Sikeston ends season for Perryville girls basketball team

~ The Bulldogs advanced to a district semifinal game against Notre Dame

DEXTER, Mo. -- The Sikeston Bulldogs have become known for their full-court pressure defense since Matt Schonhoff was named coach before the season.

On Monday night, that defense wreaked havoc, forcing Perryville into 41 turnovers as Sikeston defeated the Pirates 57-47 in the first round of the Class 4 District 1 tournament.

Sikeston forced numerous turnovers right out of the gate and jumped to a 7-2 lead just three minutes into the first quarter. Perryville tied the game up on a conventional three-point play from Natalie Bauwens with 3:12 remaining in the first, but Sikeston's Tyangela Gibson scored eight straight points over a 90-second span to give the Lady Bulldogs a 17-9 lead.

Perryville (9-15) cut the lead to 17-12, but a basket by Sikeston's Janai Ivory as time expired pushed the Lady Bulldogs advantage to 19-12 after the first quarter.

Perryville sliced the Sikeston lead to 21-18 in the second quarter on four straight points from Allison Moldenhauer.

Sikeston then took control behind the play of Gibson.

After a basket from Asia Liggins gave Sikeston a 23-18 lead, Gibson scored seven-straight points, extending the Bulldogs' lead to 30-18. Gibson finished with a game-high 21 points.

The Pirates climbed to within 32-22 by halftime, thanks in part to their strong rebounding. Perryville outrebounded Sikeston 25-16 in the first half and 43-38 for the game.

The Bulldogs used a 9-0 run in the third quarter to build an 18-point lead. A Keyonna Blissett 3-pointer keyed the run, followed by back-to-back baskets by Gibson that gave Sikeston a 46-28 lead with 1:32 left in the frame.

Sikeston held a large lead for most of the fourth until Perryville finished the game on an 11-2 spurt.

Liggins finished with 10 points for the Bulldogs while pulling down nine rebounds.

Bauwens, a senior, scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in her final game for the Pirates.

Sikeston will face top-seeded Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the district semifinals.

Perryville 12 10 8 17 -- 47

Sikeston 19 13 14 11 -- 57

PERRYVILLE (47) -- Natalie Gremaud 6, Morgan Mueller 2, Kaycee Erzfeld 3, Abbie Schilli 8, Allison Moldenhauer 6, Kelsey Schremp 2, Katlyn Lukefahr 2, Natalie Bauwens 18. FG 21, FT 4-8, F 12. (3-pointers: Erzfield. Fouled out: none)

SIKESTON (57) -- Tyangela Gibson 21, Keyonna Blissett 4, Darqueshionna Howard 2, Vonteria Applewhite 9, Asia Liggins 10, Janai Ivory 4, Taneshia Pulley 7. FG 24, FT 8-13, F 11. (3-pointers: Blissett 1. Fouled out: none)