Daily American Republic

Two Southeast Missouri area lady wrestlers took home the gold medal in the Tiger Classic girls wrestling tournament on Friday, Dec. 20, at the Tiger Field House in Cape Girardeau. Reining Semoball Awards Girls Wrestler of the Year Ellie Douglass of Sikeston won first place in the 100-pound weight class by defeating Northwestern's Abigail Sehnert in a second-period pin...

CLARKTON — The Risco Tigers defeated the Doniphan Dons 82-53 to claim the championship of the Clarkton Christmas Tournament on Friday night. Doniphan played with grit and effort, never giving up in the game, — but Risco was taller, faster, and more physical than the Dons, especially on the offensive side, where their rebounding and inside shooting dominated the scoreboard...

DEXTER, Mo. — It was an uncharacteristic night for Sikeston and a redemptive one for Dexter.  Just two weeks removed from an 18-point loss in the third-place game of the SEMO Conference Tournament, the Lady Bearcats (3-3) turned the tables with a 52-42 victory over the Lady Bulldogs (4-5) at The Bearcat Event Center on Thursday, Dec. 19. ...

ORAN, Mo. — East Prairie needed a minute to heat up Tuesday night at Oran, but once it did, there was no stopping the visitors in a 68-41 dismantling of the home team.  “We came out a little sluggish after being off for a week,” said East Prairie coach Gary Scott. “It took us a while to get going, and we played much better in the second half.  It was good to get a big conference win on the road.”...

Every year, the Jackson wrestling team spends the first month of the season compressed with major home duel meets and tournaments that span 30 teams. As the cream of the Southeast Missouri wrestling crop, the upperclassmen are always well-positioned to stand out and make a run at the state championships. An Indian has won the Semoball Award for Wrestler of the Year in each of the previous three years...

CLARKTON — The Doniphan Dons scored a convincing 58-40 victory over the East Carter Redbirds in the semifinals of the Clarkton Christmas Tournament on Thursday night. The Dons led throughout the game, combining an aggressive defense with an improved scoring proficiency that built a first half advantage that they stretched to double-digits in the second half, which prevented the Redbirds from staging any sort of comeback...

When Zoe Best was a high school basketball player at the St. Louis all-girls school, Incarnate Word Academy, she never lost a varsity game. The Red Knights girls basketball team has won 12 state championships since 2010, finished the previous four seasons undefeated, and is currently in a 124-game winning streak...

Southeast Missouri State opened the Ohio Valley Conference slate of the season with a 71-55 loss against Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Show Me Center. Freshman Zoe Best led the Redhawks with 19 points on 7 of 18 shooting. Both Indiya Bowen and Skylar Barnes scored 10 points each for SEMO...

Southeast Missouri State linebacker Bryce Norman and kicker DC Pippin were named as first-team members in the FCS AP All-America team. SEMO offensive lineman Kobe Sixkiller was also named Offense honorable mention. Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott and Southern Utah running back Targhee Lambson, both finalists for the Walter Payton Award given to the most outstanding player in the Championship Subdivision...

BROSELEY — The Twin Rivers boys basketball team was in a dogfight with Van Buren on Thursday — and it took some extra basketball as the Royals came out on top with a gritty 75-67 win in overtime. “We fought through adversity,” Twin Rivers coach Austin Birmingham said. “After being up late in the fourth, losing it, then getting it back in overtime, it shows these kids can fight through adversity.”...

Mykencie Hutchison is going from being a Redbird to being a Cardinals. The East Carter senior recently signed to play softball at the collegiate level next season with Mineral Area College in Park Hills. While East Carter’s athletic teams are the Redbirds, MAC’s teams are the Cardinals...

Photos from East Prairie's 68-41 at Oran on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.

BROSELEY — Since its inception in the late 1990s, the Lady Royals Christmas Classic at Twin Rivers High School has become one of the premier holiday tournaments in Southeast Missouri. This year’s tournament tips off Saturday and concludes next Saturday, with three days off — Sunday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after Christmas...

