LADY TIGERS CLAIM OPENER; CENTRAL WINS FIRST-ROUND GAME IN OAKVILLE TOURNEY

ST. LOUIS -- Behind 17 points by Kim Aslinger, Cape Girardeau Central High's girls basketball team won its season opener Monday, a 45-33 victory over Francis Howell in the round-robin Oakville Tournament.

"We didn't play very well," said new Central coach Darrick Smith. "We were a little nervous at first, but we played pretty well in the third and fourth quarters."

Central trailed 24-23 at halftime. The Lady Tigers then limited Francis Howell to nine points in the second half, three points in the final period.

Central will meet Oakville today at 5:30.

The Lady Tigers JV team beat Francis Howell 43-23. Trisha Klipfel and Sarah Hyslop each scored 15 points.

New Madrid County Central 48, Notre Dame 38

NEW MADRID -- Notre Dame fell to 2-2 with its loss to New Madrid County Central.

The Lady Bulldogs fell behind 12-2 after one quarter and couldn't come back.

Jill Huber's 11 points paced Notre Dame.

Kelly 73, Dexter 49

DEXTER -- Kelly had three players score in double figures to overcome a 26-point effort by Dexter's Mikaela Scott.

Marissa Essner netted 19, points, and Audrey Burford and Nicole Kern each tallied 16 to lead Kelly (2-0).

Scott was the lone double figure scorer for Dexter, which played its season opener.

Kelly jumped out to a 22-6 lead in the first quarter and held a commanding 41-24 lead at halftime.

Kelly's JV won 40-34.

Scott City 79, Chaffee 30

CHAFFEE -- Megan Noon had 10 points, six steals and four assists as Scott City beat Chaffee. The game was both teams' season opener.

Becca Gowin added 25 points and eight rebounds and Alaina Smith scored 18 points. Jessica Schaefer had 10 points.

Scott City held a 20-5 first-quarter edge and led 38-14 at halftime. The margin stretched to 67-23 entering the final period.

St. Vincent 52, Delta 39

DELTA -- Although St. Vincent made just eight of 27 free throws, Jessica Lakenan scored 22 points and the Squaws won their season opener at Delta.

Delta led 14-8 after one quarter and 19-18 at the half. St. Vincent outscored the Lady Bobcats 34-20 in the second half.

Amanda Cook scored 14 points for Delta and Kristen Fish added 12.

Scott County Central 78, Meridian (Ill.) 32

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Ashley Whitson scored 30 points as Scott County Central burst to a 24-4 first-quarter lead and cruised to victory.

Katie Griffin added 18 points, Brandy Miller 14 and Lekeya Turner 12 for the Bravettes (1-1).

Boys basketball

Oran Tournament

ORAN -- Kelly, Scott County Central and Gideon won first-round games Monday.

Kelly beat Oran's JV team 84-39, Scott County Central topped Bell City 79-47 and Gideon nipped Oran 73-68.

Kelly's Jim Hulshof led the Hawks with 22 points. Russ Mothershead and Jason Glastetter each added 12 and Kenny New had 11. Adam Friga paced Oran's JV team with 21 points.

John Fort scored a game-high 29 points in Scott County's win. Jreece Johnson had 17 points, Todd Blissett 13 and Allen Crites 11.

Jarrod Eftink's 21 points led Bell City.

And in Oran's loss, in which they led 50-49 entering the final quarter, Billy Loper scored 28 points and Travis Friga had 10.

Woodland Tournament

MARBLE HILL -- Higher seeded teams prevailed in opening round games.

No. 1 Woodland beat No. 8 Meadow Heights 70-35, No. 2 Delta stopped No. 7 Zalma 64-43 and No. 4 Advance edged No. 5 Leopold 50-45.

Woodland's David Massa hit four 3-pointers and scored 35 points and Matt Cutsinger made seven 3-pointers for his 21 points. J.D. Brune's 18 points led Meadow Heights.

Delta was paced by Greg Voelker (27 points) and Ryan Livingston (18 points), while Zalma's Gandy Wade and Junior Smith each had 10 points.

Adam Rainey and Garrett Broshuis each totaled 15 points in Advance's win. Brian Holzum and Ashton James had 12 and 11 points respectively for Leopold.

9th-grade basketball

Central sweeps

Cape Central won a pair of games against Notre Dame Monday.

The Tigers `A' team won 55-48 as Eliot Swaboda and Patrick Dempsey each had 14 points.

Central's `B' team won 47-43. Darnelius Harris paced the Tigers with 15 points.

In 8th-grade action, Cape Central's `A' team defeated Meridian (Ill.) 36-30 behind 16 points by Victoria Wilson. Meridian won the `B' game 39-18.