INDIANS PRESERVE PERFECT MARK IN SEMO CONFERENCE

JACKSON -- Jackson High's boys basketball team improved to 11-5 overall and remained undefeated in SEMO Conference play -- but not before the Indians had to survive some anxious moments Monday night.

Poplar Bluff rallied from a 10-point deficit to start the fourth quarter and the Mules took a one-point lead in the late going. But Jackson regrouped to claim a 69-65 victory, their second league win without a defeat.

"It was a good ballgame," said Jackson coach Steve Burk. "Poplar Bluff hit some threes and made a nice comeback to take the lead. But we got the lead right back and then we were able to hit some free throws toward the end."

Tory Meyr led a balanced Jackson offensive attack with 15 points. Also in double figures were Justin Suedmeyer with 14, Levi Bollinger with 12, Harith Jones with 12 and Corey Daniel with 12.

Poplar Bluff, which fell to 7-8, got 23 points from Ryan Whelan and 16 from Chris Reeves.

Jackson led 35-24 at halftime and 53-43 entering the final period before the Mules rallied.

The Indians will be right back in action tonight, visiting Sikeston for a conference battle.

Leopold 59, Delta 43

DELTA -- Brian Holzum scored 17 points to power Leopold's road victory.

Jason Van de Ven added 14 points and Ashton James had 13.

Delta got a game-high 18 points from Ryan Livingston.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Cape Central 63, Scott City 30

SCOTT CITY -- After a fairly close first quarter, Central pulled away for an easy road victory.

The Lady Tigers (11-4) led just 14-9 after one period. But a 20-3 second-quarter edge produced a 34-12 halftime lead. Central outscored the Lady Rams 22-12 in the third quarter.

"We played pretty good," said Central coach Darrick Smith. "We had good second and third quarters. We moved the ball well."

Heather Jenkins scored 14 points to pace Central while Katie Dougherty had 10. Dionna Webb and Mindy Hoffman both added nine.

Scott City (7-6) got 17 points from Becca Gowin.

"We couldn't slow them down," said Scott City coach Randy White.

Central won the JV game 47-32 as Sarah Hyslop scored 16 points.

Notre Dame 71, Delta 14

Notre Dame held Delta to six points or less in all four quarters during its romp at home.

The Lady Bulldogs (9-8) got 12 points from Randi Senciboy and 11 from Jessica Seratti. Nine other players scored at least two points for Notre Dame, which led 39-6 at halftime.

"It was nice to get everybody into the game," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim.

Notre Dame will have a huge test Thursday night when the Lady Bulldogs host Jackson.

Jackson 69, Perryville 45

PERRYVILLE -- Perryville gave visiting Jackson a big challenge for the first half but the state-ranked Lady Indians pulled away over the final two quarters.

Jackson (11-1, No. 3 in Class 4A) led just 34-27 at halftime before outscoring Perryville (7-8) 35-18 in the second half.

"We played a good first half. We were right there," said Perryville coach Vicki Lohmann.

Andrea Koeper scored 19 points to lead the Lady Indians, who got 18 from Cherish Tillman and 15 from Chrissi Glastetter.

Perryville was paced by Jeni Blevins with nine points.

"Perryville played a good game," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "We really didn't pull away until late in the game."

Ste. Genevieve 63, St. Vincent 35

PERRYVILLE -- Despite 13 points from Jessica Lakenan, the Squaws were thrashed at home.

St. Vincent (4-9) fell behind 29-18 at halftime and was outscored 34-17 in the second half.

BOYS SWIMMING

SLUH 137, Cape Central 137, Vianney 50

ST. LOUIS -- The Tigers won eight events as they finished in a dead heat with the Jr. Billikens of St. Louis University High in a triangular meet at Forest Park Community College.

Central coach Dayna Powell said the Tigers haven't been able to get within 30 points of the Jr. Bills the last five years.

"My goal was to get within 10," said Powell. "It just slipped away from us. We swam really well."

A highlight for Central (7-3-1) was a season-best winning time of 1:46.54 for the medley relay team, comprised of Ben Roeger, Jon Lowrance, Jason Owen and Eric Yount. Yount also won the 100 freestyle in a career-best 49.97.

Cape Central results

Medley relay - 1. 1:46.54 (Ben Roeger, Jon Lowrance, Jason Owen, Eric Yount)

200 freestyle - 1. Roeger 1:57.80; 3. Andrew Skinner. 2:03.87

200 IM - 1. Owen 2:02.05

50 freestyle - 1. Yount 22.64

100 butterfly - 1. Owen 55.63; 3. Zach Roberts 1:00.04

100 freestyle - 1. Yount 49.97

500 freestyle - 2. Nathan Skinner 5:28.43; 3. Sam Fletcher 5:55.77

200 freestyle relay - 3. 1:43.65 (Roberts, Lowrance, Rob Tygett, Tim Chisman)

100 backstroke - 2. Zach Roberts 58.78; 3. Stratton Tingle 1:04.97

100 breaststroke - 1. Lowrance 1:10.35; 3. Roberts 1:11.93

400 freestyle relay - 1. 3:33.32 (Yount, Tingle, Roeger, Owen); 3. 3:51.07 (N.Skinner, Fletcher, Matt Hawkins, Andrew Skinner)