Sikeston boys basketball team overpowers Perryville in Class 4 District 1 semifinal

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Perryville boys basketball team had high hopes for an upset after playing Sikeston tough early this season.

Defending Class 4 state champion Sikeston never gave the Pirates a chance in Wednesday night's rematch.

The second-seeded Bulldogs rolled past third-seeded Perryville 82-55 in the semifinals of the Class 4 District 1 tournament at the Sikeston Field House.

Sikeston will shoot for its fourth straight district title when it faces top-seeded Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The squads have met in the past six district finals.

"I thought we played well," Sikeston coach Gregg Holifield said.

That probably sounds like an understatement to Perryville coach Joel Roth, who felt his team ran into a buzz saw.

"I think we kind of woke a sleeping giant. Early in the season, we might have caught them off guard," Roth said about Perryville's nine-point home loss to Sikeston on Dec. 14 after the Pirates trailed by just two at halftime. "They just got after it. Give them credit."

Perryville (21-7) was ahead 7-2 early. Sikeston (21-4) took the lead for good with just less than two minutes left in the first quarter when a 3-pointer by senior guard Caleb McGee made it 11-9.

The Bulldogs pretty well had control the rest of the way. They led 15-11 after one quarter and ended the second period on an 11-2 run to carry a 39-26 advantage into the break.

Sikeston opened a 20-point lead less than three minutes into the third quarter, and Perryville got no closer.

It was 60-36 after three, and the Bulldogs led by as many as 30 points in the final period.

"We played well as a team. We played hard. We moved the ball real good," Sikeston senior guard Terry Jamison said. "We wanted to play better than what we did last time [against Perryville]."

Sophomore forward J.T. Jones hit 9 of 10 field-goal attempts, all from in close, and led the Bulldogs with 18 points.

The 6-foot-2 Jones, Sikeston's tallest player, helped the Bulldogs more than hold their own inside against the much taller Pirates, who feature a 6-8 center and two 6-5 forwards.

"He's had a great year," Holifield said about Jones.

Sikeston outrebounded Perryville 27-23 despite being at a height disadvantage.

"They're so quick off the floor, even though they're smaller," Roth said.

The Bulldogs are quick all over, which helped force 21 turnovers and create numerous fast-break layups.

Sikeston shot 52.5 percent (31 of 59) and hit 9 of 18 3-pointers for an impressive 50 percent.

"Speed kills. They just beat us to everything," Roth said. "Once they got a little bit of a lead, your players get more comfortable. You're free and easy. Shots start falling."

Jamison scored 15 points and dished out seven assists. McGee added 11 points. They both hit three 3-pointers. Junior guard Vashawn Ruffin recorded 10 assists.

"I thought our kids did a real good job sharing the ball," said Holifield, whose squad had only nine turnovers. "I thought we really did a good job of pressuring the basketball, getting the tempo at our pace."

Bryce Weibrecht, a 6-5 senior forward, paced the Pirates with 17 points. Perryville shot 42.9 percent (18 of 42) and made five 3-pointers.

"They're a very quick team and they can get out and run," Weibrecht said. "We knew it would be harder [than the last meeting against Sikeston] because it was here."

Roth said the lopsided loss should not overshadow what the Pirates accomplished this year.

Perryville posted its first season with at least 20 wins since the 1996-97 campaign, and the Pirates recorded 40 victories over the past two years.

"It's been a heck of a run the last two years," Roth said. "We lose eight seniors, but I feel like we've got some good young kids."

The Bulldogs are focused on Friday night's highly anticipated matchup with Notre Dame. The squads have split two meetings this season.

"It's a team we have a lot of respect for," Holifield said. "We know it'll be difficult."

Perryville 11 15 10 19 -- 55

Sikeston 15 24 21 22 -- 82

PERRYVILLE (55) -- Jake Dobbelare 8, Alex Robinson 5, Cody Call 6, Colby Brown 3, Ross Moldenhauer 8, Bryce Weibrecht 17, Jared Thieret 8. FG 18, FT 14-22, F 15. (3-pointers: Robinson 1, Moldenhauer 2, Weibrecht 2. Fouled out: none)

SIKESTON (82) -- Kil'ron Coleman 9, Cord Sheehy 2, Caleb McGee 11, Vashawn Ruffin 8, Terry Jamison 15, J.T. Jones 18, Reese Porter 1, Markeith Bratcher 5, Keldon Warfield 13. FG 31, FT 11-14, F 16. (3-pointers: McGee 3, Ruffin 2, Jamison 3, Bratcher 1. Fouled out: none)