JACKSON GIRLS TRIUMPH IN DEBUT; CAPE CENTRAL GIRLS WIN AT OAKVILLE TOURNAMENT

FARMINGTON -- One game into the season, the secret is out. Beware Jackson High's girls basketball team's inside game.

Cherish Tillman and Melissa Palmer combined for 50 points as Jackson turned aside North County 80-60 in a semifinal game in the Farmington Tournament. The contest was Jackson's season opener.

Tillman, a 5-foot-9 junior, led all scorers with 27 points, and Palmer, a 5-9 senior, contributed 23 points.

"We just had stronger girls inside," said Jackson coach Ron Cook.

Although the Lady Indians prevailed, they didn't play a top-notch game. Jackson committed 19 turnovers, and the 60 points allowed by its usually daunting defense wasn't a figure Cook relished.

Jackson held a 20-13 first-quarter advantage and led 37-28 at halftime.

The Lady Indians will meet Park Hills Central, a 67-42 winner over Farmington Tuesday, in the championship game Friday at 6:30.

Cape Central 57, Oakville 44

ST. LOUIS -- Cape Central positioned itself to win the Oakville Tournament with a victory over the host Tuesday night.

The Lady Tigers, 2-0 both on the season and in the tournament, will play Fox Thursday night.

The Lady Tigers took a 22-19 lead into the second quarter and outscored Oakville 17-7 for a 39-26 halftime lead. The lead grew to 55-36 by the start of the fourth quarter.

"The second quarter we started playing a little better defense," said Cape Central coach Darrick Smith. "We played a lot better than last night. We played with a lot more confidence and shot the ball better. It was an overall better night."

Dionna Webb paced the Lady Tigers with 14 points. Heather Jenkins followed with 12 and Kim Aslinger tallied 10.

"It's a two-hour trip up there," said Smith. "It's a long way to go, but a win Thursday will make it worthwhile."

Cape Central's JV defeated Oakville 33-32 in the Oakville Tournament.

Sarah Hyslop led Central (3-2) with 14 points. Central's JV will conclude tournament play Thursday against Fox.

Boys basketball

Portageville 66, Chaffee 25

CHAFFEE -- Chaffee was limited to no points in the third quarter and five in the second half as Portageville cruised to victory. The game was Chaffee's season opener.

William Dirden's 21 points paced Portageville, who led 21-8 after one quarter.

Matt Stroup had nine points for Chaffee.

Woodland Tournament

MARBLE HILL -- No. 3 Bloomfield beat No. 6 Oak Ridge 60-45 in the final opening-round game. In a consolation game, Leopold stopped Meadow Heights 60-32.

Darren Hahs had 13 points for Oak Ridge and Eric Hobeck added 11.

Leopold's Brian Holzum scored a team-high 16 points and Ashton James contributed 14. Troy Hays paced Meadow Heights with 16 points, half the team's total.

Oran Tournament

ORAN -- Twin Rivers defeated Richland 70-48 in the tournament's final first-round game.

In consolation play, Oran beat Bell City 57-40.

Oran's Billy Loper, a 6-5 senior who scored 28 points in Monday's loss to Gideon, had 27 points against Bell City. Jerod Hamm added 12 points.

Bell City was paced by Nathan Walter's 16 points.

Wrestling

Murphysboro (Ill.) 51, Cape Central 19

Central opened its season with a loss to Murphysboro.

After dropping the first six matches, Central's Leeland Weolk won at 140 pounds. Other Tigers winners were Josh Goodrich (160), Matt Strickland (215) and Alex Elfrink (heavyweight).

Central's JV team lost 48-30.

Murphysboro 51, Cape Central 19

103 -- Christian Rath (M) pinned Clint Hoffman, 1:59

112 -- Robin Rath (M) pinned Paul Miller, :48

119 -- Colt Lee (M) pinned Hoss Hodges, 2:50

125 -- Steven Baskin (M) defeated Keith Benton, 15-10

130 -- Logan Reigger (M) defeated Kevin Allen, 14-8

140 -- Leeland Weolk (CC) defeated Joe Melvin, 13-9

145 -- A.J. Burjey (M) defeated Nick Harter, 11-5

152 -- Chris McCann (M) defeated Jamell Austin, 15-10

160 -- Josh Goodrich (CC) defeated Clay Lang, 16-8

171 -- David Murray (M) won by forfeit

189 -- Josh Stevens (M) pinned Troy Sikes, 3:20

215 -- Matt Stickland (CC) pinned Andrew Wilson, 5:07

HWT -- Alex Elfrink (CC) pinned Richard Ransom, 2:28

Central JV winners: Terry Sexton (125), Justin Cain (160), Mike Kays (171), Nick Tiechman (215), Andy Roussel (HWT)

Jackson 77, New Madrid County Central 6

NEW MADRID -- Jackson won 13 of 14 matches and blew out New Madrid County Central in its season opener.

Jackson's JV team won 66-6.

Jackson 77, NMCC 6

103 -- J.P. Sides (J) won by forfeit

112 -- Chris Brown (J) won by forfeit

119 -- Brett Stroud (J) pinned Camden Bock, 1:44

125 -- Jermaine Smith (N) pinned Kyle Newell, 1:18

130 -- Adam Wachter (J) pinned Grant Atchley, :42

135 -- Cyle Huck (J) defeated Tytonne Fountain, 15-0

140 -- Lance Schlick (J) pinned Troy Mays, 1:18

145 -- Kyle Watson (J) pinned Jason Warfield, 2:18

152 -- Kyle Heck (J) pinned Andy Barnett, 5:18

160 -- Mark Wade (J) pinned Lionel Smith, 5:36

171 -- Pee Wee Bartles (J) pinned Cleve Holiman, 1:20

189 -- Andy Herndon (J) pinned Ryan Halford, 1:10

215 -- Tim Spradlin (J) pinned Jerry Murray, 1:22

HWT -- Spencer Hobeck (J) pinned Michael Sewell, 1:12

Jackson JV winners: Ricky Feiner (103), Michael Taylor (112), Ryan McClard (119), Kiel Johnson (130), Josh Deneke (135), Justin Rice (140), James Love (145), Joey Webber (160), Brad Berry (171), Charlie Ogen (189), Peter Ressler (215), Luke Wade (HWT).

Boys swimming

Lafayette 108, Cape Central 76

Cape Central's swim team dropped its season opener Tuesday as it hosted perennial power Lafayette.

Lafayette, which has won state championships in three of the last four years, extended its dual win streak to 142.

Tiger swimmers won seven events and posted four state qualifying time. Jason Owen won the 200 IM and 100 backstroke; Eric Yount won both the 50 and 100-meter freestyle; Ben Roeger captured the 200 freestyle; and Central won the 200 and 400 freestyle relay.

Central results

Medley relay 3. 1:59.49 (Stratt Tingle, Matt Hawkins, Zach Roberts, Sam Fletcher

200 freestyle - 1. Ben Roeger 1:53.81 SQ

200 IM - 1. Jason Owen SQ 2:00.23

50 freestyle - 1. Eric Yount 22:31. SQ

Diving - 3. Tim Chisman 127.65

100 Butterfly - 3. Zach Roberts 1:04.07

100 freestyle - 1. Yount 50.07

500 freestyle - 2. Roeger 5:17.55, 3. Nathan Skinner 5:48.87

200 freestyle relay - 1. 1:36.91 (Roeger, Rob Tygett, Owen, Yount)

100 backstroke - 1. Owen 56.78 SQ

100 breaststroke - 3. Roberts 1:12.54

400 freestyle relay - 1. 3:37.84 (Tingle, Yount, Roeger, Owen)