Sikeston throttles Poplar Bluff in SEMO Conference matchup, 87-48

SIKESTON – With homecoming festivities and Sikeston High School honoring head coach Gregg Holifield by naming the Field House court after him, it’s no surprise that the Bulldog basketball team may have had some pre-game distractions to deal with on Friday night against Poplar Bluff.

Despite a rocky start to the game, the Bulldogs snapped out of their early funk in resounding fashion as they sent the capacity Field House crowd home happy with a dominating 87-48 SEMO Conference victory over the Mules.

The win improves Sikeston, which is ranked No. 1 in Class 5, to 19-0 on the season and 4-0 in league play.

Poplar Bluff, which has dropped four of its last five games, falls to 11-10 and 1-3 in conference play.

The Mules, however, were not fazed by the hoopla of the pre-game ceremonies as they jumped out to a 7-0 and 9-2 lead to open the game, silencing the huge home crowd.

“At the beginning of the game you could kind of anticipate what was going to happen,” Holifield said. “I had a feeling we might have been a little flat before tipoff and Bluff took advantage and came out with a great run. We got down 7-0. But our kids, at that point in time, just started playing.”

And start playing they did.

The Bulldogs responded to the Mules’ big run by putting on a show for the home fans led by senior stalwart Dontrez Williams, who showcased his full arsenal on Friday night.

Williams, a 6-foot-5 guard who has signed with Abilene Christian University, scored 31 points in the first half alone and was playing with a passion that couldn’t be matched on this night.

With the score so out of hand his night ended in the third quarter – Williams finished with a varsity career high 35 points (16 of 23 shooting) with 14 rebounds, four assists, seven steals and two blocked shots.

What stood out the most was his total floor game as he scored in every way imaginable, whether it was NBA-range 3-pointers, offensive tip-ins, slicing to the goal on drives or flying in for one of his four jaw-dropping slams, including a windmill jam in the third quarter to finish out his night.

“Dontrez just gave a terrific effort offensively and defensively,” Holifield said. “He’s such a good offensive player. He took advantage of situations tonight. When we missed a shot he was in there cleaning it up. He’s just a really good player and he keeps improving daily.”

After the Mules’ fast start, the Bulldogs took control of the game, going on a 12-2 run. Williams’ 25-foot 3-pointer gave Sikeston a 14-13 lead with 3:00 left in the first quarter. Sikeston would not relinquish the lead the rest of the night.

The Bulldogs finished the first quarter on a 27-4 run to hold a 29-13 lead.

“I thought our intensity was really good and our defense was really good,” Holifield said. “Offensively we shared the ball. We played with such great energy and when you do that good things happen.”

Williams opened the second quarter when he scored on an offensive tip and then another slam to finish the 31-4 run.

The Mules tried to climb back into the game, but Sikeston was not going to be denied on this night as they went on a 26-9 run in the second quarter to take a 55-22 lead at the half.

The Bulldogs forced the Mules into 17 turnovers in the first half.

“That’s how we like to play,” Holifield said. “We want to push the tempo and keep pressure on the basketball.”

Holifield kept his starters in the game through most of the third quarter and eventually put his reserves in with 1:46 left in the period as Sikeston had opened up an 80-32 lead.

Sikeston’s 82 points through three quarters is a season-high.

Junior guard P.J. Farmer had his customary stat-stuffing game, grabbing seven rebounds with eight assists to go with his five points.

“P.J. just a great job of finding the open man,” Holifield said. “He’s a great passer and playmaker and he’s just so unselfish. He can control a basketball game without taking a shot.”

Tristan Wiggins scored 13 points while Lekereon McCray added 12 points with six rebounds and four assists.

“I thought we had tremendous effort from Chris [Artis], Tristan and Lekereon and J’kwon [Applewhite] gave us great minutes off the bench. I thought they all played very well,” Holifield said.

The win marks Sikeston’s fifth straight against Poplar Bluff, including an 86-57 win against the Mules in December. The game is a possible district preview as well as Poplar Bluff dropped down a class into Sikeston’s district.

The game marked Sikeston’s final Friday night home game as the Bulldog fans came out in strength last night.

“I thought the atmosphere was great,” Holifield said. “I appreciate all of our fans coming out – they were terrific. I say to anyone that there’s not a better place to play on a Friday night than the Sikeston Field House. It was an amazing atmosphere and our fans were ready to go.”

Sikeston will host Kennett on Monday in a rescheduled game.

Junior varsity

The Sikeston J.V. team lost its first game of the season, falling 58-50 to the Mules. The loss snapped a 30-game winning streak for the Bulldog junior varsity dating back to Feb. 2022.

Sikeston (9-1) was led by Kobe Thomas with 16 points and four assists. Will Lape followed up with 10 points. Jaharus Goodwin had seven points with seven rebounds and four assists. Malachi Davis had eight points with nine rebounds.

Poplar Bluff 13 9 16 10 -- 48

Sikeston 29 26 27 5 -- 87

POPLAR BLUFF (48) – Dallas Williams 11, Brendan Durden 11, Darius Graham 8, Marlon Hickman-Roberson 7, Isaiah Nevel 6, Preston Moore 3, Jay Edmundson 2. FG 20, FT 4-8, F 17. (3-pointers: Durden 3, Williams 1. Fouled out: none).

SIKESTON (87) – Dontrez Williams 35, Tristan Wiggins 13, Lekereon McCray 12, J’kwon Applewhite 7, Chris Artis 6, P.J. Farmer 5, Will Lape 3, Kobe Thomas 2, Isaiah Jimerson-Patterson 2, Malachi Davis 2. FG 35, FT 14-20, F 10. (3-pointers: Williams 2, Lape 1. Fouled out: none).

Poplar Bluff 16 10 18 14 -- 58

Sikeston 10 12 12 16 -- 50

POPLAR BLUFF (58) – Ledonn Webb 18, Sammy Durden 17, Nicolas Komet 13, J.R. Lathon 4, Myles Johnson 3, Amare Graham 3. FG 21, FT 8-13, F 13. (3-pointers: Webb 4, Johnson 1, Komet 1, Graham 1, Durden 1. Fouled out: none).

SIKESTON (50) – Kobe Thomas 16, Will Lape 10, Dontayvious Wright 9, Malachi Davis 8, Jaharus Goodwin 7. FG 17, FT 9-14, F 14. (3-pointers: Thomas 3, Lape 3, Wright 1. Fouled out: Thomas).