Bell City, Jackson boys to debut in Riverbend Classic

The annual Riverbend Classic boys basketball tournament hosted by New Madrid County Central will feature area squads Bell City and Jackson this year in a field which includes Missouri power Vashon and two-time defending Arkansas Class 5A state champion West Memphis.

Area Class 1 power Bell City -- the Cubs finished fourth in the state last year and have won two state titles in the past four years -- will match up with West Memphis at 6 p.m. today, when tournament play begins. The Cubs return four starters from last year's squad and have added 6-foot-9 center Will Bogans to their lineup.

Jackson, which finished 23-4 last season and lost to state-champion Poplar Bluff in the district championship game, will face Pine Bluff, Ark., at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Pine Bluff, state champions in 2003, was a semifinalist in Class 5A last year and was eliminated by West Memphis.

The Indians will feature one of the area's top post players in 6-foot-11 senior Aaron Redecker.

Other teams in the field include host NMCC, Charleston, Memphis Central, Tenn., and Byhalia, Miss.

Other tournaments

While several boys teams have already begun their basketball campaigns, Monday will mark the start of the season for the majority of area boys teams as several season-opening tournaments begin throughout the area.

Boys basketball tournaments at Oran and Farmington will kick off on Monday, and the Woodland Invitational starts on Tuesday. The girls will also be in action at Farmington starting Monday.

Jackson will have the top seed in the boys field at Farmington. The Indians will face No. 7 Lutheran South on Tuesday in the bracket portion of the tournament. Central is seeded sixth and will face No. 2 Cardinal Ritter on Monday in the pool-play portion of the tournament. The Tigers will face No. 3 Doniphan on Thursday. The championship is set for Dec. 3.

Bell City, Advance, Kelly, Oran and Scott County Central will participate in the 50th Oran Invitational which kicks off on Monday. Twin Rivers is the top seed. The championship game is set for next Friday.

Bell City is seeded second and will play No. 7 Oran on Monday. Fourth-seeded Advance will play No. 5 Kelly on Tuesday. Scott County, the sixth seed, will play No. 3 Malden on Monday. Bell City and Scott County would play in a semifinal on Thursday if both teams win their openers.

Notre Dame, which finished fourth in Class 4 last year, will be the heavy favorite in the Woodland Invitational Tournament. Quarterfinal matchups include Oak Ridge versus Woodland, Meadow Heights versus Zalma and Delta versus Leopold.

The top-seeded Bulldogs will have a bye into the semifinals. The championship is set for next Friday.

Jackson's girls are the top seed at the Farmington Tournament. The Indians will open up with rival Central on Monday. Notre Dame is seeded third in the tournament and will open up with Fort Zumwalt South on Tuesday.

The championship game is set for Dec. 3.

All-conference soccer

Central led the all-SEMO Conference selections with seven first-team members.

Seniors Sam Bornstein, Tyson Whiteside, Jordan Young, Cody Gaither, Lance Altenthal, Thomas Keener and junior Matt Hester all were first-team selections from Central.

Notre Dame placed six on the first team. Seniors Jacob Wengert, Andrew Buelow, Tyler LeGrand, Frankie Ellis, Nathan Kolda and junior Jack Wedemeier made the first team.

Senior Cameron Keller and juniors Chris Shelton and Chris Crossett made the first team from Jackson.

SEMO All-Conference

First team

Forwards: Matt Hester, jr., Central; Blake Taylor, jr., Sikeston; Chris Shelton, jr., Jackson; Lance Altenthal, sr., Central

Midfielders: Frankie Ellis, sr., Notre Dame; Jack Wedemeier, jr., Notre Dame; Sam Bornstein, sr., Central; Tyson Whiteside, sr., Central; Cameron Keller, sr., Jackson

Defenders: Jacob Wengert, sr., Notre Dame; Andrew Buelow, sr., Notre Dame; Cody Gaither, sr., Central; Thomas Keener, sr., Central; Chris Crossett, jr., Jackson

Goalies: Nathan Kolda, sr., Notre Dame; Jordan Young, sr., Central

Second team

Forwards: Abe Dirnberger, jr., Notre Dame; Jason Delgado, sr., Notre Dame; Scott Gardner, sr., Sikeston

Midfielders: Kirk Boeller, sr., Notre Dame; Andrew Box, sr., Sikeston; Chris Carnell, jr., Sikeston; Trenton Beckham, sr., Central; Justin Lambert, sr., Central; Stephen McKinney, sr., Jackson; Spencer McCormack, so., Jackson

Defenders: Kyle Schade, sr., Notre Dame; Jordan Buchheit, jr., Notre Dame; Brian Garner, sr., Poplar Bluff; Ryan Beaird, sr., Sikeston; Cole Crist, sr., Central; Trevor Beckham, sr., Central; Josh LaForest, sr., Jackson; Derek Richardson, jr., Jackson

Goalie: Scott Droddy, so., Sikeston; Tyler Holman, jr., Jackson

SCC to dedicate gym

The Scott County Central High School gymnasium will officially be named and dedicated to former coach Ron Cookson at the team's home opener on Dec. 3.

The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m., and the season opener between Scott County and East Carter County will follow at 7:15.

Scott County opened its new gym last season.