Poplar Bluff, Jackson to meet in SEMO Conference Tournament semifinals; Top-seeded Notre Dame advances

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The Poplar Bluff girls basketball team built a double-digit lead in the opening quarter Monday night to beat Cape Central in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament.

The third-seeded Mules advanced with a 60-35 win over host Cape Central and will face second-seeded Jackson in the semifinals at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Jackson beat Dexter 66-22 earlier Monday while top-seeded Notre Dame and fourth-seeded Saxony Lutheran also advanced.

Kiley Bess scored 24 points, including nine of Poplar Bluff's 17 first-quarter points. Emma Johnson scored 12 of her 16 points in the first half, including nine in the second quarter as the Mules built a 34-21 halftime lead.

Poplar Bluff (2-0) also got six points from Sierra Sievers while Hannah Corcimiglia added five points.

Rakiara Bogan and Ella Vogel each scored 10 points for the Tigers (1-1) while Taylor Horton chipped in five and Bryonna Thomas added four in the first half.

JACKSON 66, DEXTER 22

Madison Lambert scored 18 points, Olivia Ward added 13 and Katherine Emmendorfer chipped in 12 to lead the Indians past Dexter.

Jackson (2-0) led 16-5 after one quarter as Alexa Werneck scored all of Dexter's first-quarter points.

Sydney Asberry led Dexter (0-1) with 12 points while Werneck finished with five points along with Mikayla Dodson.

Jackson led 38-9 at halftime.

NOTRE DAME 46, KENNETT 25

Leah Jansen scored seven of her game-high 12 points in the opening quarter as the Bulldogs built a double-digit lead.

Top-seeded Notre Dame didn't allow a field goal in the second quarter in building a 25-10 halftime advantage.

The Bulldogs (2-0) got nine points each from Delaney Dohogne, Yasmeen Rodgers and Tori Rubel.

Kennett (1-1) was led by nine points from Caroline Patton while Taleigh Harrell added six points, all in the third quarter.