TIGERS HAUL IN HONORS AFTER WINNING SEMO CONFERENCE

Cape Central junior Ross Conner and Tigers basketball coach Brett Reutzel were recently voted by SEMO Conference coaches as player and coach of the year.

Jackson girls basketball coach Ron Cook was also named coach of the year.

Conner, a lanky and athletic 6-foot-4 post player, scored about 14 points and pulled down nine rebounds per game. In conference play, he averaged almost 17 points. He was also one of the conference's top defenders, averaging four blocked shots.

"Our conference has a lot of good palyers in it and I knew he had a chance," Reutzel said. "He had some huge games in conference. He was one of the main reasons why we won conference this year."

To say the least, Reutzel is already looking forward to Conner's senior year.

"He's running track right now," he said. "But I know he's got a ball in his hands as often as he can. He just loves to play. He was playing hard and having fun and he'll get better."

After stumbling to a 1-5 start, Reutzel steered Central to a 15-12 overall record and its first conference championship in nine years. The Tigers overachieved -- Central was seeded behind four conference teams in regular-season tournaments -- and finished the year undefeated in league play at 6-0.

"It's certainly an honor," Reutzel said. "But the only reason I'm getting the award is because the kids played well through the conference schedule. It's really a tribute to them."

The Tigers ended their season with a loss to SEMO Conference foe Sikeston in the district finals.

Also for Cape Central, 5-foot-10 guard Donnie McClinton earned second-team honors, while 6-foot-3 forward Kelly Illers and 5-foot-9 point guard Nick Swoboda were given honorable mention.

For Jackson, 6-foot-1 senior guard Justin Suedmeyer was named to the first team, while 5-foot-11 3-point specialist Doug Cary was voted to the second team. Suedmeyer led the conference in free-throw shooting at 76 percent, while Cary made more than 50 percent of his 3s. Cory Daniels, a 6-foot-6 forward, was given honorable mention.

Two of Jackson's girls earned first-team honors -- seniors forward Melissa Palmer and senior guard Chrissi Glastetter.

Sophomore Andrea Koeper -- the conference's leading free-throw shooter -- and junior Cherish Tillman were both named to the second team.

Cook earned coach of the year honors after leading the Lady Indians to a 23-2 record and their fifth straight quarterfinal appearance. Jackson sat atop the 4A poll for the majority of the season, but were upset by St. Joseph Academy.

Senior Kim Aslinger and junior Dionna Webb both represented Cape Central on the conference's first team. Sophomore Katie Dougherty was voted to the second team, while Heather Jenkins, also a sophomore, earned honorable mention.

New Madrid's Shayla Day was named player of the year.