad learned on the hardwood last season will pay off in a big way during its 2021-22 campaign.

The Senath-Hornersville Lions boys basketball program is blessed with experience entering its 2021-22 campaign.

MURRAY, Kentucky — Murray State appears to have Southeast Missouri State's number. So does freshman quarterback D.J. Williams. Williams rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns and completed 10 of 17 passes for 175 yards, helping the Racers down the Redhawks 28-10 on Saturday Roy Stewart Stadium...

PARK HILLS – The final memory for Kennett High School football fans of Indian senior Jordan Jarrett will be a magnificent one. Or two.

A robust and roaring crowd met the Southeast Missouri State volleyball team at Houck Field House on Friday night, assisting the Redhawks to play at the top of their game as SEMO beat Morehead State 3-0 to pull within one game of a share of the OVC regular-season championship...

College Volleyball SEMO 3 Morehead St. 0 High School Football Class 1 District Final Hayti 48 Scott City 15 Class 2 District Final Lift for Life 58 New Madrid County Central 34 Class 3 District Final Park Hills Central 51 Kennett 6 Class 5 District Final...

The Gideon Bulldogs boys basketball program enters its 2021-22 campaign with a new look after graduating four of its five varsity starters off of last season’s squad that finished 11-14 and won the Class 1, District 1 title.

The Clarkton boys basketball squad enters its 2021-22 campaign hoping to repeat as Tri-County Conference Tournament champs after securing its first conference title since 2009 last season.

The weather forecast for tonight’s MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 championship game between visiting Kennett (8-2) and host Park Hills (Central) (9-1) is calling for it to be a frigid affair with temperatures dipping into the high 20’s, so toughness is going to be at a premium.

SPRINGFIELD — Leave it up to Eric Reed to keep Missouri State at arm's length. Southeast Missouri State's trusty sharpshooter nailed a 3-pointer with 11 seconds and to help the Redhawks hold off the Bears 99-94 in Tuesday's season opener, their first win at JHQ Arena in six years...

As the five starting seniors for Gideon High School volleyball walked off the court on Saturday at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau following the Bulldogs’ loss to Miller in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Final, it marked the end of an era in Bootheel volleyball for one of the most prestigious programs, not just in the area, but in the entire state. However, that moment also marked the start of an opportunity for the remainder of the programs throughout the region, and no program is in a better position to seize that moment than Clarkton.

__College Basketball__ __Men__ SEMO 99, Missouri St. 94 __Women__ SEMO 68, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy 45

CAPE GIRARDEAU – Those words were spoken by Gideon High School volleyball senior Hope Raymond on Saturday just moments following the Bulldogs’ three-set loss to Miller in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Final at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

Several local volleyball players received SEMO Conference honors, including Cape Central senior Ella Vogel and Kennett senior Macy New who were named North and South Division players of the year. Vogel — who was also named the North division's hitter of the year — and senior Ava Nelson made the all-conference first team for the Tigers...

CAPE GIRARDEAU – The most successful Gideon High School volleyball season in 17 years came to a close on Saturday, as Miller was too big – literally – and too good for the Bulldogs to overcome in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Final at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

CAPE GIRARDEAU – Gideon High School volleyball coach Kristen Ashabranner has coached her daughter, Bulldog junior Kaylee Ashabranner, since she first picked up a volleyball, including the past three at the high school level. However, the elder Ashabranner made it perfectly clear, as her team competed this weekend at the MSHSAA Class 1 State Finals, that her affection spreads to all the players that wear black and yellow.

CAPE GIRARDEAU – When a volleyball program has won 32 of its 34 matches in a season, 63 of its last 68, and its senior class has won 87 percent (118-17) of its matches during its four-year career, one can assume that such a team often wins on talent alone and just showing up.

KENNETT — The Kennett football team overpowered the Dexter Bearcats on the front line to beat them 45-9 in a MSHSAA Class 3 District 1 semifinal Friday night at Metz Cherry Stadium. Kennett senior Jordan Jarrett rushed for 257 yards and scored four touchdowns rushing and one receiving...

CAPE GIRARDEAU – No matter the sport and no matter the level of competition, when an athlete fills a key role on a team AND their parent is the coach, eyes can roll. However, watch the Gideon High School volleyball team play and it becomes obvious to everyone that Bulldog junior hitter Kaylee Ashabranner is on the court because of her ability, not her last name.

College Soccer SIUE 3, SEMO 0 College Volleyball SEMO 3, Murray State 1 High school football Jackson 59, Mehlville 7 Seckman 35, Poplar Bluff 34 Kennett 45, Dexter 9 New Madrid County Central 44, Kelly 3 Scott City 49, St. Vincent 14 Hayti 52, Caruthersville 13...

The journey of life is not only often interesting in its destinations, but in how it plays out for reasons completely unknown at the time.

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Gideon High School volleyball team held its final practice session on Thursday at the Southeast Missouri State Student Recreation Center before competing in the MSHSAA Class 1 State Finals on Friday. The Bulldogs (31-1-1) will face South Iron (26-8-1) at 6 p.m. Friday at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau in one semifinal, while Miller (32-3-1) and Santa Fe (25-0) play in the other semifinal...

__Boys Basketball__ West Plains Community College 109, SEMO Prep (Team White) 67 __Boys Soccer__ __Class 3 District 1 Final__ Mehlville 2, Notre Dame 1 __Class 4 District 1 Final__ Jackson 2, Vianney 1

A figurative circus has come to the town of Gideon this week and Bulldog volleyball coach Kristen Ashabranner has done her best to serve as the ringmaster and keep every one of her athletes focused on what they need to be zeroing in on.

__Boys Soccer__ __Class 2 District 1 Final__ Perryville 3, Saxony Lutheran 0

It defies logic as to just how tiny Gideon High School has become an MSHSAA volleyball power. Yet it has.

Boys Soccer Class 3 District 1 Notre Dame 6, Hillsboro 0 Mehlville 7, Cape Central 0 Class 4 District 1 Jackson 1, Northwest 0 Boys Swimming Semo Conference Meet Poplar Bluff 357 Jackson 318 Notre Dame 299 Farmington 295 Cape Central 279 Saxony Lutheran 104...

