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Sikeston holds off Mules for SEMO Conference tourney title
SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston Bulldogs held off a second-half charge by the Poplar Bluff Mules to win their second straight SEMO Conference Tournament title Friday night.
The Bulldogs saw their 14 point halftime lead cut to one with just under 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter but Sikeston held on for a 69-64 win.
Juqualin Wiggins scored 16 points for the Bulldogs (6-0) and also led with five steals and seven rebounds. Eli Jackson and Will Holifield each added 14 points while Niquavious Dixon got two of his five points in a key spot.
Dixon got his layin to fall in traffic after the Mules pulled within 61-60 and, after one of 25 turnovers by the Mules, Wiggins got a tip-in off a miss to push the lead to five.
Poplar Bluff (4-2) pulled within 67-64 on a free throw by Michael Griggs and got the ball back after Sikeston missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 34 seconds left. Jackson got a steal off a pass out of a trap near midcourt and quickly scored at the other end to clinch the title.
Jay Raulston scored 30 points on 11 of 13 shooting from the field and 8 of 13 at the free-throw line. The Poplar Bluff senior also had a career-high 14 rebounds. Eljie Johnson also had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds while Jake White scored 12.
Sikeston led 20-15 after one quarter and used a 18-4 run in the second to lead by 18. The Mules trailed 42-28 at the start of the second half but put together a 15-1 run. Poplar Bluff was never able to pull even or take the lead, trailing 55-51 at the end of the third quarter.
For more on the game, read Sunday's Daily American Republic or Standard Democrat.
SIKESTON (69) Juqualin Wiggins 16, Eli Jackson 14, Niquavious Dixon 5, Darryl Howard 4, Janeil Hatchett 10, Martez Evans 0, Will Holifield 14, Corey Porter 6. FG 24 FT 18-27. (3-pointers: Holifield 2. Hatchett. Fouled out: none.)
POPLAR BLUFF (64) Kenric McCain 0. Greg Coble 2. Zach McAnulty 0. Lee Abraham 0. Jay Raulston 30. Jordan Marler 5. Nick Shrum 0. Jake White 12. Eljie Johnson 12. FG 25 FT 11-20. (3-pointers: White 2. Marler 1. Fouled out: none.)