Sikeston Lady Bulldogs look to rebound in Riverbend Classic

SIKESTON — Despite starting the season with two tough losses, the Sikeston girls’ basketball team has shown flashes of potential and remains optimistic about the season ahead.

The Lady Bulldogs (0-2) started the season with a 76-56 loss to Park Hills Central at the St. Paul Lutheran Shoot Out on Saturday, November 18.

Sikeston coach Vaughn Shephard said he was proud of how his team competed before eventually “running out of gas,” against the Rebels (1-0), who qualified for the Class 4 Final Four last season.

Park Hills Central, a team with a rich history of success, provided a formidable challenge for the Lady Bulldogs to open the season. The Rebels have won 10 district championships since 2012, including a state championship in 2014, and have recorded 20 wins in a season for the past 10 years in a row.

Landri Hammontree led Sikeston with 30 points and Marlie Crook scored a career-high 20 points.

Sikeston also fell 58-45 to Farmington (2-0) at the Field House on Monday, November 20.

“The game went well, we played hard and competed with Farmington,” Shephard said. “We just made mental mistakes turning the ball over and missing layups that we should have made, but on a positive note, we pushed the ball when we needed to and our young team competed well against a good team whose program has grown over the years.”

Hammontree scored 14 to lead the Lady Bulldogs in scoring.

“[Hammontree] didn’t have a great offensive game but she is a great scorer and when she is in rhythm she can make teams pay,” Shephard said.

Crooks added 10 points and Alex Segers scored eight points.,

“[Crook] is probably our most improved player this year,” Shephard said. “She is moving around the basket more and is being more aggressive this year. [Segers] is a good defender and slicer, she can get to the basket at will and I’m looking for her to elevate her game this season.”

Sikeston will face New Madrid County Central (0-0) in the Riverbend Classic at NMCC High School on Saturday, November 25 at 12:30 p.m.

__FARMINGTON 58, SIKESTON 45__

Farmington 11 13 17 17 — 58

Sikeston 15 7 14 9 — 45

__Farmington (58) —__ Madison Mills 19, Raylin LaCava 14, Brynn Johnson 11, Shelby Bowling 8, Anniston Mapes 6. FG: 21. FT: 8-11. F: 13. (3-pointers: Mills 5, Johnson 3. Fouled out: none.)

__Sikeston (45) —__ Landri Hammontree 14, Marlie Crook 10, Kennedi Sims 9, Alex Segers 8, Ja’Naye Moore 2, Dontaysia Gipson 2. FG: 18. FT: 5-14. F: 15. (3-pointers: Segers 2, Sims 1, Hammontree 1. Fouled out: none.)

__PARK HILLS CENTRAL 76, SIKESTON 59__

Sikeston 12 17 14 12 — 59

Park Hills Central 28 15 17 16 — 76

__Sikeston (59) —__ Landri Hammotree 30, Marlie Crooks 20, Alex Segers 6, Ja’Naye Moore 3. FG: 22. FT: 4-12. F: 12. (3-pointers: Hammontree 4, Crook 1, Moore 1. Fouled out: none.)

__Park Hills Central (76) —__ Khloe Dischbein 25, Taylor O’Connor 20, Allysa O’Connor 13, Blair Sutton 11, Gracelyn Populis 5, Courtney Dortch 2. FG: 34. FT: 3-12. F: 16. (3-pointers: Taylor O’Connor 3, Pupulis 1, Allysa O’Connor 1. Fouled out: none.)