Meadow Heights adds girls varsity basketball

Meadow Heights has seen a quick rise to its girls basketball program.

The district started with grade school teams, and within five years Meadow Heights is ready to make a splash at the high school varsity level this season. Meadow Heights will debut its varsity team Nov. 29 at home against Woodland.

"It's taken on pretty well," Panthers coach Mitch Nanney said. "It's growing pretty fast."

Last season, the Panthers played their first year at the junior varsity level. Meadow Heights' eighth-grade team was 7-2 last season. The fifth- and sixth-grade teams combined for a 25-5 record.

Nanney expects around 18 players to fill out the JV and varsity rosters this season.

"We've had real good community support, a lot of parents are involved," Nanney said.

"We're really happy with what's going on," he added. "I think we'll be competitive most of the time."

Notre Dame Sportsfest

Notre Dame Regional High School will host three tournaments this weekend as part of its annual Sportsfest.

Soccer and softball tournaments will begin today.

All eight teams are in action today in the Soccerfest. Central will open play St. Pius X at 3:30 p.m. today to start the tournament. Notre Dame, Jackson, Sikeston, Poplar Bluff, Marion, Ill., and Carbondale, Ill., will also take part in the tournament, which wraps up at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Softballfest tournament also begins at 3:30 p.m. today, with host Notre Dame facing Delta. Sikeston, Park Hills Central, Kelly, St. Pius, Poplar Bluff and Ste. Genevieve round out the field. The tournament will be the debut for the Bulldogs' softball field lights, which were installed prior to the season. The tournament championship game will be 8 p.m. Saturday.

The Volleyballfest, also be an eight-team tournament, will kick off Friday. Notre Dame, Perryville, Central, St. Vincent, Bell City, Caruthersville, Trinity Catholic and Marshfield will participate. The championship game will be at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Great 8 Tournament

After a 4-0 dual start for Central's tennis team, the Tigers will get to match their talents against some of the best teams in the state at the Great 8 Tournament in Columbia, Mo., this weekend.

Central, which played in the tournament last year, will face Blue Springs in the opening round.

Jackson Invitational

Although two area squads will have already started their cross country schedules, the Jackson Invitational on Saturday will mark the start of the season for the majority of area squads.

The annual meet features the unique format of separating competitors according to their year in school. Grades nine through 12 each have their own champion and team scores, with 20 schools scheduled to compete.

The meet will begin at 10 a.m. with the freshman boys. In case of high heat and humidity, the meet would start at 9 a.m.