CAPE CENTRAL RALLY FALLS POINT SHORT IN LOSS TO KENNETT

KENNETT -- Just three days after staging a big rally to stun Carbondale, Ill., the comeback road magic for Cape Girardeau Central High's boys basketball team ran out.

Kennett opened up an eight-point lead in the closing moments and then held off the Tigers 55-54 Friday night.

Central fell to 6-5 overall as it lost its SEMO Conference opener. Kennett is also 6-5 overall, 1-1 in league play.

Chris Bergerson scored 17 points to pace the Tigers but no other Central player scored in double figures.

Kennett's Prentice Brown hit two free throws with five seconds left to put the Indians ahead 55-51. A Central 3-pointer at the buzzer was meaningless.

"We didn't play with any intensity," said a disappointed Central coach Brett Reutzel. "We started the game out going through the motions more or less, not moving the ball, not taking good shots.

"We don't realize that every time you take the floor you have to compete. It doesn't matter who you're playing, you have to get after it."

Central trailed 17-15 after a sluggish first half. The Tigers fell behind 33-26 after three quarters before their rally fell short.

The Tigers won the JV game 50-30 as John Clark scored 10 points.

Central will be right back in action today when the Tigers travel to St. Louis to take on highly-regarded Hazelwood Central and 7-foot Missouri signee Pat Schumacher. The JV game will begin at 3 p.m. with the varsity contest to follow.

"We're going to have to compete (today) or we'll get thrashed," Reutzel said. "Hazelwood Central is a very good team."

Jackson 68, Poplar Bluff 35

POPLAR BLUFF -- In a surprisingly lopsided score Friday night, visiting Jackson demolished SEMO Conference rival Poplar Bluff.

The Indians, who improved to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play, led 29-16 at halftime and outscored the Mules (5-7, 0-1) 16-5 in the third quarter to blow the game open.

Jeff Walter had 19 points and Cory Daniel 17 to lead the Indians, who also got 10 from Justin Suedemeyer.

No Poplar Bluff player scored more than eight points.

"We probably played our best game of the year tonight," said Jackson coach Steve Burk. "Any time you can get a win down here it's great. And to win by that margin is really surprising."

Scott City 90, Chaffee 31

CHAFFEE -- Scott City, which held a 23-4 first-quarter lead, hit 15 of 28 3-pointers and rolled past host Chaffee Friday night.

For Scott City (12-1 overall, 4-0 Scott-Mississippi Conference), Jon Beck scored 22 points, Lance Amick 21 and Tim Lowery 19. Lowery also had 10 assists and seven rebounds. Ten of the 11 Rams scored.

Darren McIntosh led Chaffee (0-10, 0-2) with seven points.

Scott City's JV won 64-43.

Perryville 69, Hillsboro 64

PERRYVILLE -- Perryville stamped itself as a prime Jefferson County Conference contender Friday night as the host Pirates knocked off one of the league favorites.

The Pirates (6-6 overall, 2-0 conference) received balanced scoring. Todd French had 20 points, Michael Downen 17, Paul Weinkein 15 and Tyson Brown 10.

Perryville led 32-19 at halftime and had control most of the second half.

"It was a hard-fought ballgame. We played real nice defense like I hoped we would," said Perryville coach Dean Lewis. "This is a big win for us because Hillsboro should be one of the better teams in the conference."

Grandview 57, St. Vincent 54, OT

PERRYVILLE -- St. Vincent made only eight of 20 free throws and lost at home Friday night in the Indians' Jefferson County Conference opener.

St. Vincent (1-12) had a lead late in the game and was stalling, but the Indians made just one of five free throws in the fourth quarter and none of two in overtime.

St. Vincent's Chad Winkler scored a game-high 22 points and Dustin Moll had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Delta 105, Zalma 57

DELTA -- Delta threw a 41-point first quarter at visiting Zalma Friday night and had little trouble in recording its 10th win of the season.

Delta (10-3) led 41-17 after one quarter and took a 55-27 lead into halftime. The Bobcats took an 86-38 lead into the final period.

Lucas Green led four Delta players in double figures with 18 points. Garrett DeBrock added 13 points and Shawn Kinder and Andy Blattel both recorded 12 points.

Josh Wade scored 16 points for Zalma (2-9) and Ben Wallace added 15. Also in double figures were Gandy Wade (12) and Tim Burchett (11).

Bell City 71, Richland 61

BELL CITY -- Bell City's Cubs continued their solid recent play Friday night with a 10-point home victory.

The Cubs (8-5 overall, 3-0 Stoddard County Conference) got 18 points from Justin Stephens, 17 from Matt Knoderer, 13 from Jarod Eftink and 13 from Brandon Stewart.