Southeast Missouri State opened the Ohio Valley Conference slate of the season with a 71-55 loss against Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Show Me Center.

As we do with every sport in Southeast Missouri State athletics (outside of football), we bemoan the Redhawks' shortcomings in the non-conference portion of the season and renew hope in time for the Ohio Valley Conference slate of the schedule. "We played a tough non-con," SEMO men's basketball coach Brad Korn said. "We'll always probably play a tough non-con."...

CLARKTON — The Doniphan Dons defeated the Clarkton Reindeer 72-56 on the opening night of the Clarkton Christmas Tournament on Tuesday. The Dons overcame a cold shooting effort in the first half to forge a strong lead in the middle of the third quarter, finally pulling away from a Clarkton team that played much better than its winless record would have shown...

BROSELEY — The Twin Rivers boys basketball team saw its five-game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday as the Royals fell to Hayti 79-63. The Royals were right there with Hayti in the first half, even bringing it down to a one-possession game, but Twin Rivers coach Austin Birmingham said fatigue set in for his guys...

BROSELEY — The Twin Rivers girls basketball team continued its winning ways on Tuesday with a 51-25 win over Hayti. The Lady Royals have won three of their last five as they improved their record to 6-2. “This was a good test for us heading into the Lady Royal Christmas Classic,” Twin Rivers coach Michael Snider said. ...

DEXTER — The 2024 Charles Bland Award winner is Caden Lee. Since 1994, the Charles Bland Award has been awarded to the most rounded senior Bearcat football player who excels on and off the field. The award is designated for an individual who contributes significantly to their school, community and classmates...

SIKESTON — Sikeston didn’t just win the SEMO Conference Championship on Friday — it left no doubt about which program owns the tournament. With a 90-52 win over Cape Central, the Bulldogs (6-0) set records for the most points scored and the largest margin of victory in a title game. The win marked a second consecutive championship and 10th overall, more than the combined total of the rest of the teams in the conference. ...

Southeast Missouri State unleashed the deafening screech of elementary school children across the area during their Monday morning matinee with in-state rival, Missouri State. The advantage from the atmosphere wasn’t enough as the Redhawks fell to Bears 77-49 on Dec. 16, at the Show Me Center...

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Three Rivers College women's basketball team picked up not one, but two, marquee victories over the weekend at the Shelton State Classic. The Lady Raiders finished the 2024 portion of their schedule in strong fashion at the two-day event, first by defeating the host Bucs 52-51 on Saturday, then defeating previously-unbeaten Pearl River (Mississippi) 80-70 on Sunday afternoon...

Photos from Sikeston 90-52 win over Cape Central n the championship game of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Field House on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024.

On Sunday, the SEMO men’s basketball team defeated NAIA opponent the Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College Pomeroys (SMWC) 93-56 at the Show Me Center. Led by Brendan Terry’s 17 points the Redhawks' offense rolled with five players scoring in double figures. Despite being an NAIA school the Pomeroys put up a good fight for the first ten minutes of the game before the Redhawks extended the lead...

The Puxico Indians are the top seed at this year’s Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. The Indians are 5-0 this season and are winning their games by an average of 26.8 points. Three of Puxico's five wins are by 35 points or more. The East Prairie Eagles, who finished second at last year's Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, are the No. 2 seed, with Dexter, Bernie, Kennett, Risco, Van Buren and Richland rounding out the top eight seeds...

The Jones College Bobcats showed the Three Rivers College men’s basketball team why many consider them to be a legitimate national championship contender. Jones shot an astounding 69% (20-for-29) from the field in the first half as the Bobcats built up a 24-point halftime lead and cruised to a 91-64 victory over the Raiders Friday night at the Libla Family Sports Complex...

