Bell City spikers receive state honors

Coaches select Spears and Lancaster for all-state teams.

By Jeremy Joffray

Southeast Missourian

Bell City's state final four run in volleyball netted the Cubs a pair of all-state selections on the all-state team.

A committee of Missouri coaches selected the team, which contains eight first-team, second-team and honorable mention selections in all four classes.

Cubs junior Rachel Spears earned first-team honors on the Class 1 squad. Spears had more than 200 kills to lead the Cubs and totaled more than 150 digs and blocks.

Bell City sophomore setter Codie Lancaster made the second team. Lancaster finished with more than 600 assists and 160 digs.

Bell City finished its season 34-4-1 after taking fourth-place in Class 1. The Cubs have made the state final four three of the past four seasons.

Scott City senior Kacie Ritter was the only other area player to earn all-state honors. Ritter, a setter and hitter for the Rams, made honorable mention in Class 2. Scott City reached the quarterfinals before falling to Crystal City.

SEMO North football

Central and Jackson took home 18 of the 27 first-team spots on the recently released SEMO Northern Division all-conference team.

Jackson seniors Rex Meyr and Dallas Proffer, and Central senior Blake Slattery each made the first team on both sides of the ball. Meyr tied for first-team honors at quarterback and punter; Proffer made the first team on both lines; and Slattery was honored at both quarterback and defensive back.

The Indians, which tied for the conference title at 2-1 with Poplar Bluff, dominated the first team with 11 spots. Jackson first-teamers on offense were senior running back Trae Smith, senior lineman Ben Wood, junior lineman Brian Hill, Proffer, senior receiver Alex Austin and senior kicker Grant Ressel.

On defense, the Indians were represented by Proffer, junior lineman Adam Collier, junior linebacker Tyler Martin, senior defensive back Austin Leimer and Meyr.

For Central, senior running back Hykeem Hammonds, sophomore receiver George Hamilton, senior lineman Kory Kitchen and Slattery made the first team on offense. On defense, Slattery and junior linebacker Joe Uhls made the first team.

MAFC all-conference

Perryville's football team went from winless to .500 in one season and netted four first-team all-conference players.

The Mississippi Area Football Conference White Division featured five of six teams with a .500 or better record, led by conference winner and Class 3 quarterfinalist Ste. Genevieve.

Junior running back Kris Cottner and senior tight end Tyler Bauwens made the first team on offense for the Pirates. Bauwens also made the first team on defense at linebacker and was joined by junior lineman Jeremy Bader.

Jackson faculty game

Jackson will have a coed faculty basketball game Friday prior to the Indians' boys varsity scrimmage.

The faculty game, pitting the teachers and principals from the high school and junior high school against teachers and principals from the elementary and middle school, will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the varsity scrimmage at 7 p.m.

Admission to the faculty game is $1, with proceeds going to the Jackson basketball program.