White returns to Scott City, leads new team to 14th win

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- Randy White left Scott City High School last year after a long career as head coach of the girls' basketball program.

He returned triumphantly Monday as the head chef of the Delta program.

With three Cooks in his starting lineup who combined to burn Scott City for 38 points, White and his Lady Bobcats emerged with a 65-52 victory.

It marked Delta's second win over Scott City this season, but the first for White at his former school, where he coached for 17 years before being forced to resign after last year's 19-8 season.

"It's always a little different whenever you're playing other kids that you've coached," said White after seeing his team improve to 14-5.

Junior point guard Rebecca Cook led an impressive Lady Bobcat shooting display with 20 points. Cook hit four 3-pointers while her team shot at least 50 percent from the field in each quarter and 59 percent for the game. She said her coach mentioned nothing about his return to his former school, but the players were fully aware.

"We didn't think about it during the game, but before the game we were like 'This is coach's old school, so we have to beat them,'" said Cook.

Scott City fell to 7-11 under first-year coach Mike Johnson.

"We scored the points tonight, but dang, they didn't hardly miss a basket," he said. "You don't see too many girls teams in this area that are going to shoot the ball like that. That team could go a long way in 1A this year."

Besides White's return, the game also featured an interesting matchup between Scott City's Loren Groves and Delta's Rebecca Below, two of the top centers in the area.

Groves came away with her season average, 24 points, while Below scored 18 points and blocked about a half-dozen shots. Junior Sarah Jo Cook added 12 points for Delta.

Delta led the entire game. Leading 18-16 early in the second quarter, Delta later took control with a 16-4 spurt.

McKenzie Cartwright finished with 14 points for Scott City.

jbreer@semissourian.com

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