SCC, Sikeston arrange to play again

Snow may have wiped out Friday night's slate of boys high school basketball, but the inclement weather did serve a purpose.

As a result of Friday's cancellations, Scott County Central and Sikeston will meet for the second straight year at the Show Me Center.

Braves coach Kenyon Wright said Sunday that Sikeston had approached Scott County Central about a possible game this season, but at the time the Braves were booked solid.

"We had to have a game moved to get it in because I had a full schedule," Wright said.

The opening came Friday, when the Braves' home game against Chaffee was canceled due to Friday's day-long snow.

Scott County Central's Bobby Hatchett splits a pair of Sikeston defenders during last year's game at the Show Me Center. Hatchett will be one of two returning Braves starters from the 2009 meeting that ended in an 86-85 Sikeston victory. (Southeast Missourian file)

Scott County Central's game against Chaffee will not be made up but instead will be replaced by a Feb. 10 meeting with Sikeston. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. game will go on sale today at the Show Me Center ticket office and online at www.showmecenter.biz. A girls contest between Scott County Central and Sikeston will precede at 6 p.m.

"They're a great ballclub," Wright said. "Coach [Gregg] Holifield does a great job. We enjoyed playing them last year, and I think it will be a fun game. Hopefully we can play with them."

Last year, the schools met in boys basketball for the first time in 38 years and sold out the Show Me Center. The two teams were clearly the best in Southeast Missouri last season, which added to the anticipation. Scott County Central entered the game with a 17-1 record and ranked No. 2 in Class 1, while Sikeston was 15-3 and ranked No. 8 in Class 4. The game lived up to its billing as Sikeston came away with an 86-85 victory in front of 7,121 fans.

"It was a good game, good game to watch and a lot of people wanting to see it," Wright said.

The teams again are enjoying strong seasons this year and will bring in as good, if not better, credentials. Scott County Central, the defending state champion, is 15-2 and ranked No. 1 in Class 1. Sikeston is 15-1 and ranked No. 2 in Class 4.

"They're a great basketball team. They're probably the best team in Southeast Missouri along with Notre Dame." Wright said.

Both teams have lost to Notre Dame this season. The Bulldogs handed Sikeston its only loss, a 66-61 setback Dec. 18. Sikeston has been on an eight-game winning streak since, posting most of its victories by lopsided margins. Notre Dame defeated Scott County Central 71-62 last week, ending the Braves' 15-game winning streak. Scott County Central's only other loss came in its season-opener against Dallas Lincoln.

Sikeston's leading man in last year's game, Michael Porter, has moved on to play at Missouri State. The 6-foot-6 Porter scored 33 points against Scott County Central, including the Bulldogs' final nine points. He also pulled down 14 rebounds as he faced his younger cousin, Otto Porter, in the post.

Michael Porter's basket with 18 seconds left put Sikeston ahead for good, as the Braves' Bobby Hatchett had a potential game-winning shot blocked as time expired. Hatchett, now a senior, and 6-foot-8 Otto Porter, a junior, are Scott County's only two returning starters from that game. The all-state combo combined for 39 points in last year's game, but average more than 50 points a game this season.

Sikeston will return three starters -- JuQualin Wiggins, Eli Jackson and Darryl Howard -- who combined for 23 points in last year's game.

"Losing Michael [Porter] is a big deal," Wright said, "but they have kids that can step in there, maybe not like Michael, but in a different way."

Wright downplayed avenging last year's loss in which the Braves led by six points with less than three minutes left. There also was debate about whether Hatchett was fouled on his last-second shot.

"It's a totally different deal," Wright said. "Last year they played and it was kind of Michael playing against Otto. They kind of made a big deal about that. This time it's not really like that. It's two teams playing. It's good competition for us. It gets us ready for the end of the season.

"They're a really good team. I'm really excited about playing them just because they're a good team. I like playing good competition, and our kids do too."