Sikeston falls in quarterfinals to Vianney

KIRKWOOD, Mo. – The Sikeston Bulldogs knew what they had to do to defeat Vianney in the Class 5 quarterfinals.

Executing that game-plan, however, was problematic.

The Golden Griffins seemed to have answers for everything the Bulldogs threw at them as they defeated Sikeston 71-54 on Saturday afternoon at St. John Vianney Catholic High School.

Vianney (24-6) advances to the Class 5 final four in Columbia. Sikeston’s season ends at 28-2.

“We had a great season, but it didn’t end the way we wanted it to,” Sikeston coach Gregg Holifield said. “I’m so proud of my team and my players. We battled but we just ran into a great team today on their home court. It just wasn’t our night.”

The Bulldogs could not contain the Golden Griffins’ dribble penetration, which led to corner kicks for 3-pointers.

It helped lead to 13 3-pointers while Sikeston could not find the range throughout the game, hitting only 3 of 20 from beyond the arc.

It was a lethal combination that led to the Bulldogs’ defeat.

“They shot the ball very well,” Holifield said. “It’s their home gym and you can tell they are very comfortable here. They did a great job of penetration and finding shooters and on the flip side we didn’t shoot it well. Credit to them defensively. They were very physical and tough.”

Sikeston started the game in thrilling fashion as junior guard P.J. Farmer lobbed to Dontrez Williams for the alley-oop slam right off the opening tip.

The play ignited the enormous Bulldog fan base that made the two hour trip north.

Then on the ensuing possession, Sikeston’s Tristan Wiggins stole the ball and passed ahead to Williams for a fast-break layup to give the Bulldogs a quick 4-0 lead and sending the Bulldog fans into a frenzy, creating a deafening roar in the tiny Vianney gymnasium.

Vianney responded with a 3-pointer from 6-foot-5 sophomore Eddie Smajic and then an alley-oop slam to 7-foot 3 sophomore center Symon Ghai to lead 5-4.

Sikeston answered back with a Trace Sadler bank shot followed by a fast-break dunk from Williams and an offensive putback by Williams to lead 10-5.

Later in the quarter Wiggins buried a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 14-10 edge, but Golden Griffins freshman Chase Duke scored to make it a two-point game at the end of one quarter.

Vianney took control in the second quarter, scoring the first two baskets to take a 16-14 lead.

A Lekereon McCray 3-pointer briefly reclaimed the lead for the Bulldogs, but Vianney was able to find penetration lanes and break down the Bulldogs’ defense.

The Golden Griffins led by as much as 28-22.

A Sadler alley-oop slam brought the Bulldogs to within four, but, as they did throughout the game, Vianney snatched momentum with a back-breaking 3-pointer as sophomore guard Benjamin Karsten drained the first of his six 3-pointers in the game.

Karsten provided another huge 3-pointer moments later when he drilled an off-balance shot at the buzzer to give the Golden Griffins a 36-28 lead heading into the locker rooms.

“That was a huge, huge play,” Holifield said. “Again they made shots when they had to and you have to give them credit for that.”

Sikeston attempted to fight back in the third quarter.

Vianney started the period with a quick run to take a 41-31 lead and then led by as much as 47-36, but, with Ghai out of the game with foul trouble, the Bulldogs attacked the paint.

Williams scored five straight points followed by a Wiggins layup to trim the lead to 47-43 forcing the Golden Griffins to burn a timeout.

A Sadler shot pulled the Bulldogs to 47-45 near the end of the third quarter, but once again Karsten was the recipient of a corner 3 courtesy of the penetration and assist by standout guard Luke Walsh.

The shot gave the Golden Griffins more of a cushion with a 50-45 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Sikeston needed a boost and they got one as Williams opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to cut the gap to 50-48.

The Bulldogs then stole the ball with an opportunity to tie the game, but Ghai swatted it off the backboard, triggering a fast-break and an open corner 3 from Karsten.

It was just that kind of night for the Bulldogs.

The shot triggered a 9-0 run which essentially sealed the game as the Bulldogs never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.

The Golden Griffins extended the lead to its largest margin with stellar free throw shooting to close out the game.

Williams, who has signed to play with Abilene Christian, finished his outstanding career with 25 points, nine rebounds and three steals.

“He had a great year,” Holifield said of Williams. “He’s a great player and he’s just going to get better and better. If he continues to work like he has, his improvement is going to be off the charts.”

Sadler followed up with 11 points and eight rebounds.

“I thought Trace was outstanding today,” Holifield said. “He’s got to carry that over into the offseason. I thought his effort and his mindset was outstanding and he really battled Vianney’s big man. He played with a complete focus today.”

Farmer was one of the main focus points of Vianney’s defense, limiting him to two points, but he still finished with eight rebounds and six assists.

“They did a great job on P.J., so credit to them,” Holifield said. “They really contained what we tried to do. But P.J. has had a great season. He’s such a great player and an even better kid. I know he’s disappointed like we all are, but his best days are coming and I can’t say enough about the season that he had this year.”

Vianney was led by Smajic with 26 points. Walsh and Karsten each finished with 18 points. Ghai only scored four, but his presence was felt in the paint as he eliminated any scoring inside with his immense size.

“The 7-foot-3 guy was a major problem in there – he really impacted the game defensively,” Holifield said.

Smajic, Walsh and Ghai have all received numerous Division I offers this year.

In addition to Williams, the Bulldogs will graduate J’kwon Applwhite and Isaiah Jimerson-Patterson.

“Our seniors, we’re going to miss them badly,” Holifield said. “But our young guys can see the level we have to get to and we will have to keep working to improve.”

__VIANNEY 71, SIKESTON 54__

Sikeston 14 14 17 9 -- 54

Vianney 12 24 14 21 -- 71

SIKESTON (54) – Dontrez Williams 25, Trace Sadler 11, Tristan Wiggins 7, Lekereon McCray 5, Chris Artis 2, Kobe Thomas 2, P.J. Farmer 2. FG 23, FT 5-12, F 17. (3-pointers: Wiggins 1, Williams 1, McCray 1. Fouled out: Wiggins).

VIANNEY (71) – Eddie Smajic 26, Benjamin Karsten 18, Luke Walsh 18, Symon Ghai 4, Charles Spoonhour 3, Chase Duke 2. FG 25, FT 8-12, F 19. (3-pointers: Karsten 6, Smajic 3, Walsh 3, Spoonhour 1. Fouled out: none).