Senior shines, Hammontree hits 1,000 as Sikeston crushes Caruthersville

SIKESTON — On a night celebrating its senior and witnessing history, Sikeston dominated Caruthersville 70-14 at the Field House on Monday, Dec. 18.

Adding to the celebratory atmosphere of Senior Night, junior Landri Hammontree joined the illustrious 1,000-point club with a 3-pointer midway through the first quarter.

“Everything played out well and we had fun,” said Sikeston coach Vaughn Shephard. “I always start my seniors on Senior Night. It’s a night that they can always remember. It’s a great memory for them and their families, and it’s my way of showing them respect for everything they’ve done for the program.

Sikeston's Ja'Nileya Moore (30) drives during a 70-14 Senior Night win over Caruthersville at the Field House on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“We also wanted to celebrate [Hammontree] because this is a big milestone,” he continued. “She was a little nervous and I had to remind her that it was just another basketball game. All the girls supported her and wanted to see her reach her goal. We have great chemistry on this team. We all know [Hammontree] is going to continue to do more good things and I know her teammates will push her. We’re so proud of her and we’re all looking forward to seeing what she does next.”

The scoreboard at the end of the first quarter told the story with Sikeston leading 37-5, as nearly every player chipped in, turning the game into a showcase of their impressive depth and teamwork.

Sikeston’s dominance continued unabated into the second half, ballooning the lead to a colossal 59-7 at halftime, fueled by freshman Kennedi Sims’ electric 18-point first-half performance.

Sikeston's Ja'Niya Moore (12) scores during a 70-14 Senior Night win over Caruthersville at the Field House on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“Overall the girls played well,” Shephard said. “We didn’t play as aggressively as I would have liked. We showed some bad habits, but we picked up and finished the game well. You always love it as a coach when everyone gets to play. Everything played out well and we had fun. That’s what it’s all about.”

With the outcome decided long before the final buzzer, Sikeston coasted through the second half, applying the mercy rule in the fourth to formally seal their 70-14 triumph on Senior Night.

“We were up by a big margin and the players were still getting on the floor going after loose balls,” Shephard said. “That let me know that we are still hustling and competing. They never got away from that and that was the biggest positive of the night. We still played hard and got after it.”

Sikeston�s Landri Hammontree (11) stands for a photo after scoring the 1,000th point of her high school career against Caruthersville at the Field House on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Sikeston received the No. 7 seed in the St. Dominic Christmas Tournament and will take on No. 2 seed Timberland (4-3) on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

__SIKESTON 70, CARUTHERSVILLE 14__

C’Ville 5 2 3 4 — 14

Sikeston 37 22 10 1 — 70

Caruthersville (14) — Naomi Northern 6, Jamya Bottrom 5, Anna Warren 3. FG: 5. FT: 3-14. F: 9. (3-pointers: Warren 1. Fouled out: none).

Sikeston (70) — Kennedi Sims 18, Ja’Naye Moore 12, Kelly Coaker 10, Marlie Crook 9, Alex Segers 7, Landri Hammontree 7, Dontaysia Gipson 4, Faith Calvin 2. FG: 33. FT: 3-13. F: 12. (3-pointers: Hammontree 1. Fouled out: none).