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Slow start dooms Sikeston in first round loss to Saxony Lutheran
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — Getting out to a slow start was not how the Sikeston girls’ basketball team wanted to start their season.
The Lady Bulldogs scored five points in the first quarter and only made seven field goals in the first half, in their 52-40 loss in the first round of the Girls SEMO Conference Tournament at Cape Central High School, in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Altogether, they shot 27 percent from the floor through 16 minutes and trailed a veteran-laden Saxony Lutheran (1-0) team that knows how to close out games. Overall, the Lady Bulldogs shot 25 percent from-the-floor for the game.
“We came out cold, and I don’t know that nerves didn’t play a part of it,” Sikeston head coach Alisha Wills said. “Typically we have a game before SEMO Conference starts and we haven’t had that this year. We got a different schedule, and we don’t have a first game before we start this tournament. I think that’s a bad thing because we didn’t get to see and tweak some things. But, I think we were just cold, and I think nerves played a part.
“We’re a young team, and Saxony is going to bring it to you. They’re going to come out and put a lot of pressure on you, and they’re a very physical team. I don’t think that some of our younger players anticipated that, and I think it just took them out of their rhythm.”
Sikeston (0-1) has had its fair share of struggles against the Lady Crusaders.
The Lady Bulldogs have dropped their last nine games, with the margin of defeat not being particularly close. Saxony Lutheran has outscored Sikeston by nearly 28 points during the streak.
On Monday night, it was a pair of seniors that carried the load for the Lady Crusaders
Olivia Spanley and Emma Brune scored a combined 35 points. Spanley finished with a double-double after bringing-down 11 rebounds as well.
Despite those two having quality games, though, a key piece to the team — Makayla Mueller — was held scoreless. She only attempted four shots, three from behind the arc, and grabbed two rebounds.
“Makayla got in foul trouble early and kind of limited her play, but we’re going to have to get contributions of her scoring, but she’s a senior, and they’ve got to lead us,” Saxony Lutheran head coach Sam Sides said. “We’ve got to identify our roles and work out some kinks, and it was a pretty sloppy game, but you got to expect that from the first game of the year.”
Both teams had their fair share of turnovers as well.
Saxony Lutheran committed 15 in the first half to seven in the second, while Sikeston committed 14 in the first half to eight in the second.
Adjusting to game-speed was how Sides said his team was able to get back into a rhythm.
“We talked about it,” Sides said. “We were just careless and the speed of the game. We don’t play that fast or that quick. We had to adjust to the speed of the game and the speed of Sikeston. Once we did that, I think we took care of the ball better.”
On Sikeston’s end, a bright spot amidst a gloomy showing on-the-court was from lone senior Taydrianna Barnett.
Barnett finished with a double-double, after scoring a game-high 23 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, and her coach acknowledged her play after the game by stating how aggressive she was.
“That’s the one thing that I like in Taydrianna,” Wills said. “She’s always aggressive, and if it comes down to it, she’s going to try and find a way to make something happen. She’s just that type of player. She’s aggressive to the basket, and I know that she doesn’t have any fear in taking the ball to the basket.”
| Saxony | 14 | 12 | 15 | 11 | — | 52 |
| Sikeston | 5 | 13 | 13 | 9 | — | 40 |
SAXONY (52) — Emma Brunne 18, Olivia Spanley 17, Alice Hogendobler 11, Emma Voelker 3, Maddox Murphy 3. FG 19, FT 9-15, F 17. (3-pointers: Hogendobler 3, Spanley, Murphy. Fouled out: none)
SIKESTON (40) — Taydrianna Barnett 23, Amyari Blissett 7, Karris Allen 5, Shania Hodges 2, Camryn Self 2, Armani Hodges 1. FG 14, FT 8-16, F 16. (3-pointers: Barnett 3, Allen. Fouled out: none)