Sikeston junior Dontrez Williams is 'passing' the eye test

SIKESTON – There is going to be no shortage of star power on the court Friday when a pair of Class 5 top-10 teams meet at the Sikeston Field House at 7:30 p.m.

The host Bulldogs (16-4), who are ranked eighth in the state will have to deal with No. 2-ranked Cape Central (20-1) and its two NCAA Division I prospects in senior forward Cameron Williams and freshman guard Marquel Murray, both of whom have been offered scholarships by Southeast Missouri State.

“Cape is a great team,” veteran Sikeston coach Gregg Holifield said. “We know that it is going to be very difficult.”

The Tigers bounced back from their lone defeat, a 70-57 loss to Simeon Career Academy, with a 95-67 win over Confluence Prep Academy Charter, and have more weapons than simply Williams and Murray. However, Sikeston has an emerging talent of its own in junior guard Dontrez Williams.

“He has matured so much as a player, both offensively and defensively,” Holifield said. “He’s only a junior, so he is just going to get better and better.”

When you watch the 6-foot-4 Williams, it’s difficult to fathom his growth is THAT much more.

He not only leads the Bulldogs in scoring (20.6 points per game), but also rebounding (8.2 per game), blocks (51, and no, that isn’t a typo), and free throws made (41).

Despite all of those gaudy numbers, in a recent rout of Dexter at the Field House, Williams’ most impressive aspect of his game may have been his ability to pass the ball and get teammates involved offensively.

Williams continually found open Bulldog cutters, who got a step on the Bearcat defenders, as they cut along the baseline for great looks.

His height allows him to see over most perimeter defenders, and his touch with the ball made his quick and accurate passes seem effortless.

He currently is tied for second on the Bulldogs with teammate Tristen Wiggins with 46 assists this year, trailing Lakereon McCray, who has 51.

“It is something that he has improved at each year,” Holifield said of Williams’ passing, “and he is improving each week, honestly, he is getting better.”

So are the Bulldogs.

Sikeston lost to the Tigers 84-71 in the SEMO Conference Tournament in early December, but Cape Central will see an improved and more mature Sikeston squad than that night, according to Holifield.

“For one thing,” Holifield said, “we are so young. We play a lot of sophomores and a couple of freshmen. At the end of the day, they are just growing and maturing.”

A month ago, Sikeston was a very solid 8-4 squad, but after eight consecutive victories (by an average of 30.8 points per win), including a three-point thriller over Class 5 No. 4-ranked St. Francis Borgia, Holifield’s kids have really hit their stride.

“Earlier in the year,” Holifield explained, “we were so young, and we were trying to figure everything out. Our guys have really worked hard, and they are reacting and doing so much better.”

A win on Friday will match last season’s 17-win mark for Sikeston, which will play at least six more games.

“They have tried to figure out the whole situation,” Holifield said of his young players. “But they have really done well over the past couple of weeks.”

Following Friday’s tough test, the Bulldogs will visit Class 3 No. 4-ranked New Madrid County Central (14-7) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Cape Central will host Class 3 top-ranked Charleston (18-5) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.