His allegiance belongs to the St. Louis Cardinals, but Cory Crosnoe occasionally dips his toes into Atlanta Braves fandom. Crosnoe played in the Braves’ farm system, so the retired Jackson Junior High principal is allowed to double-dip with National League impunity...

__Women’s college basketball__ SEMO 66, William Woods 49 (Exhibition) __High school boy’s soccer__ __Class 2 district semifinals__ Perryville 7, Windsor 0 Saxony Lutheran 3, DeSoto 0

Leave it up to one of Southeast Missouri State's most fiery players to ignite the flame. When Shabari Davis ran back the opening second-half kickoff Saturday, it livened a Houck FIeld homecoming crowd witnessed two underwhelming quarters. The electric 86-yard play jolted SEMO, too, which proceeded to handle Eastern Illinois 38-15 to improve 3-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play and keep a potential championship within reach...

GIDEON — The last time the Gideon volleyball team advanced to the final four current coach Kristen Ashabranner was pregnant with her daughter, Kaylee. The coach fondly remembers 2004 when the Bulldogs finished second to Lockwood in the state tournament...

Only a handful of Gideon High School volleyball players were even alive when the Bulldogs made their last trek to the MSHSAA Final Four in 2004. The team has the opportunity to make that historic journey once again today, as Gideon hosts three-time defending state champion Advance in the Class 1 Quarterfinal at 3 p.m., and the Bulldog fans have “Faith” and “Hope” that their favorite team can end the Hornets’ reign of supremacy.

SCOTT CITY – The football programs at Malden and Scott City high schools met on Friday in the opening round of the MSHSAA Class 1 District 1 playoffs and it was obvious quickly that they were heading in different directions.

College Volleyball SEMO 3, Austin Peay 0 High school football Class 1 District Quarterfinals Hayti 68, Chaffee 8 Caruthersville 26, Portageville 20 St. Vincent 43, Charleston 8 Scott City 48, Malden 6 Class 2 District Quarterfinals Lift for Life 1, East Prairie 0 (forfeit)...

CARDWELL – The Southland High School volleyball program had never advanced out of the MSHSAA Class 1 District Tournament in the lifespan of any of the Rebel players (1998), and it realized quickly in its Sectional match Thursday against Bootheel powerhouse Gideon that success becomes much more difficult with each step of the journey.

College volleyball SEMO 3, Austin Peay 2 High school basketball SEMO Prep 99, West Kentucky C & T 82, preseason High school boy’s soccer Rockwood Summit 3, Jackson 0 Cape Central 4, DeSoto 0 State High school softball Perryville vs. Chillicothe – Postponed to 10 a.m. Saturday...

JACKSON, Mo. — The high school volleyball season can be full of ups and downs, something Saxony Lutheran coach Emily Wahlers and the Crusaders experienced first-hand this season. The hopeful Crusaders played one of the most well-rounded teams in the state in Jefferson out of Festus, Mo., ultimately falling to the Blue Jays in Thursday night’s state sectional match at Saxony Lutheran High School...

CLARKTON – The Clarkton and Gideon High School volleyball programs sit less than three miles apart and have won a combined 206 matches over the past four seasons. So, one would think that the Reindeer and Bulldogs would have some intensity to the matches when they battle each other. And they do.

For Rick Heuring, men’s fastpitch softball is more than just a game. It’s his passion. “I think it’s the greatest game on Earth,” Heuring said. “I grew up with it, I’ve played it and I’ve done everything there is to do with it.” Heuring — who founded the Kelso Klassic softball tournament in 1985 — has seen the sport he holds so dearly dwindle in popularity...

CLARKTON – As it turns out, peanuts and cotton aren’t the only things grown along the Dunklin-New Madrid County lines, hellacious volleyball players are found in abundance, as well, and a whole host of them gathered in the Clarkton High School gymnasium on Monday.

Oak Ridge defeated Principia 25-17, 25-8, 25-15 on Saturday in a Class 1 District 4 quarterfinal held at West County High School in Frankclay, Mo. The Blue Jays got 14 kills, 10 digs and six assists from all-conference senior Paige Glueck. Stat-sheet stuffer Zoe Berry recorded five kills, 13 assists, nine digs, 16 service points and six aces in the win...

As Oliver Marmol transitioned into a coaching career with the St. Louis Cardinals, it became clear he had the potential to become a big league manager one day. That day has arrived — a little earlier than expected. The 35-year-old Marmol was promoted from bench coach to the majors' youngest manager on Monday, taking over the Cardinals almost two weeks after Mike Shildt was fired in a surprise move by one of baseball's most stable franchises...

MARTIN, Tenn. — It still had a heartbeat, but it was faint. When Southeast Missouri State defensive tackle Bryson Donnell recovered a fumble by Tennessee-Martin quarterback Keon Edwards with 2:12 left in the fourth quarter on Saturday, the Redhawks were in a position to push the country's 13th-ranked team to overtime...

Subject to change. Friday, Oct. 29 Mehlville at Fox, 7 p.m. Cape Central at Seckman, 7p.m. Oakville at Poplar Bluff, 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5 Fox-Mehlville winner at Jackson, 7 p.m. Poplar Bluff-Oakville winner vs. Seckman-Central winner, 7 p.m...

Tennis is mostly thought of as an individual sport. However, veteran Kennett High School coach Janet Hilburn has been guiding the Indians long enough to have learned that every player contributes to the success of a program and each athlete is vitally important.

SIKESTON – It was a good thing for the Kennett High School football squad on Friday that it held a large enough lead for most of the game at Sikeston to: * Be able to play its entire complement of players, and * Utilize a running clock throughout much of the second half The Indians overcame a sluggish start against the Bulldogs to win easily 56-5 to close out the 2021 regular season.

HAYTI – The Hayti High School football squad concluded the steamrolling of its 2021 opposition on Friday with its eighth win in as many games, in beating Caruthersville.

There have been a few frustrating aspects to the 2021 football season for Malden High School.

