Sikeston boys hoops team extends home streak in semis at Jackson's expense

~ The Bulldogs advanced to the finals of the SEMO Conference tournament with a 70-36 rout

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston High School boys basketball team last lost a home game Dec. 7, 2007.

Jackson was the victorious squad then -- in overtime in the SEMO Conference tournament semifinals -- and the Indians had a chance to break the Bulldogs' remarkable home-court winning streak Thursday night.

Not much of a chance as it turned out.

The Bulldogs' dominance at the Sikeston Field House continued with their 70-36 romp in the SEMO Conference tournament semifinals.

LEFT: Jackson's Tyler Rhodes drives past Sikeston's Janeil Hatchett during the first half of their semifinal game at the SEMO Conference tournament Thursday in Sikeston, Mo. BOTTOM LEFT: Sikeston's Vashawn Ruffin passes as Jackson's Caleb Newcomer defends during the second half of their semifinal game at the SEMO Conference tournament Thursday.KRISTIN EBERTS keberts@semissourian.com

"I thought we played really well," Sikeston coach Gregg Holifield said in something of an understatement after the Bulldogs improved to 5-0.

Top-seeded Sikeston, which has won 40 straight home contests, will look for a tournament three-peat when it faces second-seeded Central at 8:30 p.m. today.

Fifth-seeded Jackson will play third-seeded Notre Dame at 7 p.m. for third place in the eight-team event.

Holifield said his players don't even mention the streak, but they do relish playing at home.

"To be honest, the kids never say anything about it. They just play," Holifield said. "I didn't even know about it until I saw it in the paper the other day ... but our kids really play well here."

KRISTIN EBERTS ~ keberts@semissourian.com

It would have been hard to slow down the Bulldogs on Thursday regardless of where the game was played. They outscored Jackson 35-11 in the second half.

"I thought they were very impressive tonight," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said.

Jackson (2-2) had a huge height advantage. The Indians featured starters standing 6 foot 8, 6-5 and 6-3, along with a 6-3 top reserve, while Sikeston's tallest player is 6-2.

But the Bulldogs ran Jackson into the ground with their superior quickness.

Sikeston's relentless pressure defense forced 30 turnovers, which the Bulldogs turned into 32 points. Many of the turnovers led to fast-break layups.

"Their press was very intense, active and quick," Scott said. "And when you got past that first level, they recovered. And their depth. ...

"They shot well, rebounded well, passed well. They just played great and they took it to another level in the second half."

Sikeston, which trailed only briefly at the outset, forced 15 first-half turnovers but Jackson still was within striking distance at halftime, down 35-25.

Then the Bulldogs really got rolling, scoring 15 of the first 19 points in the second half to go ahead 50-29. The rout was on.

"We competed until the end of the first half. They jumped on us in the third quarter," Jackson senior Bobby Clark said. "We knew they were going to be tough and quick, but they kind of even surprised us."

Sikeston outscored Jackson 23-6 in the third quarter to lead 58-31.

Things got no better for the Indians in the fourth quarter when they were outscored 12-5. Sikeston enacted the 30-point running clock less than a minute into the final period.

"I think Jackson is an outstanding team. It was just our night tonight," said Holifield, whose squad had only five turnovers and recorded 18 steals.

Corey Porter, a 6-2, 280-pound senior, scored 13 points for Sikeston, 11 in the first half.

Senior Janeil Hatchett also scored 13 points for Sikeston. He grabbed 10 rebounds.

Senior Will Holifield added 10 points for the Bulldogs.

Clark paced all scorers with 15 points, 11 in the first half. Senior Brad Clary added 11 points for the Indians.

"We just have to put this one behind us and come out ready to play [in the third-place game]," Clark said.

Jackson 13 12 6 5 -- 36

Sikeston 23 12 23 12 -- 70

JACKSON (36) -- Caleb Newcomer 2, Zach McDowell 2, Bobby Clark 15, Brad Clary 11, John Meyer 6. FG 14, FT 8-10, F 9. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

SIKESTON (70) -- Kil'Ron Coleman 6, Eldridge Gibson 4, Janeil Hatchett 13, Darryl Howard 8, Vashawn Ruffin 4, Terry Jamison 7, Will Holifield 10, Keldon Warfield 5, Corey Porter 13. FG 30, FT 4-5, F 16. (3-pointers: Coleman 2, Hatchett 1, Jamison 1, Holifield 2. Fouled out: none)