Poplar Bluff girls end Central's season

Poplar Bluff's Natalie Stonecipher, top, and Central's Chelsea Pannier dived after a loose ball during the second half Wednesday in Jackson. (BRIAN ROSENER ~ Daily American Republic) [Click to enlarge]

The Tigers lost the Class 5 District 1 semifinal 53-37.

JACKSON -- Cape Central's upset bid stalled in the third quarter Wednesday night as top-seeded Poplar Bluff won 53-37, advancing to the Class 5 District 1 championship game.

Central pulled within five in the opening minutes of the second half, but never got closer.

"Rebounding was key for us tonight," Central coach Sherri Shirrell said. "We just didn't do a very good job."

Poplar Bluff (21-5) pulled down twice as many rebounds as Central (13-13). Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net, shooting a combined 35 percent, and neither team hit a 3-pointer.

Wendi Zickfield scored 14 points, Sadie Pittman added 10 and Taylor Kirn chipped in nine for the Tigers.

Natalie Stonecipher led the Mules with 12 points, and Stefanie Ferguson added 11. Jasmin Sumrall had nine points and 10 rebounds, while Ruthie Johnson scored eight points off the bench.

Poplar Bluff never trailed, but led just 10-8 after one quarter before holding the Tigers to just two field goals in the second.

Zickfield's layin with 5 minutes, 20 seconds left in the half pulled Central within 14-10, but the Tigers didn't score again until Kirn's jumper in transition two-and-a-half minutes later.

Central trailed 19-12 at halftime before scoring the first points of the second half.

However, the Mules answered with an 8-2 run, and closed the third quarter by scoring seven straight points. Poplar Bluff led 36-20 heading into the fourth quarter before hitting 11-of-12 free throws in the final 6 minutes.

"They're a good team," Shirrell said. "They put a lot of pressure on the ball and we just got to handle it better."

Poplar Bluff scored 12 points off turnovers, but couldn't convert 12 more turnovers into points. The Mules shot just 34 percent from the field, but won the battle on the boards 41-20.

"That's something I really concentrated on is we've got to rebound with them," Poplar Bluff coach Kirk Chronister said. "I was real pleased with that rebounding effort."

Central (37) -- Sadie Pittman 10. Breia Twiggs 2. Taylor Kirn 9. Sarah Uptmor 2. Wendy Zickfield 14.

Poplar Bluff (53) -- Jasmin Sumrall 9. Stefanie Ferguson 11. Aereill Davis 3. Natalie Stonecipher 12. Tori Williams 6. Ruthie Johnson 8. Allie Pattillo 2. Emilie Thomas 2.