SIKESTON — The Poplar Bluff boys basketball team turned it on in the second half of the consolation final at the SEMO Conference Tournament. The Mules did so by powering past New Madrid County Central 58-35 on Friday at the Sikeston Field House. Poplar Bluff ended up going 2-1 in the tournament after dropping the opening round to Notre Dame, then winning consolation contests over Dexter and NMCC...

SIKESTON — Sikeston didn’t just win the SEMO Conference Championship on Friday — it left no doubt about which program owns the tournament. With a 90-52 win over Cape Central, the Bulldogs (6-0) set records for the most points scored and the largest margin of victory in a title game. The win marked a second consecutive championship and 10th overall, more than the combined total of the rest of the teams in the conference. ...

CHAFFEE, Mo. —  Sikeston turned a physical battle into opportunities at the free-throw line, clinching a 63-58 victory over Woodland in the third-place game of the Chaffee Lady Red Lady Invitational on Thursday.  Landri Hammontree was the driving force behind the win, pouring in 35 points, as the Lady Bulldogs (4-4) capitalized on their ability to attack the basketball and draw contact throughout the contest...

SIKESTON — By the time Notre Dame realized what hit it, the damage was done, as Sikeston applied a defensive stranglehold in the first half of the SEMO Conference Tournament Semifinal on Thursday at the Field House, laying the groundwork for a convincing 70-45 victory. ...

Doniphan, Neelyville, Portageville and East Carter are the top four seeds at the Lady Royals Christmas Classic, which tips off next Saturday (Dec. 21) at Twin Rivers High School in Broseley. Top-seeded Doniphan and No. 2 Neelyville have first-round byes...

Chase O'Neal was synonymous with Poplar Bluff Mules football this fall as a starter on both the offensive and defensive lines and also as a team leader. Now, that success is paying off for him, as he has signed to be a preferred walk-on at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau...

The Poplar Bluff basketball Lady Mules continued their winning ways on Thursday with a 44-34 win over the Scott County Central Bravettes, improving their home record to 2-0 and their overall record to 5-2 on the season. “I thought we played hard,” Poplar Bluff coach Soley Dugas said. ...

Photos from Sikeston’s 70-45 win over Notre Dame in the semifinal round of the SEMO Conference Tournament on Thursdya, Dec. 12, 2024.

SIKESTON – The Poplar Bluff High School boys basketball squad starts just two seniors and its key reserves are a junior and a sophomore, but the Mules played more like a seasoned group on Wednesday, as the Mules held off a rallying Dexter team 43-38 in the consolation semifinal round of the SEMO Conference Boys Basketball Tournament at the Sikeston Field House.

SIKESTON - Poplar Bluff withstood a rally by Dexter in the consolation semifinal round of the SEMO Conference Boy's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the Sikeston Field House.

SIKESTON — Patience may not be a trademark, but Sikeston showed plenty of it before speeding up the game and outclassing Dexter in the opening of the SEMO Conference on Tuesday, Dec. 10.  Led by cousins PJ Farmer and Marquel Murray, the top-seeded Bulldogs (4-0) transformed a grind into a 79-37 statement win over the eighth-seeded Bearcats (3-1).  ...

SIKESTON — In a game that could have easily swung the other way, Cape Central narrowly escaped an upset by Charleston, clinching a victory in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament on Monday, Dec. 9.  The seventh-seeded Blue Jays (1-3) were a constant threat, but ultimately it was the second-seeded Tigers’ (3-1) transition offense and ability to capitalize on clutch runs that secured the 62-56 win. ...

SIKESTON — Charleston had Kennett on the ropes, but the second half told a different story.  Fueled by an unrelenting will to win, the ninth-seeded Indians (2-3) roared back to claim a dramatic 77-74 win over the seventh-seeded Blue Jays (1-4) in the consolation bracket of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Field House on Tuesday, Dec. 10. ...