There has been no shortage of accolades heaped upon Kennett High School tennis player Anelle Harris over the past four seasons. And with good reason. The Indian senior recently finished in fifth place in the MSHSAA Class 1 Girl's Tennis Individual State Finals.

CAPE GIRARDEAU – Running is an exercise in solitude, literally, where the athlete IS racing against others, but in truth, they are really racing against themselves. For Woodland High School senior Emilee Rouggley, she was racing against herself along the daunting Cape County North Park course on Tuesday at the Heartland Conference Girl’s Cross Country Meet, 48 other runners, but also against Father Time...

CAPE GIRARDEAU – Woodland High School sophomore runner Reed Layton has been thinking about the Heartland Conference Cross Country Meet for a year. A year ago, Oak Ridge High School freshman Brock Hobeck beat Layton, which had stuck in Layton's mind ever since.

The Clearwater Tigers lost their final regular-season game to perennial power Winona at home on Tuesday in straight sets, 25-11, 25-19, 25-8. Clearwater coach Lisa Ayers got 10 kills from senior Jaylin Street. The Tigers (8-21-3) will await the winner of Puxico/Greenville at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Class 2 District 2 tournament at Twin Rivers High School...

SEMO Prep's Team White coach Johnny Dancy was satisfied with how his team performed on Saturday when the Huskies visited Crowley Ridge College in Paragould, Ark., for a pair of preseason matchups. In its first game, SEMO Prep rolled past Faith Prep out of Memphis, Tenn., 111-72...

The Advance volleyball team sent out it's only senior a winner. Alandry Below led the Hornets to a 25-20, 25-18, 25-17 victory over St. Vincent on senior night Tuesday at Advance High School. The three-time defending Class 1 state champion Hornets (16-12-2) will begin defense of their championship on Friday in the District 3 tournament on their home court. The No. 2 seed will open against No. 7 Marquand-Zion at 4 p.m. in a first-round matchup...

CAPE GIRARDEAU – Scott City is amid a strong volleyball season having won the most regular-season games (16-8-2) in four seasons, while still having four matches remaining. This could be the most successful season in over a decade after the Rams finished 30-1-1 in 2011. However, of late, Scott City has struggled – relatively speaking.

Meadow Heights won a close one on Monday night to wrap up its regular season, beating Bell City 25-12, 25-19, 21-25, 28-26 on the road. The Panthers, who have won eight in a row heading into district play, got a solid game from senior Kambri Erzfeld (11 kills, 15 digs, two aces) and Ashley Allen (37 assists, 21 digs, one kill)...

x-conference champ; --- MISSOURI MEDIA RANKINGS A look at rankings from a 10-member panel of media members from around the state with current record, points based on votes with first place votes in parentheses and last week’s ranking. CLASS 6 Also receiving votes: Lindbergh (7-1) 7; Marquette (7-1) 2; Liberty (5-3) 1...

CARUTHERSVILLE – The Senath-Hornersville High School volleyball team is culminating a historic season on Tuesday with its final regular-season match.

Kennett senior tennis player Anelle Harris has been superb on the courts for four seasons and her final weekend as an individual representing the school didn’t disappoint.

If Southeast Missouri State can take any solace from Saturday's gut-punching 32-31 loss to Murray State, it's that it didn't count. Not in the Ohio Valley Conference standings, anyway. Racers sophomore quarterback D.J. Williams — making his first collegiate start — orchestrated a six-play, 84-yard drive in the final 62 seconds, an effort capped by Aaron Baum's 35-yard game-winning field goal that took the air out of a half-filled-because-of-stadium-conditions Houck Field...

Similar sequence, bigger stage. When SEMO midfielder Lauren Welker intercepted an Eastern Illinois pass on Thursday and proceeded to find open, fellow Jackson alum Katelyn Miller, the freshman’s one-touch goal evoked a stream of memories. Welker, a senior, helped the young Miller scorch the net in high school, too...

HAYTI – Through seven weeks of high school football this fall, it appears that the only things capable of slowing the Hayti gridiron train are either a pandemic or the Indians themselves. And neither has been much of an obstacle, at that.

Kennett senior tennis player Anelle Harris is closing out her individual career on a strong note today.

POPLAR BLUFF — Kannon Carr threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Poplar Bluff football team turned big plays into a big home win Friday night. After a slow start in which Kennett extended a lead in the opening seconds of the second quarter, the Mules defense didn’t allow a point...

CARUTHERSVILLE – It’s a new era for the Bootheel Conference Volleyball Tournament and Portageville sent a message on Thursday to that effect and third-year Bulldog coach Sasha Kellams said her program may enjoy this spot for a while.

Malden High School football coach Jeff Bullock has been around the sport of football his entire life and has experienced plenty of emotional moments on the field. However, the added dimension of what the first-year Green Wave coach had to endure last Friday in a 30-24 overtime loss was particularly interesting to him because of the opponent.

Five Outside looking in: Holcomb (15-6-1), Bernie (15-8-1), Dexter (14-9-1), Portageville (14-9-3), Richland (Essex) (17-10),...

It’s one thing to have the potential for greatness. A lot of athletes and teams possess that.

Top-seeded Senath-Hornersville defeated fourth-seeded Campbell, 25-17, 25-20, on Wednesday as the Lions’ secured their place in the championship game at the Bootheel Conference Tournament at Caruthersville High School. The Camels (6-15-2) got 17 kills from Delayni Smith and nine service points from Marie Wheeler on offense...

Campbell was victorious in the first round of the Bootheel Conference Tournament at Caruthersville on Tuesday, beating Caruthersville in three sets. Behind junior Delayni Smith’s four kills and 20 assists, the Camels downed the Tigers, 25-16, 19-25, 15-9...

The Cape Central boys swim team finished third overall at the John Burroughs High School tri-meet Tuesday, scoring 41 points. Tigers Individual results: Event 1: 200 Medley Relay 5th - Owen Groves, Elias Theall, Noah McRaven, Adam Sparks – 2:06.00 Event 2: 200 Freestyle...

