Two Poplar Bluff wrestlers advance to state semis; Sikeston beats Mules

COLUMBIA, Missouri — It was a big day for the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules wrestling team as one sophomore landed a spot in the MSHSAA girls state wrestling semifinals.

With high expectations of making a run at state, Zoë Freeman continues to rise for the occasion by getting one step closer to winning it all.

Freeman (31-4) won her first two matches over Cayley Maynard (Raymore-Peculiar) and Makenzie Solis (Francis Howell Central) to advance to the semifinals and secure a second state medal.

“We will be preparing hard for the matchup for Zoë tomorrow,” Poplar Bluff coach Kelton Thompson said. “We have had this one circled on our calendar for a while. If she goes out there and does what she is capable of I know she will do great.”

Competing for the first time at state, sophomore Kayleigh Dazey went 1-2 and is out.

“It was a tough call and break to miss,” Thompson said. “Overall she has made a drastic improvement from year one to year two, and I’m sure she is looking forward to putting herself in a position to go deep at state next year.”

Freeman will face off against Nevaeh Wardlow (39-5) of Oak Park, who placed first in the Class 2 District 4.

Freeman will not be alone in the semifinals. On the boys side, senior and No.1 seed Lucas Robertson (32-3) advanced to the semifinals by defeating Ethan Vande Ven (Park Hill) in a 10-3 matchup and a close win over Grey Petticrew (Carthage) 5-3.

With a spot in the semifinals, he also will notch his second state medal.

Robertson will face off against Kolby McClain (31-8) of Liberty.

Senior Dace Wisdom lost to Curtis Glossip (Nixa) 4-0 and junior Logan Hite fell to Jackson Jones (Lee`s Summit) 3-1 in the first round.

BASKETBALL

Sikeston 83, Poplar Bluff 80

There’s nothing like attending a basketball on a Friday night, and these two teams did not disappoint in an epic battle.

A makeup game between the Sikeston Bulldogs (19-7) and the Poplar Bluff Mules went down to the wire as one team held on just long enough to win.

In a close matchup, the Bulldogs escaped Poplar Bluff in a 83-80 slugfest.

Sophomore Lekereon McCray guided the Bulldogs with 35 points, Dontrez Williams added 17 and Tristan Wiggins chipped in with 11.

Darius Graham led the Mules with 21 points and Mar’Lon Hickman-Roberson added 14.