PERRYVILLE, CHARLESTON GIRLS ROLL IN DISTRICT TOURNAMENTS

PARK HILLS -- Perryville High's girls basketball team opened play in the Class 3A, District 2 Tournament Monday by routing Potosi 64-32.

The second-seeded Lady Pirates, who raised their record to 19-8, advance to Wednesday's 7:30 p.m. semifinal against third-seeded North County, which beat Perryville in last year's championship game.

Top-seeded Fredericktown, which had a first-round bye, will also play in the semifinals Wednesday (6 p.m.).

"It was good to get in the gym and get the first one out of the way," said Perryville coach Steve Wunderlich following Monday's easy win.

Dena Schumer and Cicely Guth led a balanced Lady Pirate attack with 12 points apiece.

Perryville jumped ahead 23-2 after one quarter and cruised the rest of the way. But Wunderlich expects a tougher test Wednesday.

"North County has a pretty good team so it should be a good game," he said.

Charleston 47

Dexter 19

CHARLESTON -- Host Charleston opened play Monday night in the Class 3A, District 1 Tournament by blasting Dexter.

The fourth-seeded Lady Blue Jays advance to Wednesday's 6 p.m. semifinal against top-seeded New Madrid County Central. Wednesday's other semifinal, at 7:30, will pit No. 2 Kennett and No. 3 Doniphan. They both had first-round byes.

Shameka Suggs scored 16 points and Carlotta Mims added 13 for Charleston, which led 24-15 at halftime and then outscored Dexter 15-2 in the third quarter.

Also Monday, in boys district tourney play, fifth-seeded Dexter upset fourth-seeded Kennett 71-69. Dexter advances to play top-seeded Charleston Thursday night.

Scott City 88

Valle 55

SCOTT CITY -- Sara Emerson and Tara Sanford combined for 51 points as Scott City romped at home Monday night.

Emerson scored 27 points and Sanford had 24 as the Lady Rams improved to 18-5. Jennifer Miller added 12 points.

"I thought we played pretty well at times," said Scott City coach Randy White, who is happy that Sanford -- out much of the season with an injury -- is fast rounding into form. "Tara's lateral movement is really getting better and that's good to see."

Scott City grabbed an 18-6 lead after one quarter and the Lady Rams were ahead 49-21 at halftime.

The Lady Rams host St. Vincent Wednesday.

Delta 44

Oran 23

ORAN -- Delta improved to 15-5 by rolling past host Oran Monday night.

Erin Eftink scored 11 points and Jody Below added 10 for Delta, which led 13-7 after one quarter and 26-11 at halftime. The Lady Bobcats went ahead 40-17 after three quarters.

Both squads return to action Thursday, Delta at home against Scott County Central and Oran at St. Vincent.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Puxico 81

Kelly 72

BENTON -- Kelly coach Kent Mangels thought his team was flat Monday night and the result was a loss at home as the Hawks ended the regular season.

"Puxico played well and we were very flat," Mangels said. "I don't know what the deal was, but we didn't do a very good job."

Justin Vetter led Kelly (13-11) with 18 points. Clark Cossou had 13 while Jim Hulshof and Jeff McNeill both added 12.

The Hawks will compete next week in the Class 2A district tournament at Bloomfield.

Class 4A district

FARMINGTON -- Fourth-seeded Farmington upended fifth-seeded Poplar Bluff 61-53 Monday night as the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament got under way.

Farmington will play top-seeded Cape Central at 6 p.m. while No. 2 Jackson will meet No. 3 Sikeston at 7:30 in Wednesday's semifinals.

Also Monday, in girls tourney play, No. 4 Farmington routed No. 5 Sikeston 73-36.

The girls semifinals will be tonight as No. 1 Jackson plays Farmington at 6 and No. 2 Poplar Bluff meets Cape Central at 7:30.