"It was a good ballgame. Richland has a lot of talent," said Bell City coach Scott Kruse. "Our guys have really been playing well the last few weeks."

Oran 88, Meadow Heights 69

ORAN -- Oran and Meadow Heights combined to hit 18 3-pointers in the Eagles' win at home Friday night.

Oran (7-4) made 10 3s; Dustin Dannenmueller made six and scored 21 points. Jerod Hamm scored 22 points, Chris Nichols 17 and Billy Loper 13.

For Meadow Heights, Kevin Weaver hit four 3s and finished with a game-high 26 points and J.D. Brune also hit four 3s and totaled 15 points. Ron Laurentius had 11 points.

Oran held a 32-16 first-quarter lead. Oran's JV won 61-30.

Oak Ridge 50, Leopold 38

LEOPOLD -- Matt Preusser tallied a game-high 20 points and Nick Friese added 16 in Oak Ridge's road win over Leopold Friday night.

Oak Ridge (2-9) led 10-8 after one quarter, 21-16 at halftime and 33-22 entering the fourth quarter.

Jason Vandeven led Leopold (0-10) with 11 points.

Dexter 66, Woodland 60

MARBLE HILL -- Dexter handed Woodland its fourth loss of the season as the Bearcats upended the host Cardinals Friday night.

Woodland (7-4, 1-1 Stoddard County Conference) lost despite getting 22 points from David Massa and 18 from Jason Bandermann.

Dexter was led by Adam Lambert with 21 points.

Charleston 69, Sikeston 50

SIKESTON -- Charleston had little trouble downing rival Sikeston on the road Friday night in the SEMO Conference opener for both teams.

The Blue Jays (12-1) got 36 points from its splendid backcourt of Howard Biles and Larico Coleman. Biles led the way with 22 points and Coleman had 14.

Bryan Elitt paced Sikeston (3-7) with 15 points. Nobody else had more than six.

Charleston jumped ahead 34-23 at halftime and coasted in the second half.

BOYS SWIMMING

SLUH 152, Central 120, Vianney 47

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis University High beat Cape Central and Vianney in St. Louis on Friday.

Central's Jason Owen, who is undefeated in each individual event that he swims this season, recorded personal-best times in the 200 IM (2:03.22) and the 100 backstroke (:55.32).

Central results

Medley relay -- 2. Central (Jason Owen, Jamie Higgins, Zach Roberts, Eric Yount), 1:51.58

200 freestyle -- 1. Ben Roeger, 1:55.80

200 IM -- 1. Owen, 2:03.22

50 freestyle -- 1. Yount, :22.87

Diving -- 1. Nick Sterrett, 205.55; 3. Tim Chisman, 152.15

100 butterfly -- 3. Roberts, 1:05.94

100 freestyle -- 3. Yount, :52.22

500 freestyle -- 1. Roeger, 5:18.36

100 backstroke -- 1. Owen, :55.32

100 breaststroke -- 2. Higgins, 1:08.25

400 freestyle relay -- 1. Central (Roeger, Higgins, Owen, Yount), 3:32.01

WRESTLING

Jackson 81, De Soto 0

DE SOTO -- Entering Friday's match against visiting Jackson, De Soto was undefeated at 3-0.

The Indians took care of that in an emphatic manner in their first match after having a 48-match dual meet win streak snapped at Ste. Genevieve. Jackson won all 14 matches and improved to 3-1.

"We wrestled real well," said Jackson coach Steve Wachter.

Jackson's JV won 61-7.

Jackson 81, De Soto 0

103 -- Brett Stroud (J) won by forfeit

112 -- Kiel Johnson (J) pinned Dunnegan, :42

119 -- Eric Rhodes (J) pinned Kitchell, 2:47

125 -- Lance Schlick (J) pinned Lamkin, 2:40

130 -- Kyle Watson (J) pinned Drummond, 2:26

135 -- Kyle Huck (J) pinned Kite, 5:40

140 -- Jason Goben (J) pinned Kincade, :38

145 -- Mark Wade (J) pinned Paul, 2:58

152 -- Hance Bartels (J) beat Fox, 13-4

160 -- Paul Findley (J) pinned Corey, 2:16

171 -- Dustin Baker (J) pinned Hodge, :57

189 -- Spencer Hobeck (J) pinned Tomlinson, :51

215 -- Kent Langston (J) beat W. Kitchell, 17-1

275 -- Aaron Ross (J) pinned Maxdell, :39

Jackson JV winners: Chris Brown, Richard Smith, Jason Streiler, Josh Deneke, Adam Wachter, Kyle Heck, Cory Jaco, Kevin Brunke, Brad Berry, Andy Herndon, Tim Spradlin