The seventh-seeded Greenville Bears stunned second-seeded Chaffee 8-5 in the first round of the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 playoffs Tuesday at Rains Field, the only lower seed to win in the tournament’s opening round. In other first-round action, fourth-seeded Twin Rivers downed No. 5 Saxony Lutheran 3-1, top-seeded Kelly shut out No. 8 Seymour 4-0 and No. 3 Hartville downed sixth-seeded Gainesville 3-1...

The Notre Dame volleyball team wasted little time on Tuesday against Cape Central, dismantling the Tigers on the road in straight sets. Coach Meridith Brinkmeyer got another stellar game from senior Rylee McClintock, who smashed 16 kills, recorded 13 digs — both game-highs — and secured two ace serves in the Bulldogs’ 25-19, 25-20, 25-14 win...

The top-seeded Kelly Hawks staved off elimination on Tuesday, beating the eighth seed Seymour Tigers 4-0 at the Class 2 District 1 quarterfinal at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff. Sophomore pitcher Mallery Lemonds pitched a complete-game shutout for Kelly, allowing just four hits, striking out seven and walking three...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — It was all Scott City Tuesday night as the Rams rolled over the New Madrid County Central Eagles in three sets 25-14, 25-13, 25-19. Turnovers were the kryptonite for NMCC as Scott City took full advantage and rolled to a three-set win...

SEMO Prep School went 2-1 in its first set of games, as program director Roy Booker's Red Team traveled to Vincennes University in Indiana and played a trio of games. The Huskies took on Dohn Prep out of Cincinnati, Ohio in the first game, winning 54-46...

The Bootheel Conference Tournament will kick off today as top seed Senath Hornersville will have a first-round bye and will play its first game on Wednesday, facing the winner of the four and five matchup between Campbell and host school Caruthersville at 7 p.m...

The Saxony Lutheran volleyball team won its 12th game of the season on Monday, beating Kennett 25-17, 25-20, 25-23 on the road. Anna Thomason led a well-balanced offensive attack with eight kills and Josey Wahlers added seven. Isabella Deckerd (six kills), Grace Ozark (four kills), Carly Summers (three kills) and Landre Hoehne (13 assists) all provided offense for coach Emily Wahlers...

Notre Dame had a strong showing in the Lutheran South Tournament on Saturday, beating Fort Zumwalt South, tying Jefferson City and Timberland, and losing to Lutheran South to go 1-1-2 overall in the tournament. The Bulldogs faced Jefferson City first splitting their sets 25-20, 22-25. Rylee McClintock (eight kills) and Kristin Anderson (seven kills) led the offense, and Brooklyn Greaser led the defense with 10 digs...

x-conference champ; y-clinched share of conference title; --- CLASS 5 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 4 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 3 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 2 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 1 DISTRICT 1 ---...

The Gideon Bulldogs have received the top seed for the MSHSAA Class 1 District 2 Volleyball Tournament that starts Oct. 21 Clarkton. Bernie was seeded second, Clarkton third, Risco fourth, Holcomb fifth, Richland sixth and Campbell seventh. Risco will meet Holcomb in the first round at 6 p.m. Oct. 21. In other first-round matchups, Bernie will meet Campbell at 5 p.m. Oct. 22 and Clarkton will meet Richland at 7 p.m. Oct. 22...

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — At a fork in the Ohio Valley Conference road, Southeast Missouri State yanked the steering wheel. The Redhawks  chose the correct course Saturday when their turnover-forcing defense spoiled Austin Peay's homecoming 31-14 at Fortera Field...

KENNETT — A balanced offense and an aggressive and physical defense put the Kennett Indians back in the win column Friday night at Metz Cherry Stadium. The Indians held Dexter scoreless until late in the fourth quarter en route to a 32-6 victory. The Indians rebounded from their first loss of the season last week when New Madrid County Central beat them 34-29 at New Madrid...

HAYTI – Hayti scored in every aspect a football team could want to against visiting Kelly on Friday. The Indians found the end zone offensively (a lot), defensively, and even on special teams, as they routed the Hawks 70-10.

Brayden Bomar drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning in top-seeded South Pemiscot’s 7-6 win over Bernie in the championship game of the Fall Baseball Tournament on Friday night at Bernie. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-1 lead, but Bernie rallied with four in the fourth...

Meadow Heights swept Oran 25-8, 25-8, 25-3 on the road Friday night, winning its 16th game of the season. Ashley Allen led the Panthers (16-7) with 21 assists, two kills and two aces. Halli Bollinger-Yount (seven kills, ace serve), Molly Conrad (five kills, two blocks, seven digs), Kambri Erzfeld (three kills, six digs), Miranda Green (three kills, 2 blocks) and Ashley Gruenke (10 digs, five aces) also contributed in a winning effort...

Southeast Missouri State's women's soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision to UT-Martin on Sunday at Houck Field. Not all was negative for the Redhawks, as sophomore Natalie Jackson scored her first-career goal in the matchup. Maddie Paulson was credited with her first-career assist on the play, hitting Jackson with a pass after receiving a corner kick from Kate Daus in the 23rd minute...

Twelve teams will take part in the 2021 Jackson Volleyball Tournament on Saturday. Each team will compete in four, pre-bracket games. The top four teams from each group made up of eight total teams will advance to the tournament’s Gold bracket while the remaining four teams will go play in the Silver bracket...

1. Woodland — Record: 20-3 — Recent wins: Richland (Essex), St. Vincent, Leopold 2. Notre Dame — Record: 14-2-2 — Recent wins: Leopold, Advance, Kennett 3. Jackson — Record: 14-4-2 — Recent wins: Farmington, Hillsboro, Advance 4. Gideon — Record: 21-1-1 — Recent wins: Campbell, Bernie, North Pemiscot, Holcomb...

RISCO — So much was at stake Thursday Night in Risco, a pink-out game, a battle for the one seed in the Tri-County Conference Tournament and a big rivalry game between Risco, and Gideon. Gideon would take care of business in three sets 25-14, 25-14, 25-7...

Miranda Ladson put together a solid performance on Thursday for Jackson, accumulating three hits in five at-bats — including a three-run home run in the sixth inning en route to a 13-2 victory over Greenville. Ladson drove in a game-high five RBIs for the Indians...

The third time was the charm for the Bernie Mules. After losing their first two matchups against the Holcomb Hornets this season, the Mules beat Holcomb 5-2 Thursday to advance to the championship game of the Fall Baseball Tournament at Bernie. Holcomb beat the Mules 5-0 in their season opener and 11-2 during...

The Kennett football program is in a strange place this Friday, which is that the Indians are having to rebound from defeat.

Although it was an emotional night for Oak Ridge head coach Julie Ward and her team on Wednesday, the Blue Jays handled business, defeating the Eagles in straight sets, 25-11, 25-13, 25-18. Senior Paige Glueck produced a triple-double (13 kills, 10 assists, 16 digs) to lead the team offensively, followed by junior Zoe Berry’s six kills, 15 assists, and 10 digs...

Notre Dame’s Lexi Rubel and Rylee McClintock made their final home volleyball game one to remember. The duo combined for 19 kills — 10 for Rubel, nine for McClintock — en route to a three-match sweep of Kennett on Tuesday at Notre Dame Regional High School...

Southeast Missouri State’s margin for error got a whole lot thinner. When Tennessee Tech upset the Redhawks 28-17 on Saturday in Cookeville, it put an early dent in their Ohio Valley Conference title hopes. Next up: OVC heavyweights.  SEMO (1-4, 1-1 OVC) turns its attention to Austin Peay a (2-3, 0-0), a former league doormat that tied for second with the Redhawks in the preseason coaches poll behind favorite Murray State, which visits Houck Field next week...

Louder than the music blaring from the SEMO student recreation center’s speakers Tuesday were the howls of optimism in its gymnasium. Redhawks women’s basketball coach Rekha Patterson smiled, laughed and exchanged high-fives with players as she issued orders to a team mixed with experience, transfers and underclassmen...

Cape Central defeated Mehlville 5-3 on Monday to move on to the Class 2 District 1 semifinal. The Tigers’ No. 1 singles player Megan Maxton lost 6-3, 5-2, but teammates Cammy Soto (No. 2), Jalee Spain (No. 3), Mazkenzie Ramdial (No. 4) and Zoe Mayfield (No. 5) were all victorious...

Cape Central volleyball coach Haley Silman and her team celebrated senior night Tuesday with a with a three-set shellacking of Poplar Bluff at home, 25-10, 25-19, 25-11. The win was one night removed from beating state-ranked Fredericktown in a five-set thriller...

East Carter senior Rylee O’Dell went 4-for-4 at the plate on Tuesday, scoring three runs and fellow senior Elizabeth Crowly recorded three hits in the game to lead the Redbirds past Sikeston 7-3 at home. East Carter scored in every inning except the fourth, outhitting the Bulldogs 12-5 in the process...

STAFF REPORTS The third-seeded Bernie Mules scored three runs in the fourth inning to beat sixth-seeded Neelyville 5-2 to complete the first round of the Fall Baseball Tournament on Tuesday at Bernie. Top-seeded South Pemiscot (15-2) is scheduled to face fourth-seeded Campbell (5-9) in the semifinals at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and Bernie (8-11) is set to meet second-seeded Holcomb (14-5) at 6 p.m. Wednesday...

Four Kennett athletes and two from Notre Dame advanced to a MSHSAA Class 1 sectional tournament on Monday at Cape Girardeau. Kennett’s Anelle Harris and Audrey Phillips and the doubles team of Handley McAtee-Christi Tejada and Notre Dame’s Megan Gullette-Amina Hussein will compete in the sectional tournament beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau...

The Saxony Lutheran Crusaders had a busy 3-day span as coach Emily Wahlers girls won the Silver Bracket championship at the Perryville tournament on Saturday, going 3-2 for the event, beating Sikeston, St. Vincent, and Advance to earn the first place trophy in the silver bracket...

Cape Central cross country coach Logan Bollinger had several of his teams runners earn medals in Saturday’s Notre Dame Invitational held at Notre Dame Regional High School. Despite very rainy and slippery conditions, junior Lindsey Caldwell placed 10th for the Tigers with a time of 21:17 and freshman Emily Marriott placed closely behind in 11th with a 21:24 time on the girl’s side...

Behind Scarlett Alcorn’s two RBI doubles, the Van Buren Bulldogs made quick work of Alton on Monday, beating the Comets in six innings, 11-1. The senior’s first double came in the bottom of the second inning, with Alcorn smashing a pitch sharply to right field, scoring Olivia Christiansen from second base...

x-conference champ; *points do not include forfeit wins or losses. ———— CLASS 5 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 4 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 3 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 2 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 1 DISTRICT 1 --- A look at rankings from a 10-member panel of media members from around the state with current record, points based on votes with first place votes in parentheses and last week’s ranking...

DEXTER — The Dexter Bearcats got the opportunity to celebrate homecoming on their own field for the first time since 2018. The Bearcats beat Caruthersville 26-0 Friday night to win their first homecoming game in three years. They defeated Doniphan 42-6 before losing their next two homecoming matchups in 2019 and 2020...

NEW MADRID – With just under 11 minutes remaining in one of the biggest football games played in New Madrid in years, the Eagles of New Madrid County Central were desperately clinging to a one score lead over one of the best football programs in this region, the Kennett Indians.

Saturday’s games in the Fall Baseball Tournament at Bernie have been postponed because of rain. The tournament will open Monday with no consolation bracket. First-round games will be Monday and Tuesday, the semifinal will be Wednesday and the championship and third-place games will be Thursday...

After a lengthy rain delay at the Class 1, District 2 final at SEMO on Friday, Saxony Lutheran singles player Ava Brown finished in fourth place, losing to Arcadia Valley’s Alyssa Glanzer, 6-1, 6-1, in semifinal action. Brown then lost to Arcadia Valley player Madeline Coles, 6-3, 7-5 in the third place contest...

The Southeast Missouri women’s volleyball team made rather quick work of Belmont at home on Friday, sweeping the Bruins in straight sets, 25-20, 25-19, 25-19, in the Redhawks conference opener. Laney Malloy led the Redhawks with 18 kills and Zoey Beasley added 14 kills...

