Another season, another year where Sikeston can 'match-up' with its foes

Following an eight-game win streak, the Sikeston High School varsity boy’s basketball squad has dropped its past two games. Having said that, it is relevant to put those losses in perspective, as they came against Class 5 No. 2-ranked Cape Central (84-57) and Class 3 No. 4-ranked New Madrid County Central (61-56), who happen to be two teams with a combined 40 wins this season.

The fact remains, the Bulldogs (16-6) are poised to win their most games since finishing 25-1 in an incredible 2018-19 season. Having said THAT, the remaining four regular-season games for Sikeston are just brutal, and that stretch begins tonight at Class 3 No. 9-ranked Caruthersville (14-3) at 7:30 p.m.

This year’s Sikeston squad is uniquely young, as veteran Bulldog coach Gregg Holifield has played several freshmen and sophomores in critical roles this year.

“We are so young,” Holifield said. “We play a lot of sophomores and a couple of freshmen. At the end of the day, we are growing and maturing.

“Earlier in the year, we were so young, we were trying to figure everything out. Our guys have really worked hard and now they are reacting and doing so much better.”

The Bulldogs are better offensively than they were a year ago, and Holifield attributed that growth to players simply gaining experience. However, in terms of the Sikeston defense, that is a system that has been “15 to 16 years” in the making.

Holifield has been guiding the Bulldog program for 25 years, and through the first decade, he brought his history of implementing man defense with him. However, as coaches make adjustments mid-game, Holifield made a seismic adjustment mid-career, which is a testament to his always striving to grow as a coach.

“It’s a crazy story,” Holifield explained, “I was predominantly a man-to-man (defensive) guy, and about 15 to 16 years ago, we switched and started playing a match-up zone and match-up press, trying to keep chronic pressure on the basketball, when we can.”

The strategy has worked.

From 1995 to 2007, Sikeston didn’t win a single SEMO Conference championship. Since the 2007-08 season, the Bulldogs have been the best team in this ruthless league nine times.

“We’ve never gone back (to man defense),” Holifield said, “because it has been so successful. I have really enjoyed it.”

Of course, he has.

God knows the last time Sikeston has endured a losing season, and 10 times since the 2008-09 season, Holifield’s teams have won at least 22 games.

That stretch has included four trips to the MSHSAA Final Four, including a Class 4 state championship in 2011 and another trip in 2006.

“I love man-to-man defense,” Holifield said. “We do man-ton-man drills every day, every single day in practice, and there are times where we do play it.”

The concept of a match-up zone doesn’t entail NOT guarding your man individually. When your defensive assignment receives the ball, the Bulldog players ARE in a man defensive mindset, as they contain the ball and pressure the handler.

“We feel like we can get to shooters,” Holifield said. “We can guard the basketball out of it. We run the system from seventh grade through senior high.

“Our guys are very well-schooled.”