DONIPHAN — The Doniphan Dons boys basketball team lost to the visiting Greenville Bears 70-65 on Tuesday in a hard-fought game between Ozark Foothills Conference rivals at Wright Gymnasium. Greenville took an early lead that the Bears built into a 13-point advantage at halftime — and despite several fierce runs at a comeback, Doniphan was unable to overcome that early deficit...

Photos from Sikeston's 79-37 win over Dexter in the opening round of the SEMO Conference at the Field House on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.

Photos from Cape Central's 62-56 win over Charleston in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Field House on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.

SIKESTON — Jackson fended off an upset bid from New Madrid County Central, weathering a late surge to survive and advance, 43-39, in the opening round of the SEMO Conference at the Field House on Monday, Dec. 9.  Deck leads Jackson past NMCC in hard-fought battle...

SIKESTON — Tuesday’s opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament was a tough one to swallow for the Poplar Bluff boys basketball team as the Mules dropped a tight one against Notre Dame 41-37. “It comes down to that we need to grow as team,” Poplar Bluff coach William Durden said. “We didn’t execute down late and they did. Our inexperience kind of showed a little bit, but we’re going to get better.”...

The Poplar Bluff girls basketball team held its home opener on Monday — and there wasn’t much to complain about for Lady Mules fans as the team took care of Bloomfield/Richland 66-20. “We played really good defense,” Poplar Bluff coach Soley Dugas said. “We came together and communicated really well. There are just a few little things that we’ve been trying to emphasize and it goes to show that once those little things come together good things happen as it did tonight.”...

Photos from Jackson's 43-29 win over New Madrid County Central in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Field House on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.

The final Missouri Media Rankings for 2024 highlight the success of local high school football teams. St. Vincent leads Semoball teams, finishing third in Class 1, while Dexter and Cape Central also secure top spots.

O’FALLON, Mo. — The Sikeston wrestling teams demonstrated a competitive edge at the Fort Zumwalt North Tournament this past weekend, facing off against a challenging array of Class 2, 3, and 4 schools from across Missouri.  The tournament served as a crucial test, both mentally and physically, as the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs continue to hone their skills this season...

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — In a game that felt like a long-awaited breakthrough, Sikeston clinched a decisive 56-38 victory over Dexter in the third-place game of the SEMO Conference Tournament at Notre Dame Regional High School on Friday, Dec. 6. Executing their strategy precisely, the Lady Bulldogs (2-3) showcased their progress and determination, signaling a promising trajectory for the remainder of the season...

Paxton DeLaurent ended his college career as one of, if not the most consequential athlete in the history of Southeast Missouri State athletics. DeLaurent leaves SEMO with two of the Redhawks’ five Ohio Valley Conference titles and all the significant passing records (8,563 yards, 737 completions, 63 touchdowns in three years). He has punctuated his end by revealing his future plans by declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft...

The Three Rivers College men's basketball team could not dig out of a pair of early holes as the Raiders lost twice to Illinois teams over the weekend. Three Rivers trailed John A. Logan by 15 points at halftime on Saturday afternoon before falling 60-52 to the Volunteers in Carterville, Illinois. ...

DONIPHAN — Sometimes a fast start is all a team needs to get the win. That was true Saturday in the championship game of the River City Classic, as the Doniphan Donettes turned a fast start into a 64-36 win over the Neelyville Lady Tigers in girls basketball action at Wright Gymnasium...

CAPE GIRARDEAU — December has been good to the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules basketball team so far. The Lady Mules improved to 3-1 for the month and 3-2 overall when they defeated 50-37 on Friday night to take fifth place at the SEMO Conference Tournament...

Photos from Oran's 74-70 win over Kelly in the consolation championship of the 69th annual Oran Invitational Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.

The Southeast Missouri State men’s basketball team renewed their old rivalry with Murray State and fell 71-51 on Sunday, Dec. 8, in Murray, Kentucky. The Redhawks and Racers used to be Ohio Valley Conference rivals before Murray State moved to the Missouri Valley Conference in the 2022-23 season. Sunday was the first time the two teams met as non-conference opponents...

