CENTRAL GIRLS ARRANGE REMATCH

CHARLESTON -- Cape Girardeau Central's girls basketball team moved into the semifinal round of the Charleston Tournament Wednesday with a 75-57 victory over Scott County Central.

Cape Central (15-3), the No. 2 seed, will face third-seeded Poplar Bluff tonight at 8:30.

Poplar Bluff hammered No. 6 seed Charleston 81-16 to advance.

On Saturday, Poplar Bluff ended a nine-game win streak for Central, defeating the Lady Tigers 69-52.

In Wednesday's game, the Lady Tigers jumped out to a 24-12 lead on No. 7 seed Scott County Central in the first period and extended their lead each ensuing period.

Central played without Laura Lukens, who sprained an ankle in Monday's practice. Lukens is expected to miss two weeks.

Lady Tiger coach Paula Watkins said the effort wasn't her team's best.

"We were glad to get the victory and get a chance to keep playing in the winners' bracket," said Watkins.

Poplar Bluff took a 19-4 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, leading 36-8 at halftime.

Perryville 51, DeSoto 37

DESOTO -- Perryville knocked DeSoto out of a three-way tie for first in the Jefferson County Conference with a road victory Wednesday.

Renee Kaempfe scored a game-high 18 points as Perryville (16-4) remained tied with Windsor at the top of the conference at 6-1. Cicely Guth added 14 points.

DeSoto led 11-8 after one period, but Perryville took the lead for good in the second quarter, outscoring the Lady Dragons 20-11 for a 28-22 halftime lead.

Perryville returns to action tonight when St. Vincent visits.

Sikeston 52, Oran 31

ORAN -- Oran was unable to build on a quick start and fell to Sikeston.

Heather Cook scored a team-high nine points for Oran (1-12), which led 12-10 after the opening period. Sikeston moved into a 23-19 lead by halftime and outscored the Lady Eagles 27-12 in the second half.

Laura Davidson led Sikeston with 15 points.

Woodland visits Oran on Monday.

Boys Basketball

Meadow Heights Tournament

PATTON -- Marquand advanced to the championship game of the round-robin Meadow Heights Tournament Wednesday with a 57-32 victory over the host Panthers.

Marquand, 14-4, improved to 2-0 in the tournament and will play for the title at 8 p.m. Saturday.

The Tigers will face the winner of tonight's game between St. Vincent and Ste. Genevieve's JV team. St. Vincent opened tournament play Wednesday with a dramatic 57-54 overtime win over Leopold.

Travis Braswell led Marquand with 18 points while Doug Thomas and Jeremy Reimler both tallied 10.

Avery Ennis paced Meadow Heights with 14 points.

In St. Vincent's victory, Jonathan Wengert hit an 18-foot baseline shot with five seconds left to force overtime. St. Vincent (6-10) never trailed in the extra stanza.

Wengert finished with a game-high 20 points for the Indians. Jason Cissell netted 13 points and Brent DeWilde added 10.

Lariedon Engelen scored 16 for Leopold, while Matt Beussink tallied 15 and Calvin Horrell finished with 11.

The teams entered the fourth quarter tied 35-35 and battled to a 17-17 standoff in the period.

Oak Ridge 74, Chaffee 46

OAK RIDGE -- The Bluejays, led by 17 points apiece from Kirt Ruehling and Aric Curry, threw a balanced attack at the Red Devils.

Matt Preusser added 16 for Oak Ridge.

Grant Biler scored a game-high 19 points for Chaffee, but no other Red Devil reached double figures.

Oak Ridge (4-10) took a 15-13 lead into the second quarter, where it outscored Chaffee 26-9 for a 41-22 halftime advantage.