BLUFF TOPS NOTRE DAME GIRLS 46-36

The Notre Dame High girls basketball team put up a strong challenge Monday night before dropping a 46-36 decision to visiting Poplar Bluff.

"We played pretty well," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim, whose squad fell to 6-8. "We had a few too many turnovers, which hurt us, but I was happy with the defensive effort the kids put out and the way they stayed in the whole game. They never gave up."

Jill Huber paced the Lady Bulldogs with 10 points while freshman Deana McCormick added nine.

Poplar Bluff got a game-high 14 points from Amy Hendricks.

Notre Dame jumped out to a 12-4 lead after one quarter before Poplar Bluff rallied to go ahead 22-18 at halftime. The Lady Mules led 31-22 entering the final period.

"We had an exceptional first quarter," Grim said. "We took care of the ball and made passes we needed to make."

The Lady Bulldogs return to action Wednesday night when they host Farmington.

Perryville 62, Festus 27

PERRYVILLE -- Perryville had absolutely no trouble in evening its record at 6-6 and climbing to 2-0 in Jefferson County Conference play.

The Lady Pirates got 14 points from Amanda Schumer, 13 from Tiffany Perkins and 12 from Jamie Amberger.

Perryville led 17-4 after one quarter and 32-11 at halftime.

Herculaneum 46, St. Vincent 44

PERRYVILLE -- Despite 22 points from Jessica Lakenan, St. Vincent suffered a narrow loss.

The Squaws (4-7) led 22-20 at halftime in a game that was close virtually the whole way.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Scott-Miss. Tournament

BENTON -- No. 2 seed Oran and No. 3 Scott County Central both prevailed as the annual Scott-Mississippi County Conference Tournament got under way.

Oran rolled past No. 7 Oak Ridge 78-50 while Scott Central had a bit of trouble with No. 7 East Prairie before pulling away for an 89-68 victory.

Oran (9-4) piled up a 48-21 halftime lead and coasted in the second half. Twelve Eagles scored, led by Ricky Eftink with 13 points and Billy Loper with 12. Oak Ridge got 19 from Eric Hobeck and 11 from Duran Engler.

Scott Central (11-3) got 29 points from Jreece Johnson, 23 from Todd Blissett, 19 from John Fort and 13 from Vincent Stevens. But the Braves led the huge underdog Eagles by just seven points entering the fourth quarter.

"We didn't show up to play tonight," said Scott Central coach Todd Porter.

The opening round wraps up tonight as No. 1 Scott City plays No. 8 Chaffee at 7 and No. 4 Kelly meets No. 5 Delta at 8:30.

Stoddard Tournament

BLOOMFIELD -- Top-seeded Dexter and No. 4 Advance posted impressive victories in the first round of the annual Stoddard County Conference Tournament.

Dexter, bouncing back from its first loss of the season to Bernie Friday night, pounded No. 8 Bell City 81-49. Shannon Wright led four Bearcats in double figures with 16 points. Bell City's Jarrod Eftink paced all scorers with 19 points.

Advance avenged a recent loss to Richland by downing the No. 5 seed 74-56. Garrett Broshuis poured in 27 points while Seth Cantrell had 14 and Daniel Turner. Richland's Cory Gipson led all scorers with 30 points.

Tonight, the first round will conclude as No. 3 Bernie plays No. 6 Puxico at 5:30 and No. 2 Woodland faces No. 7 Bloomfield at 8:30.