PB’s Booker takes runner-up

Poplar’s Bluff’s Kaitlyn Booker and the rest of the SEMO Conference hit the court Friday morning but Booker held on longer than almost everyone.

Booker battled Kennett’s Christi Tejeda in the SEMO Conference Tournament Championship match and after each athlete grabbed a set, it was Tejeda that took the tiebreaker over Booker.

“I’m extremely proud of how all our players did on the court today,” Lady Mules Head Coach Michelle Massey said. “Brooke was a true champion and played four matches. She played most of the day from 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. She probably only had an hour and a half off, collectively, all day.”

Booker, a junior for the Lady Mules, beat athletes from Kennett, Notre Dame and Jackson en route to her finals appearance.

Poplar Bluff’s Molly Maurer (1-1), Hannah Wiseman (1-1), Elleanna Wiseman (1-1), Katelyn Conover (0-1) and Hannah Kee (0-1) all competed for the Mules on Friday.

Massey said by the end of the tournament, Booker had blisters on her hands and feet.

“She doesn’t every give up, she plays smart and she places her spots,” Massey said. “She runs down everything on her side of the court.”

Poplar Bluff has the weekend off before it hosts Caruthersville on Monday at 4 p.m. at PBHS.

The match against Caruthersville is the Lady Mules first match in three-straight days they’ll take on Sikeston on the road on Tuesday before returning to Poplar Bluff to take on Kennett and Holcomn on Wednesday.

Poplar Bluff already knows who it’ll take on in the first round of the Class 2, District 1 Tournament as the Lady Mules will take on the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs on Oct. 2.

The Class 2 State Tournament is scheduled for Oct. 12-20.