Jim Bidewell got what he called a “very big surprise” this week. The Poplar Bluff native and longtime Portageville basketball coach will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 14 in St. Louis. Bidewell’s teams won five state championships, reaching seven final fours among 11 district championships over his 24 seasons coaching the Bulldogs...

KENNETT – There were questions surrounding the Kennett football program entering the 2021 season, and they were fair ones to ask.

Perryville will host a volleyball tournament on Saturday in four different locations with five area schools taking part. Cape Central, Leopold, Perryville, Saxony Lutheran and St. Vincent will take part in Saturday’s pool play, with other Semoball-area schools also participating...

Week two of the Semoball volleyball rankings look fairly similar except defending Class 1 state champions Advance took a hit this week, losing two games. Holcomb (11-4-1) enters the top 10 this week, replacing Advance in the rankings. Top 10: No. 1 – Woodland – Record: 16-3 – Recent wins: Cape Central, Meadow Heights, Oak Ridge, Bell City...

Notre Dame No. 1 and No. 2 players Megan Gullette and Amina Hussein led the Bulldogs to an 8-1 victory on Wednesday over Saxony Lutheran at Notre Dame Regional High School. Saxony Lutheran was able to win one match as the No. 2 doubles team of Maggie Hillin and Abigail Haley beat Suna Mungee and Emily Fehr 8-6...

Jackson won its 12th game of the season on Wednesday, defeating Cape Central in straight sets, 25-19, 25-18, 25-18. Sophomore Nadia Wasilewski led the Indians offensively with a team-high 12 kills. Christa Vandeven followed suit with seven kills (four digs, 2 blocks, 11 service points) while Mia Trankler added six kills (three blocks, two aces)...

There are 18 high school football teams in the SEMO Conference and only one (Farmington) has allowed fewer points in conference play than Kennett, and that is due in large part to the Black Knights (4-1, 2-0 SEMO Conference) having played one less game than the 11th-ranked Indians (5-0, 3-0).

South Pemiscot has received the top seed for the Fall Baseball Tournament that starts Saturday at Bernie. Holcomb was voted the No. 2 seed by the tournament’s coaches. Bernie was seeded third, Campbell fourth, Bloomfield fifth, Neelyville sixth, Risco seventh and Senath-Hornersville eighth...

As it turns out, about a lot of things in life, your parents were correct when they advised us all as youth that we are known by the company that we keep. That is applicable in social circles, education, business, and politics. And it is true in intercollegiate athletics, as well.

BERNIE — The Bernie volleyball team has been learning how to finish off opponents. The Mules took those lessons to heart Monday night, sweeping Kennett 25-11, 25-13, 25-14 at Bernie High School. In all three games, Kennett gave the Mules a stiff challenge early but they eventually pulled away in each set...

Woodland (16-3, 4-0 SCAA) beat Bell City on Tuesday 25-6, 25-16, 25-9 in volleyball action.

Neelyville led 5-0 against North County in the fifth inning before the Raiders rallied to score four runs.

Cape Central senior Malayna McAllister passed out 18 assists to go with her seven digs and three kills, to help the Tigers beat Fox 25-18, 18-25, 25-15, 25-18 in volleyball action on Monday at Fox.

Saxony Lutheran fell just short in a 5-4 girl’s tennis match Monday against Potosi.

Jackson State saw its relatively obscure Football Championship Subdivision profile hit an upsurge with the unforeseen hire of Deion Sanders. Former Cape Central and Southeast Missouri State defensive back Al Young noticed. When the HBCU school brought on one of football’s most prominent figures, it immediately changed the complexion of a small Mississippi program that rarely enjoyed success...

--- CLASS 5 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 4 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 3 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 2 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 1 DISTRICT 1 --- A look at rankings from a 10-member panel of media members from around the state with current record, points based on votes with first place votes in parentheses and last week’s ranking...

Geno Hess kept his legs pumping as he hit holes - some narrower than others - with a full head of steam. When the Southeast Missouri State running back wasn't punishing Tennessee State linebackers on Saturday at Houck Field, he was sprinting past defensive backs...

KENNETT – The Kennett football program has been dominant for some time. In the past three seasons, the Indians have won 34 of its 38 games, and it appears that first-year coach Andrew Webster is leaving nothing to chance in maintaining that tradition.

Southeast Missouri State fans who can't use Houck Stadium' south grandstands due to recent safety concerns, take solace. Your stadium is getting a major upgrade. The 91-year-old venue was approved for construction Friday by the Missouri State Board of Governors, a pursuit that will be done in three phases...

All six Kennett athletes played for trophies at the SEMO Conference Girls Tennis Tournament at Cape Central High School on Friday in Cape Girardeau. Kennett’s Anelle Harris won the singles championship, beating teammate Audrey Phillips in the title match...

Tom Matukewicz, the Southeast Missouri State head man who’s helped turn the Redhawks into a consistent Ohio Valley Conference contender, has had better years. The pandemic did no favors for SEMO and the 2020-delayed Football Championship Subdivision, opening the door for several key players to make the leap to the larger Football Bowl Subdivision, including new Auburn safety Bydarrius Knighten...

KENNETT – The home bleachers at Metz Cherry Stadium were overflowing for last Friday’s homecoming football victory over Caruthersville. The fans spilled out of the bleachers and lined the chain-link fence all the way past the entrance to the stadium at the south side of the field.

It’s going to be a tough row to hoe for the Cape Central girl’s tennis team in today’s SEMO Conference Tennis Tournament at Sikeston High School.

Junior forward Jace Boland scored two goals on Thursday to lead the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders over Farmington 4-2 on the road. Sophomore Luke Eggemeyer and junior Michael Hasz also produced goals while Max Richey and Landon Ochs each recorded two assists...

Cape Central coach Ryan Medlin and his Tigers picked up their eighth win of the season on Thursday, torching Jefferson 16-1 on the road. Junior leadoff hitter Ki Bogan had a whale of a game, going 4-for-5 in the contest with singles in the first, fourth, fifth and seventh innings. The junior drove in runs in the fifth and seventh frames...

