THE LATEST LINE: SEMO HOOPS GETS OFF TO A FLYING START

If what took place at the Show Me Center late Friday night and early Saturday morning is any indication, Southeast Missouri State University fans are extremely excited for the upcoming season.

About 2,000 SEMO supporters showed up for Midnight Madness, a late-night event that helped officially usher in the new year for both the Indians and Otahkians.

Midnight Madness is something that takes place at most big-time basketball programs across the country, but it's not all that common among the mid-level Division I programs like SEMO.

But, based on the response and interest from local fans, Midnight Madness just might turn into an annual affair.

Everybody seemed to love the event that featured an hour of various entertainment. Then, at just past midnight, the SEMO squads held short scrimmages and a 3-point shooting contest, while the Indians excited the fans with a slam-dunk contest that featured some spectacular jams.

I can't think of a better way to get everybody pumped up and ready to go for what figures to be another exciting season of SEMO hoops.

Special kudos to Mike Legg, Scott Blank and Andy Lynch, who were the primary masterminds behind putting Midnight Madness together.

* By the way, Emmanuel McCuthison, a 6-4 junior-college transfer who appears to be a real crowd-pleaser, won the slam contest.

Matt Morris was the 3-point winner, beating the Otahkians' Liea Toedte in the finals.

* Congratulations to the Cape Central girls tennis team, which had another undefeated dual-match season this year, pushing its winning streak in duals to an amazing 50. The Lady Tigers also won their fourth straight district title this season.

Coach Annette Slattery and all her players over the past few years deserve plenty of praise. So-called `minor sports' like tennis often get overlooked on the high school level, but what Slattery and her teams have accomplished is sensational.

Also regarding Central tennis, Slattery recently announced that this would be her last season of coaching after 21 years. She has truly been one of the area's classy coaches and her presence on the local sports scene will be missed.

Kudos also to Charleston's girls tennis squad, which recently won its eighth straight district title.

* Congratulations are also in order for Central's football team, which posted its first win of the year Friday night. The Tigers have had a trying season to date but, by all accounts, they have continued to battle and play extremely hard.

And special kudos to Brian Emmendorfer, who kicked an unbelievable 58-yard field goal. That is likely the longest boot ever in this area.

* Also on the local prep sports scene, congrats to Kelly's softball team for their sensational season. What a softball dynasty the Lady Hawks have built.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian