Top seeds post easy victories

~ No. 1 Delta and No. 2 Kelly both limited their first-round opponents to fewer than 25 points.

The top two seeds in the Scott-Missississippi Conference girls basketball tournament coasted to opening-round victories Wednesday night with dominating defensive performances.

Second-seeded Kelly shut out tournament host Scott City in the second period of a 52-16 victory.

The Hawks (7-4) built a 33-4 halftime lead.

"The girls came out with a lot of intensity and played hard on the defensive end of the floor," Kelly coach Rod McQuerter said.

Top-seeded Delta limited No. 8 Charleston to six first-half points in a 75-23 victory.

The Bobcats (10-1) led 44-6 at halftime.

Kelly plays No. 3 seed Oran, which had won Monday, at 8:30 tonight in the semifinal round. Delta plays at 7 p.m. against Scott County Central, which turned back Chaffee 73-61.

The top two seeds have not met yet this season, but McQuerter said his team is not looking past Oran, a team the Hawks beat in the Chaffee tournament last month.

"We hope the girls come out with the same intensity as they did tonight," he said.

Freshman Debra Hall led Kelly with 20 points. Junior Brittany Ponder added 10, and senior Mindy Robert scored nine.

Kelley Hicks scored 10 for Scott City (0-10) in defeat.

Delta had three players in double figures in its victory, led by sophomore forward Ashley Deprow's 28 points. Kayla Seabaugh added 16 points, and guard Shea Smith scored 15. Kaci Menz added nine.

"We pushed the ball up the floor pretty well," said Delta coach Randy White, whose team committed just three fouls with Charleston attemptig zero free throws.

In Scott County Central's win to cap the evening, Brittney Peet scored 24 points to lead four players into double figures. Samantha Jones added 14, Brianna Johnson 13 and Amanda Lawless 11 for the Bravettes, who led by just one at halftime and three heading into the final period.

Kegan Orr scored 20 for Chaffee, including four 3-pointers, and Mindy Hendrix added 19.

Kelly 52, Scott City 16

Scott City 4 0 7 5 -- 16

Kelly 19 14 14 5 -- 52

SCOTT CITY (16) -- Becky Holder 4, Kelley Hicks 10, Nora Glasser 2. FG 5, FT 4-6, F 11 (3-pointers: Hicks 2. Fouled out: none.)

KELLY (52) -- Brittany Ponder 10, Sarah Ruff 3, Leigh Ann Buchheit 5, Mindy Robert 9, Summer Proctor 4, Moore 1, Debra Hall 20. FG 22, FT 7-10, F 9 (3-pointer: Buchheit. Fouled out: none)

DELTA 75, CHARLESTON 23

Delta 23 21 20 11 -- 75

Charleston 2 4 9 8 -- 23

DELTA (75) -- Tiffany Amelunke 4, Shea Smith 15, Ashley Deprow 28, Jodi Menz 3, Kaci Menz 9, Kayla Seabaugh 16. FG 30, FT 13-22, F 3 (3-pointers: Smith 1, K. Menz 1. Fouled out: none)

CHARLESTON (23) -- Turner 15, Hines 4, Walker 2, Simpson 2. FG 10, FT 0-0, F 13 (3-pointers: Turner 3. Fouled out: none)

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL 73, CHAFFEE 61

Chaffee 14 12 15 20 -- 61

Scott County Central 12 15 17 29 -- 73

CHAFFEE -- Kegan Orr 20, Mindy Hendrix 19, Sara Petitt 6, Whitney Schlosser 6, Christa Beck 4, Torie Keys 3, Rachel Hendrix 3. FG 24, FT 6-18, F 20 (3-pointers: Orr 4. Fouled out: R. Hendrix, Beck)

SCOTT COUNTY -- Brittney Peet 24, Samantha Jones 14, Brianna Johnson 13, Amanda Lawless 11, Lakeisha Turner 5, Jamisha Williams 4, Tracy Boley 2. FG 27, FT 19-39, F 19. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)