The Dexter girls tennis team lost only three games en route to a 9-0 victory over Caruthersville on Thursday at T.S. Hill Middle School in Dexter. Leaha Koss, Nicole Rawlings and the doubles team of Lillie McMeans and Charlie Burkhalter recorded one win apiece in 8-1 losses to Julianna Rivera in No. 1 singles, Maci Comfort in No. 2 singles and Makenzie Mahy and Natalie Sells in No. 2 doubles, respectively...

The Scott City volleyball program, behind first-year coach Cindy Henry, has improved by leaps and bounds this season. The Rams have already matched their win total from a year ago by beating Sikeston at home Thursday, 3-1. Sophomore Alyssa Dirden’s eight kills and four aces along with junior Avarie O’Brien’s six kills led the Rams offense...

When Bryson Donnell isn’t using his feet to come off the edge of Southeast Missouri State’s defensive line, his hands are creating havoc in the interior. At 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, the versatile Donnell bears the aesthetic of a true defensive tackle, but his athleticism and innate nose for the football give him license to line up in different techniques. ...

Behind home runs from Ainsley and Hailey Burnett — as well as five RBIs from Ainsley — Notre Dame had little trouble with Festus on Wednesday, crushing the Tigers 13-1 in five innings. The Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom half of innings one and two, followed by one run scored in the third...

Cooper Callis (Jackson HS) matched a Southwest Baptist school record with six touchdown passes in a 62-41 loss to Findlay on Saturday. Callis was 30 for 40 passing for 450 yards and no interceptions. He found Jordan Kent (Jackson HS) eight times for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Callis completed passes to eight different receivers with Kent third on the team in total yards. Cameron Cox (Cape Central HS) also had a tackle for the Bearcats...

Jackson picked up its 11th victory of the season with a 7-2 triumph over Mehlville on Wednesday. Mia Foote, Lydia Weber, Avery Ford and Marissa Buehler all won both singles and doubles matches against Panther foes. Jackson (11-5-1) will play at 4 p.m. today against Cape Central...

The Perryville boys soccer team has been on a roll as of late, winning seven games in a row after suffering its lone defeat against Notre Dame on Aug. 31. Tuesday was no different, as the Pirates shellacked the Seckman Jaguars, 6-1, as part of the opening round of the Hillsboro Tournament...

Each week, I plan to take a look at the Semoball area's volleyball teams and rank them 1-10 based on how they improve or decline in play. These rankings are my personal opinion and are not official. 1. Woodland – Record: 12-3 – Wins last week: Saxony Lutheran, Advance, Dexter...

After Cape Central dropped its first set to Scott City on Wednesday, the Tigers turned on the heat, winning three sets in a row to beat the Rams on the road, (20-25), 25-22, 25-21, 25-18. Cape Central received a game-high 22 kills offensively from senior hitter Ella Vogel, while Ava Nelson added four kills and Madison Phelps contributed three...

Behind another solid all-around game from all-state hitter Addie Johnson, the Woodland Cardinals won their ninth out of 10 games on Tuesday, beating Cape Central in straight sets, 25-17, 25-18, 25-19. Johnson recorded 21 kills, 14 digs and had six ace serves...

The game of softball is often ever-changing. Just ask Chaffee freshman Reese Van Pelt. On Monday, Van Pelt gave up nine runs on 13 hits against East Carter, with her Red Devils losing 9-5. On Tuesday, Van Pelt pitched an absolute gem on the mound and led the Chaffee offense in hits, as the host Red Devils dismantled Saxony Lutheran 11-0 in five innings...

KENNETT – Throughout his highly successful athletic career, Kennett High School senior Tanner Duncan has faced a lot of challenges.

The Advance Hornets volleyball team lost its first match against a Class 1 school since 2017, dropping a 25-20, 25-19, 25-14 decision to Gideon on Monday night at Gideon. Valle Catholic beat the Hornets — who have won the past three Class 1 state championships — in two sets in the sectional round of the Class 1 state tournament in 2017...

Cape Central swept its tennis match on Thursday, beating Caruthersville 9-0. Four Cape Tigers shut their opponents out in singles competition, and two doubles teams shut out their opponents. Results Singles No. 1 — Jalee Spain won 8-0 No. 2 — Mackenzie Ramdial won 8-3...

The Jackson girls golf team played in two different varsity tournaments over the weekend, with the Indians winning the Rockwood Summit Invitational in Fenton, Mo., and taking second place in the Angel Classic at the Quarry at Crystal Springs in St. Louis...

——— CLASS 5 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 4 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 3 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 2 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 1 DISTRICT 1 --- A look at rankings from a 10-member panel of media members from around the state with current record, points based on votes with first place votes in parentheses and last week’s ranking...

The Dexter girls tennis team brought home a second-place trophy from the Kennett Invitational held Saturday at Kennett High School. Julianna Rivera and Maci Comfort received the top seed for the doubles tournament that featured players from Dexter, Kennett, Sikeston and Windsor (Imperial)...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. — It wasn’t a pretty game by any stretch of the imagination for Scott City on Friday night, but Rams coach Jim May will take a win any way he can get it. Especially with three of his starters on the mend from injuries sustained in previous games...

KENNETT – Interim Kennett High School football coach (and defensive coordinator) Jim Tidd spent last week watching film of the Ste. Genevieve offense rack up points in abundance against his defense, though the Indians escaped with a 40-38 victory a week ago. So, when he filled in for Kennett head coach Andrew Webster, who had to miss Friday’s game at Metz Cherry Stadium against Caruthersville after being ejected a week earlier, Tidd was leaving nothing to chance in terms of keeping the program unbeaten this fall.

Dexter senior Gabby Brown won the Bismarck Cross County Invitational Saturday at Mineral Area College in Park Hills.. Brown completed the 3.1-mile course in 20 minutes, 32.25 seconds — 2.38 seconds short of equalling her personal-best time but beating second-place Katie Griffin, of Van Buren, by 16.62 seconds to win her second race of the season...

