Central still looking for first win in new home

So much for the home-court advantage.

After picking up two wins in the Farmington Tournament last week, Central's girls' basketball team has dropped its first two games in its new gymnasium.

The Tigers (2-3) were outscored 14-2 in the third quarter en route to a 39-30 loss to Mt. Vernon, Ill., Saturday. The loss was the second in a row to a visiting Illinois team following a 67-58 overtime loss to Marion, Ill., Monday.

Despite a poor offensive performance, the Tigers led 19-14 at halftime. The Rams continued to get second chances throughout the half but had trouble capitalizing.

Central coach Sheila Midgett said her team relied too much on its top scorer, Alex Wieser, to get the offense going.

"For some of us we have a hard time scoring," she said.

After halftime the Rams really stepped up their game. Mt. Vernon got one easy basket after another, shredding the Tigers' defense. With the help of a 10-0 run, Mt. Vernon took a seven-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

"Once we get a lead it seems like we let down defensively," Midgett said.

Central's Erica Schabbing cut the lead to five to start the fourth, but Janna Whisenhunt answered for the Rams with a three to put Mt. Vernon's lead back at eight.

Central continued to struggle from the field while Megan McDonald and Wieser couldn't get their outside shots to fall. Wieser led Central with 13.

A bright spot for the Tigers was the free-throw line, where Central went 8-of-8.-- Jeremy Joffray

Chaffee Tournament

Delta used a 22-point fourth quarter to surge past Kelly 58-48 to claim its second consecutive Chaffee Tournament championship.

The Bobcats used a strong free- throw shooting performance in the fourth to put the Hawks away. Rebecca Below led Delta with 25 points, including 11-of-14 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Sarah M. Cook added 14, and Rebecca Cook had 10. Dana Essner and Christy Kluesner each had 16 to lead the Hawks.

In the third-place game Sikeston held Scott City to 13 first half points and went on to win 49-33. Kerri Jones led Sikeston with 12 points, and Rachel Spinks had 13 for Scott City.

Scott County Central put up 31 points in a wild third quarter en route to a 72-44 rout over Oran in the consolation final. Jennifer Hoots led the Bravettes with 22, while Teresa Hodges posted 28 for Oran.

The all-tournament team included Jennifer Vandeven of Chaffee, Below and R. Cook of Delta, D. Essner and Kluesner of Kelly, Hodges of Oran, Hoots and Janet Penrod of Scott Central, Jenny Pinkston of Scott City and Joy Daniel of Sikeston.

Jackson 70, Cor Jesu 47

Jenna Leet put up 29 points to lead visiting Jackson.

Jackson (4-1) outscored Cor Jesu 16-7 in the second quarter and never looked back. Whitney Werner added 16. Jackson was 21-of-24 on free throws.

Boys basketball

PARKWAY CENTRAL 50, JACKSON 44

Despite a fourth-quarter comeback Jackson fell short on the road.

Parkway Central built a 12-point lead going into the fourth quarter. Jackson (2-2) posted its highest quarter total with 16 points in the fourth.

Tyler McNeely led Jackson with 12 points. Tyler Boyd and Matt Neal had 10 apiece.

JV boys' basketball

NOTRE DAME 45, SAXONY 37

Notre Dame's JV team picked up its first win of the season.

Jeremy Brinkmeier led the Bulldogs (1-4) with 16 points. Kim Lorenz was the high scorer for Saxony with 13 points.

Freshman BOYS' basketball

SCOTT CITY 52, CENTRAL 49

Central lost a close game on the road. William Zickfield led the Tigers (1-4) with 16 points.

JV wrestling

Central had an individual champion in the Sikeston tournament won by Dexter. Chris Griffith won his class at 103. Geoff Choate (112), Joey Hodge (125), Tanner Rust (130), and Russell Smith (160) all took second place.

-- From staff reports