Ex-Cub Hadley heads for Division I ranks

Three years removed from a Class 1 state title at Bell City, C.J. Hadley has fulfilled a dream many high school basketball players have.

After three years at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Hadley recently signed with Division I Sam Houston State.

Hadley, a two-year starter for the Raiders after a redshirt year out of high school, averaged a team-high 16.7 points for the Raiders this past season. A 6-foot-4 forward, Hadley also led the Raiders in steals (2.2 a game) and 3-pointers (63).

Sam Houston State, 18-12 overall this past season, finished third in the Southland Conference with an 11-4 record. The Bearkats made the NCAA tournament as recently as 2003.

"When I went on my visit, the way they were talking and the way I saw them working in the weight room, it seemed like this was another Three Rivers, just bigger," Hadley told the Daily American Republic.

Central alum signs with Missouri Baptist

Anna Brisso, a 2003 Central graduate, recently signed to play basketball with Missouri Baptist after a two-year career at Mineral Area College.

Brisso, a 5-foot-8 guard, averaged 13 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3 assists this past season at MAC.

Scott Mississippi All-conference list

Scott City and Delta landed four players apiece on the Scott-Mississippi all-conference softball team.

Sarah Cook, Shea Smith, Kaci Menz and Sara Blattell were members for the Bobcats.

Scott City was represented by Emily Essner, Ashton Phillips, Jessica Warren and Alana Newell.

Tori St. Cin, Hanna Seyer and Jodi Urhahn made the squad from Oran, and Janet Penrod and Brittney Peet were selected from Scott County Central.

Oran's baseball team paced area Scott-Mississippi teams with five all-conference members. The Eagles' Caleb Seyer, Trevor Irwin, Chase Seyer, Austin Dumey and Kody Campbell were selected.

Danny Hanback, Augi Orr and Brad Daugherty represented Chaffee, while conference-champion East Prairie had five players honored, including player-of-the-year Ben Walters.

College notes

* Kansas State freshman Loren Groves, a Scott City graduate, finished fifth in the discus at the Big 12 outdoor track and field championships held May 6-8. Groves finished with a throw of 161 feet and eight inches. The former Ram holds the Class 2 discus state record and is a two-time discus state champion.

* Former area softball players Marissa Essner and Amanda Nuyt were recently named to the All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first team as members of the Maryville University softball team. Essner, a Kelly graduate, made the first team for the second straight year after earning Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year last season. A senior, Essner was second in batting average (.360), tied for first in RBIs (36) and finished with 13 doubles and seven home runs. Along with all-conference honors, Essner also made first-team all-region. Nuyt, a Perryville graduate, hit .326 with 22 RBIs and 13 stolen bases and made third-team all-region.

* Notre Dame graduate Lee Essner was named to the All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first team after hitting a team-high .368 his freshman season at Maryville University.

* Notre Dame graduate Josh Eftink made the All-MIAA second team for Central Missouri State after hitting .345 with 64 RBIs and 14 home runs. The Mules will host a regional for the NCAA Division II tournament which begins today.