The Doniphan Donettes defeated the Neelyville Lady Tigers 64-36 to win the inaugural River City Classic Saturday at Wright Gymnasium in Doniphan.

ORAN - Chaffee got past Westwood Baptist 48-37 in the third-place game of the Oran Invitational Tournament at Oran High School on Friday.

The Poplar Bluff Mules boys basketball team lost to the Ladue Horton Watkins Rams 70-49 Friday night at the Mules gymnasium. Both teams came into Friday’s game undefeated, with the Mules at 1-0 and the Rams at 3-0. The Mules dropped to 1-1, while Ladue improved to 4-0 on the season...

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) ruled hoops star Marquel Murray eligible to compete for Sikeston during a hearing in Columbia, Missouri on Thursday, Dec. 5. Murray, a 6-foot-3 combo guard with Division I potential, whose already caught the attention of Southeast Misosuri State as a top target, is considered a high-level prospect for the Class of 2026...

Southeast Missouri State women’s soccer head coach Heather Nelson is retiring after 26 seasons, the university announced on Friday. "It is with a mix of emotions that I'm announcing my retirement from college soccer today. I'd like to start with a heartfelt thank you to my family for believing in me and always and forever being there for me,” Nelson said in a statement. ...

ORAN – There were two dunks by a Richland (Essex) High School athlete in the Rebels’ 72-37 romp over Westwood Baptist Academy in Thursday’s championship semifinal of the Oran Invitational Tournament at Oran High School. Neither jam was performed by the Rebel player who scored his 1,000th career point during the game or was the Richland scorer who tallied a game-high 31 points.

SIKESTON — A mixed bag of results greeted the Sikeston wrestling teams as they squared off against DeSoto and Dexter on Tuesday at the Field House in a triangular meet that would ultimately reveal strengths and weaknesses.  While a dominant early surge by the Dragons (2-0) threatened to derail the evening, the Bulldogs (1-1) ultimately clawed way back, securing victories over the Bearcats (0-2) and splitting the duals...

Transferring is a part of life in college football because not all places, and players, are created equal. Everyone who plays football or basketball at Southeast Missouri State does so because they are motivated by the opportunities that playing for the Redhawks presents them with...

CAMPBELL — The Neelyville Tigers boys basketball team overcame a 20-point deficit at one point, but ultimately came up just short at the end against the hosts in the semifinals of the Campbell Invitational. Neelyville was down 41-21 to the host Campbell Camels midway through the third quarter, but then rattled off a 22-2 run to tie it up at 43 less than a minute into the fourth quarter...

ORAN, Mo. — After a 30-point performance in the opening round of the 69th annual Oran Invitational Tournament, Ross Peters, the reigning Scott-Mississippi Conference Player of the Year, kept the scoring barrage going, dropping 33 points to lead Kelly to a 73-67 win over Advance in the consolation bracket on Thursday, Dec. 5...

The Mules Booster Club has named Olivia Thetford and Alex Bedell of Poplar Bluff High School the October Athletes of the Month. The award is presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Bedell, a senior soccer player, scored 14 goals with 11 assists for the season. ...

ORAN - Richland got past Westwood Baptist in the championship semifinal round of the Oran Invitational Tournament on Thursday 72-37.

Photos from Sikeston's triangular meet with DeSoto and Dexter at the Field House on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

Photos from Oran's 75-55 win over Scott County Central in the consolation bracket of the 69th annual Oran Invitational Tournament on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.

Saying that Zai’Aire Thomas did it all for Cape Central this season might be just a bit of an understatement. Thomas helped the Tigers go 10-2 and make it all the way to the Class 5 District 1 championship game, plus the Cape Central senior scored 24 regular-season touchdowns — 13 on the ground and 11 more via reception — and threw for another as he scored 28% of the time he touched the ball on offense...

