MILLHAM BOOSTS ALL-STATE STATUS IN FINAL SEASON

Coming off a second team all-state basketball season for the Class 4A runner-up Jackson Lady Indians last year, Christa Millham left scant room for improvement in her senior season.

But the 5-foot-10 point guard capped off an outstanding career at Jackson this season, leading the Lady Indians to the 4A title game for the third consecutive year and earning first team all-state honors in a vote of Missouri sportswriters and sportscasters.

Millham, a three-year starter for the Lady Indians, was the only athlete in the immediate area named to the 3A-4A teams released today. She averaged a team-leading 16 points a game, but Millham meant more to the Lady Indians than her scoring average indicates.

"Christa was our floor general the last three years," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "We're going to miss her ball-handling and desire to win. She had the will to win, that's for sure."

Millham apparently passed that winning desire onto her teammates. In Millham's three years as a starter, Jackson compiled an 80-9 record with three state runner-up finishes. Jackson (26-3) completed this season ranked second in the state in the final 4A poll for the third straight year.

Over the course of her career at Jackson, Millham totaled 933 points. Only three Lady Indians have ever accumulated 1,000 career points, leaving Cook to believe Millham ranks in the top five in career-scoring at Jackson.

Millham also totaled 359 rebounds, 339 assists and 203 steals in her distinguished prep career.

Those numbers helped her secure a basketball scholarship to New Mexico State University before the start of the 1997-98 season. Cook has no doubts about Millham continuing her success on the college level.

"She'll do well," Cook said. "Christa's competitive, a hard worker and she can do more than just score. She could really handle the basketball under pressure."

* Poplar Bluff, considered the Lady Indians top competition locally, garnered some state attention. The Lady Mules, who ended their season at 24-3 after losing to Jackson in the Class 4A, District 1 title game, were ranked ninth in the final 4A poll.

Holly Teague, a 5-8 senior for Poplar Bluff, earned second team all-state status.

* In Class 3A, three boys and three girls from the Southeast region were named all-state. New Madrid senior Ed Farr, Doniphan junior Nic Wilson and Salem senior Scott Jenkins were all named to the 3A second team.

Kennett senior Brandi Jackson completed her high-scoring prep career with her third selection to the 3A all-state team. Jackson, an explosive 5-foot-7 player, averaged over 30 points a game to gain her second selection to the first team. As a sophomore, Jackson was named to the second team.

Salem senior Cassey Felkerson and Ste. Genevieve junior Jessica Holst were named to the 3A second team. Park Hills Central, which upset Perryville in the Class 3A, District 2 title game, was ranked eighth in the final 3A poll. The Lady Rebels were 24-4 this season.