RAMS PROMOTE THOMPSON TO HEAD COACH

Kerry Thompson, 31, has been promoted to Scott City's new boys basketball coach.

An assistant under Derek McCord for the last two years, Thompson will take over a Scott City team that went 18-10 last year.

Thompson, before assisting at Scott City, was an assistant at Portageville for two years and a head coach at East Prairie for three years.

"The good thing is that I've been with coach McCord two years," Thompson said. "I plan to keep the same system going. There will be some minor changes, but we'll try to keep the tradition going. I feel we've got a good core group and some good young kids coming up. Coach McCord left this program in good shape."

McCord, after 10 years at Scott City, gave up his position to take the head coaching post at Cape Central.

"We sure hated for him to leave here and I enjoyed coaching with him," Thompson said. "He taught me a lot."

Mike Johnson was named Scott City's girls coach to replace Randall White. White, now at Delta, was let go by the school board after more than 20 years.

First time since 1976

With Sikeston's 7-5 victory over Sullivan Saturday in the Class 3A quarterfinals, the Bulldogs will be making their first trip to Columbia since 1976.

Sikeston (20-5) is arguably the biggest surprise of the season with virtually no pitching experience coming back from last year's team.

But Sikeston, which dropped down to 3A this year, has used solid hitting and good defense this season. The Bulldogs also have the area's premier freshman, Blake DeWitt, batting third in their lineup.

Lashley goes to TRCC

Farmington's two-time all-stater Ronnie Lashley recently signed to play basketball with Three Rivers Community College.

Lashley, an impressive leaper, averaged 20 points and four rebounds per game last year.

Lashley said he wants to play at the Division-I level and this, he figures, is the best way to get there. TRCC coach Gene Bess has sent numerous players to four-year schools.

"It'll be a good experience; that's the main thing for me," Lashley told the Daily American Republic. "I think coach Bess will do a good job getting me there."

A kicking combo

The area's two best place kickers will play for Southeast Missouri State University next season. Cape Central's Brian Emmendorfer signed early in the signing season and Derek Kutz recently said he will walk on.

Kutz, who was recruited by several Division I schools, is by far the more accurate kicker after making every one of his extra-point kicks his junior and senior seasons. Emmendorfer hit two 58-yard field goals in his career.

With no returning kickers, the Southeast Missouri duo will likely compete for the Indians' kicking job.