LADY TIGERS GET BACK ON TRACK

NEW MADRID -- Cape Girardeau Central High's girls basketball team, ranked seventh in the state in Class 4A, won 14 of its first 16 games this season.

The Lady Tigers then hit a bit of a slump early this month, losing three of its next four games. The losses came against Poplar Bluff (twice) and Notre Dame.

Central, which will play its biggest game of the regular season Thursday at Jackson, needed to end its slide Monday at New Madrid County Central to send much needed momentum into the Jackson game.

The Lady Tigers played with more intensity and beat New Madrid on the road 50-36. A 22-6 third quarter advantage and 18 points by Nichole Thiele was the difference.

"It was a good game for us," said Central coach Paula Watkins, whose team improved to 16-5. "We played with more intensity. We played better defense and we hit the boards well."

Central welcomed the return of Laura Lukens, a 6-foot senior center. Lukens had missed the past couple games with a leg injury.

Lukens played only four minutes, and Watkins said she wouldn't know how much Lukens will play against Jackson until later in the week.

Jackson 77, Sikeston 23

JACKSON -- Despite being without Christa Millham, Jackson blew out visiting Sikeston Monday.

Christa's sister, Michele Millham, led all scorers with 21 points. Dana Littlepage added 12.

Jackson, which is ranked third in the state in Class 4A, improved to 18-2. Ten Lady Indians scored.

Jackson led 26-6 after one quarter and 40-8 at halftime.

Christa Millham injured an ankle Saturday against Poplar Bluff in the finals of the Charleston Tournament. Jackson coach Ron Cook said she will return to the lineup Thursday at home against Cape Central.

Delta 37, Scott City 36

DELTA -- In what Delta coach Jim Gloth called his team's biggest win of the season, the Lady Bobcats edged Scott City in a defensive battle at home Monday.

"This is a big win for us," said Gloth. "We played well defensively and had a balanced attack. We had a lot less turnovers than we've had lately."

Delta (12-3) held Scott City's Sara Emerson, one of the area's top players, to 11 points. Emerson scored only two points in the final three quarters.

"We shut [Emerson] down pretty good," Gloth said. "She got three fouls early, but when she came back in the game we stopped her."

For Delta, Amanda McDaniel had eight points and Paula Eftink and Amanda Thompson both had seven.

Kelly 68, Charleston 45

BENTON -- Kelly coach Clay Vangilder said his team played its best half of the season and the Lady Hawks cruised to a win Monday at home against Charleston.

Kelly (13-6) led the Lady Bluejays 36-13 at halftime.

"I felt in the first half we played about as well as we have this year," said Vangilder.

Five Kelly players reached double figures. Jennifer McNeill led all scorers with 20 points, Tiffany Glastetter had 19, Suzanne Urhahn 14 and Audrey Burford 11. Shameka Suggs had 14 for Charleston.

DeSoto 67, St. Vincent 45

PERRYVILLE -- DeSoto's Jaime Miller, one of the region's top players, had 24 points to lead her team past St. Vincent Monday.

St. Vincent fell to 5-13.

DeSoto led 19-10 after the first quarter and took a 54-27 lead into the fourth quarter.

For the Squaws, Becky Lorenz had 11 points.

Perryville 64, Hillsboro 41

HILLSBORO -- Cicely Guth scored a career-high 22 points as Perryville remained in a tie for first place in the Jefferson County Conference.

Dena Schumer added 13 points for Perryville, which improved to 16-7 overall and 7-1 in the conference. The Lady Pirates and Windsor are tied for the top spot.

Perryville built a 17-5 lead in the first quarter and outscored Hillsboro in each ensuing quarter.

"Cicely Guth had a great shooting night," said Perryville coach Steve Wunderlich. "She's usually in the 8-14 point range."

Perryville will close conference play Thursday when Herculaneum visits.

Boys basketball

Marquand 79, Chaffee 53

CHAFFEE -- Marquand continued it winning ways Monday, jumping on Chaffee early and then holding off the Red Devils.

Brandon Settle scored a game-high 19 points for Marquand, which improved to 16-4. Chaffee dipped to 3-12.

Andy Barnes, 14 points, and Dusty Stephens, 13, were also in double figures for the Tigers.

Jeremy Yarbro netted 18 points for Chaffee and Grant Biler added 16.

Marquand outscored Chaffee 16-4 in the first quarter and led 31-18 at intermission. The Tigers took a 48-35 lead into the fourth quarter.