The Bernie Mules scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Campbell 3-2 Friday at Bernie. Landon Ellsworth was struck by a pitch to start the rally. Ellsworth advanced to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Reece Justice’s single to right field...

The Advance Hornets swept district rival Leopold 25-14, 25-20, 25-14 Thursday night at Leopold. The Hornets and Leopold are members of MSHSAA Class 1 District 3. Advance will host the tournament in late October. No individual statistics were reported...

The Dexter Bearcats swept the doubles round to take command in a 7-2 victory over Arcadia Valley on Thursday at T.S. Hill Middle School in Dexter. Top-ranked singles player Julianna Rivera did not play in the singles round although she and Maci Comfort teamed up to Alyssa Glanzer and Elena Lara 8-4 in No. 1 doubles...

Behind goals from Sam Cairns, Timothy Kirby and Jonathan Brandtner, the Cape Central boys soccer team blanked Poplar Bluff 3-0 on Thursday. The Tigers outshot the Mules, 8-0, as the trio slipped goals past the Mules' goalkeeper. Cape Central starting goalkeeper Tad Couch went relatively unscathed, as the Tigers defense didn't allow a shot on goal during the entire match...

Moments into Kennett’s wild 40-38 win over Ste. Genevieve last Friday, Indian senior LaTrevion Thompson exhibited his athletic brilliance.

KENNETT — The Dexter volleyball team utilized aggressive serving, taking advantage of a struggling Kennett back row to sweep the Indians 25-17, 25-16, 25-15 Tuesday night at Kennett High School. The Bearcats served 17 aces with Carly Long recording 11 of those...

The Cooter baseball team scored three runs in the sixth inning to blow open a tight game and beat Bloomfield 9-3 Tuesday at Bloomfield. Cooter took a 5-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning, but Bloomfield scored two in the bottom half to cut the lead to two...

Cape Central tennis coach Kevin Francis saw his team dominate the opposition on Tuesday, beating Charleston in all matches but one, 8-1. Taking single match wins were Emily Ford, Cammy Soto, Jalee Spain, Mackenzie Ramdial, and Sydnee Williams while the doubles teams of Ford and Soto, Spain and Ramdial and Rileigh Stevens and Zoe Mayfield were all victorious...

The Notre Dame girls golf team finished second in a quad match held at Dalhousie Golf Club while Cape Central finished fourth out of the four teams that competed. Massac County won the event, shooting an overall score of 172 while Notre Dame shot 189...

SCOTT CITY, Mo. — The Kennett volleyball team could not have started its game with host Scott City any worse on Monday night. The Indians dropped the first set 25-2, but coach Gentry Vancil was able reset her players, put the opening set in the rear-view and her team played much better despite ultimately surrendering the match in four sets...

The Saxony Lutheran boys soccer team performed well in the Hannibal Tournament — held on Friday and Saturday in Hannibal, Mo. — taking home third place in the two-day tournament. The Crusaders pounded Macomb on Friday, winning 8-0. Saxony Lutheran came back on Saturday and split two games. The Crusaders lost to Hickman 3-1 early in the day, but came back to defeat Southern Boone 4-1...

Behind some stout pitching by starter Samantha Waller, the North County Raiders took it to Chaffee, beating the visiting Red Devils 11.2 on Monday. Waller gave up two runs right off the bat in the first inning but put up zeroes the rest of the way, and the North County offense outhit Chaffee in the contest, 14-5...

Behind Grace Ozark’s nine kills and nine digs and Anna Thomason’s eight kills and six blocks, the Saxony Lutheran volleyball team pulled out a huge home victory over a talented Park Hills Central team on Monday, beating the Rebels in three sets, 25-21, 25-21, 25-18...

Notre Dame senior Megan Gullette was victorious again in No. 1 singles competition, defeating Jackson's Delaney Pipkin 8-4 on Monday in Jackson, Mo. Gullette picked up a second win, as she and No. 1 doubles partner Amina Hussein defeated Jackson's duo of Pipkin and Taylor Fehr 8-3...

--- CLASS 5 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 4 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 3 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 2 DISTRICT 1 CLASS 1 DISTRICT 1 --- A look at rankings from a 10-member panel of media members from around the state with current record, points based on votes with first place votes in parentheses and last week’s ranking...

When the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame inducted Three Rivers College basketball coach Gene Bess in 1983, he had 370 wins. As decades passed and Bess kept setting records, the irony of the outdated bronze tribute was not lost on the Poplar Bluff community...

As Southeast Missouri State kicker Kenny Doak lined up for a 47-yard field goal late in the second quarter Saturday, top-ranked Sam Houston was on its heels. The Redhawks -- playing a cleaner, more assertive brand of football than they did in a season-opening blowout loss to rival Southern Ilinois -- were moving the football on a defense chalked with All-Americans...

Julie Yankus doesn't tally career wins, but the 11th-year Southeast Missouri State volleyball coach is aware of some of the markers in her career. When the Redhawks take down Memphis, she remembers. It's been a trend in recent years, including Friday's five-set win over the Tigers at the SEMO Invitational...

Quarterbacks and linebackers zipping across Southeast Missouri high school football fields on Friday weren’t yet born. Most of Southeast Missouri State’s players were infants and toddlers. They’re aware of the magnitude of Sept. 11, 2001, the most somber day in American history, but didn’t experience the real-time shock and heartbreak of millions as smoke billowed from the Twin Towers...

DEXTER — Big plays were the recipe for success for the Dexter Bearcats and New Madrid County Central Eagles on Friday. In the end NMCC made more of them and recorded a 56-41 victory at Charles Bland Stadium. The Eagles made most of their noise on offense with the passing game...

STE. GENEVIEVE – Where to start when telling the story of Kennett’s 40-38 thrilling football victory at Ste. Genevieve on Friday.

The Holcomb Hornets scored three runs in the sixth inning and six in the seventh to beat Bernie 11-2 Saturday in the Bernie Wood Bat Round Robin. The Hornets led 2-1 entering the sixth and 5-2 entering the seventh. Nate Rhew secured the victory. He gave up two runs on three hits with 18 strikeouts and one walk in seven innings...