Jacob Ognacevic scored 20 points and Gyasi Powell added 19 to lead Lipscomb to a commanding 78-60 win over Southeast Missouri State on Thursday, Dec. 5, in Nashville. Troy Cole Jr. led the Redhawks with 10 points off the bench. It was his second straight double-digit performance after scoring 13 against Kansas City on Nov. 30. Cole shot 4-for-9 from the field including SEMO’s first three-point basket of the game, which turned out to be the theme of the game...

VINCENNES, Ind. — The Three Rivers College women's basketball team shook off a slow start as it pulled away for a 71-45 win over the Vincennes Lady Trailblazers on Wednesday. Vincennes led 15-13 after the opening period, but the Lady Raiders used a strong second quarter to take a 10-point lead (34-24) to the locker room...

Zai’Aire Thomas won the Carr Trophy during the 79th annual Gridiron Banquet at the Black River Coliseum on Wednesday, while on the defensive side of the ball, Oscar Dominguez of Caruthersville was presented the Derland Moore Award as the SEMO Conference's top defender during the ceremony. The banquet also honored the All-SEMO Conference team, the conference's top linemen and its scoring champions. Additionally, former Dexter and Kennett coach Aaron Pixley was given the Sam Giambelluca Lifetime Achievement Award for service to the conference.

The Three Rivers College men’s basketball team hosted the Shawnee Saints for a Wednesday night contest at the Libla Family Sports Complex. Despite a few struggles, the Raiders were able to come away with a 65-55 win, improving their record to 10-3 while the Saints fall to .500 at 5-5...

It’s a shame that one 1-3 month undermined what seemed like a potentially historic season. Southeast Missouri State’s FCS Playoff loss to Illinois State last week wasn’t just the end of the 2024 season, but the end of one of the most legendary football journeys in our community’s history...

Two years of waiting. Then, the cage door swung open, and Tristan Wiggins exploded onto the pitch. Recently recognized as a Class 3 All-State Honorable Mention by the Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association, the senior forward from Sikeston reclaimed his territory with a combination of searing speed, pinpoint passing, and clinical finishing, leaving his mark on every game...

The Poplar Bluff Mules boys varsity basketball team opened up its season at home with a 60-53 victory over the Caruthersville Tigers on Tuesday night at Mules Gymnasium. The Mules picked up their first win of the season to start 1-0, while the Tigers remained winless at 0-3...

CAMPBELL — The Neelyville Tigers boys basketball team notched its first win of the season Tuesday night with a 68-40 rout of the Clarkton Reindeer in the first round of the Campbell Invitational. Casen Stephens led the offensive attack with a 30-point game while Neelyville kept winning the turnover battle giving them plenty of looks at the basket...

Sikeston basketball has a rich history, but this year’s team could be on the verge of something truly special. The Bulldogs understand that talent is a gift, but hard work is a choice. It’s the relentless pursuit of excellence that separates the great from the good but it is still important to temper expectations with the understanding that success is earned, not given...

Meadow Heights advances to WIT finals with a 62-58 win over Greenville. Led by Braeden Hays' 18 points, they await the championship clash against either Woodland or Leopold.

Despite having a smaller roster, the Sikeston girls’ basketball team makes up for it with skills and smarts. After a breakout season saw them more than double their win total from the previous year, the Lady Bulldogs are on the rise and expectations are sky-high for this young, talented. ...

The Puxico Indians boys basketball could not have picked a much better way to open the season last Saturday — and the Indians sustained that momentum into Tuesday's home opener. Fresh off a trip to the Class 2 quarterfinals last season, the Indians drained a whopping 16 3-pointers and opened this season with a 69-65 win over the Chadwick Cardinals — the defending Class 1 state champions — on the second day of the Current River Challenge at Van Buren High School...

