B.A. Sports event set for April 13-14

The annual B.A. Sports All-Star Extravaganza will take place April 13 and 14 this year at the Bess Activity Center in Poplar Bluff.

The two-day event again will feature a volleyball game Friday, followed by two boys basketball games and a girls basketball game Saturday. In between the boys basketball games Saturday, players will take part in a skill competition with a slam-dunk contest and a 3-point shooting contest.

Among the seniors who will take part in the boys games are all-state players Will Bogan (Bell City), Julian Beard (Sikeston), Alonzo Louis (Malden), Shawn Sherrell (Charleston), Jamarcus Williams (Charleston), Justin Clark (Charleston), Adam Carpenter (Doniphan), Dylan Adams (Puxico) and Alex Steil (Advance).

The girls game will feature all-state players Kristain Burger (Notre Dame), Morgan Davis (Doniphan), Brittany Ponder (Kelly), Kaci Menz (Delta), Brittney Peet (Scott County Central) and Sydnee Winslow (Farmington).

Area participants

Volleyball -- Team 1: Claire Goodson, Notre Dame; Kacie Ritter, Scott City; Kristin Shirrell, Central; Emilie Stephens, Bell City; Jenny Vandeven, Leopold; Ashley Nenninger, Notre Dame; Tori Gilliland, Advance; Team 2: Jenni Heisserer, Scott City; Meidith Medlin, Notre Dame; Gina Moroni, Advance; Megan Slagley, Bell City; Mandi Wood, Oran; Erin Woodfin, Leopold

Basketball boys small schools -- Team 1: Will Bogan, Bell City; Alex Jauch, Saxony Lutheran; Alex Steil, Advance; Team 2: Gregory Finger, St. Vincent; Eric Fluchel, Leopold; Trenton Moses, Advance; Austin Segers, Bell City; Chase Seyer, Oran

Basketball boys large schools -- Team 1: Spencer Ayers, Kelly; Kerry Walker, Central; Team 2: Abe Dirnberger, Notre Dame; Jamie Pinkston, Scott City; Michael Fritsche, Perryville

Girls basketball -- Team 1: Kelley Hicks, Scott City; Samantha Jones, Scott County Central; Meridith Medlin, Notre Dame; Erica Michelsen, Oran; Amanda Peiffer, Jackson; Brittany Ponder, Kelly; Shea Smith, Delta; Team 2: Kristain Burger, Notre Dame; Tiffany Glastetter, Oran; Kaci Menz, Delta; Brittney Peet, Scott County Central; Francee VanGennip, Woodland

Academic honors

Notre Dame seniors Abe Dirnberger, Brooke Beussink and Kristain Burger were recognized as academic all-state selections by the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association.

Also earning the academic all-state honor was Perryville senior Kim Miesner.

Schlosser signs

Notre Dame senior Miranda Schlosser has signed with Lindenwood University to play softball next season.

Schlosser helped the Bulldogs make back-to-back final fours in 2004 and 2005. As a senior, Schlosser hit .297 with 23 RBIs and nine doubles. On the mound, Schlosser led the Bulldogs in innings pitched (87 ), strikeouts (91) and ERA (0.64). Schlosser owns the school record in ERA.

MSHSAA recognition

Perryville and Jackson have each been honored as Leadership Schools by the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

There were a record 55 junior high and high schools recognized by MSHSAA for the 2006-07 school year. The schools are recognized for excellence in the promotion of citizenship, sportsmanship, leadership and scholarship through their interscholastic activities programs.

This was the fourth year Perryville has been recognized and the second year for Jackson. The program is in its seventh year.

Heeb lawsuit update

Scott County Central basketball coach David Heeb's lawsuit against the Bell City R-2 School District and the Missouri State High School Activities Association is still dragging along in the legal process.

A committee in the Missouri House was formed to investigate the MSHSAA, and Heeb's attorney, Paul Kidwell, said the House's investigation is something that could have an impact on the suit.

On Friday, MSHSAA's board of directors revisited the three-year probation that was among the penalties handed to Scott County Central and Heeb a year ago. The board lifted the probation at one year, which allows Heeb to organize open gyms.

Falling short

Derek McCord, former boys basketball coach at Central and Scott City, came one win short of taking his Dyer County (Tenn.) team to the Class AA state championship game after falling to nationally ranked Liberty in the state semifinals.

McCord took over the Dyer County program this past season after leaving Central following a four-year stint as Tigers coach.

Dyer County, which featured Central transfer Jeremy Kimble, finished the season 30-8 after a 94-70 loss to the defending state champion. Kimble had 14 points in the loss.