GIRLS TAKE OVER SHOW ME CENTER; FAVORITES ADVANCE ON TO HEALTHSOUTH SEMIFINALS

Some have said that seeding done before the season is far from scientific.

Nevertheless, the favored teams all prevailed Tuesday in the first round of the second annual HealthSouth Holiday Classic girls basketball tournament at the Show Me Center.

In three blowouts, No. 1 Poplar Bluff dominated No. 8 Kelly 73-26; No. 2 Jackson handled No. 7 Scott City 58-31; and No. 3 Notre Dame beat No. 6 Scott County Central 83-54.

In the night's only close game, No. 4 Cape Central edged No. 5 Perryville 43-39 (see related story).

There will be four games today. Consolation semifinal action will pit Scott City against Scott County Central at 4 p.m. and Kelly against Perryville at 5:30. The championship semifinals will feature Jackson vs. Notre Dame at 7 and Poplar Bluff vs. Cape Central at 8:30.

The tournament will conclude Friday.

Notre Dame 83, Scott Co. 54

Randi Senciboy's superb game led Notre Dame, ranked No. 4 in Class 2A.

Senciboy, a 5-foot-7 junior, led Notre Dame (8-1) with 25 points and seven rebounds. She shot 10 of 18 from the floor, including 4 of 9 from 3-point land.

Notre Dame got solid post play from Rachael Schlosser (14 points), Olivia Beel (15) and Jill Huber (10).

Vontrice Blackmon, Central's 5-3 sophomore guard, put on a display with quick drives to the basket plus two 3-pointers and led all scorers with 29 points. Ashley Whitson added 12 points.

Notre Dame led Central (4-3) 23-15 after one quarter and 40-26 at halftime. The Lady Bulldogs' lead grew to as much as 31 in the fourth quarter.

Jackson 58, Scott City 31

Jackson, ranked No. 4 in Class 4A, led Scott City 23-12 at halftime. A 25-2 advantage in the third quarter put the Lady Rams (5-2) away.

Christa Millham led the Lady Indians (5-0) with 14 points. Chrissi Glastetter added 11.

Jessica Dees led Scott City with seven points.

Poplar Bluff 73, Kelly 26

Poplar Bluff, ranked No. 7 in Class 4A, jumped out quickly, amassing a 27-10 first-quarter lead.

A 20-2 advantage in the second quarter pushed the Lady Mules' lead to 47-12 at halftime.

Emily Wyatt, a 5-8 junior, led Poplar Bluff (6-0) with 13 points. Ericka Emmons and Amy Hendricks each added 10 points. Wyatt scored seven points in the first quarter and Hendricks and Emmons both scored six.

Tiffany Glastetter's eight points led the Lady Hawks (6-2).