Uncertainty looms large over the Charleston boys’ basketball team as it tips off the season. While the program’s storied past promises hope, the present reality is a team in flux. “We are a younger team,” said Charleston coach Jamarcus Williams. “I will have several freshmen and sophomores on the floor. ...

After a series of lean years, the Charleston girls’ basketball is hoping to turn the tide.  With a solid core of returning players and a few promising but untested players, the Lady Blue Jays aim to rekindle the winning tradition that once defined the program...

A new era of New Madrid County Central boys’ basketball tips off this season. The Eagles, who have soared to the pinnacle of Missouri high school basketball with back-to-back Class 3 state championships, now face the daunting task of maintaining their dominance without some of their most celebrated players in school history...

After a turbulent season cut short by dwindling numbers, the New Madrid County Central girls’ basketball team is ready to soar again, with a renewed focus on building a strong program and developing young talent. Last season’s abrupt end was a setback, but it has also served as a catalyst for change and growth...

As the winter chill descends upon southeast Missouri, the East Prairie boys’ basketball team is warming up for what promises to be a historic season.  Coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons—an unprecedented feat in the school’s history—the Eagles are poised to soar higher with their veteran core...

Change is in the air as the East Prairie girls’ basketball team begins a new season, determined to turn past struggles into future triumphs. While the team faces challenges, there’s potential for growth. Returning All-District guard Maddie Powers will be a key contributor, and the addition of senior Chloe Jackson, a talented softball player, could provide a much-needed offensive spark...

Despite the loss of eight seniors, the Kelly boys’ basketball team is not shying away from setting ambitious goals for the upcoming season. With some returning building blocks and up-and-comers, the Hawks are eager to maintain their championship DNA while defending titles...

With the graduation of six key seniors, the Kelly girls’ basketball team faces a season of overhaul. The departure of these players, who accounted for nearly 90 percent of the team’s scoring, has left a significant void. Now, a core group of three returning seniors—Gwen Essner, Paige Klipfel, and Blaire Riley—will be tasked with leading a talented group of freshmen through a season of uncertainty and opportunity...

It’s been 30 years since the Scott County Central girls made a state championship run.  A generation has passed since the Bravettes last tasted that glory, however, with a talented roster and dedicated coaching staff, this year’s team might have the potential to end that drought. ...

Scott County Central, a storied program with some of the richest winning traditions anywhere, boasting 18 state championships—the most of any school in the state—is determined to rebound from recent struggles and reclaim its place among Missouri’s elite. ...

Taryn Irby and JaNiya Smith create a backcourt tandem that is the envy of the Bootheel Athletic Conference, primed to carry the Portageville girls’ basketball team to new heights. “We are a new team and the girls recognize that,” said Kellye Fowler, who entering her 14th season as the Lady Bulldogs’ head coach. “They are determined to put in the work it takes for success and they are bought into a team-first mentality.”...

Standing at a critical juncture after graduating a significant portion of its roster, the Portageville boys’ basketball team must now rely on a mix of returning talent and promising newcomers to maintain its reputation as a consistent winner. Like many teams from the Bootheel, the Bulldogs face the challenge of rebuilding after losing key players. Yet, this transition opens the door for new playmakers to emerge and uphold the program’s longevity...

As Oran prepares to take the court for the 2024-2025 basketball season, they do so under new leadership and with a fresh roster eager to make its mark. Following the retirement of long-time head coach Joe Shoemaker, the Eagles are now guided by Corey Davis, who steps into the role with a vision to build on the team’s storied legacy...

After a year-long hiatus due to low numbers, the Oran girls’ basketball team is back on the court. Once a dominant force in the area, the program looks to rebuild and reestablish its presence. The team’s journey back to prominence won’t be easy, but the Lady Eagles are determined to make the most of their opportunity...

Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Tristan Smith announced on social media his intention to enter the transfer portal with one more year left of eligibility. "First and foremost, I would like to thank God," Smith said in his statement. "Thank you to SEMO for the past year I have been here. ...