Lady Tribe gets revenge on Sikeston

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Caroline Shetley (right) shoots over Sikeston's Tyanne Townsend during Monday's girls basketball at Kennett High School. Shetley scored 12 points as Kennett won 61-31. [Click to enlarge]

The Kennett Lady Indians had a chance to get a little revenge for the boys' team Monday night when they faced off against the Lady Bulldogs of Sikeston.

Three nights after the boys lost at Sikeston, the Lady Tribe repaid the favor by knocking off Sikeston here at home 61-31.

After leading just 28-21 at the half, Kennett (13-3) turned up the heat in the third period to break the game open, outscoring Sikeston 22-6 in the period.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Kennett's Tamere White (right) tries to pass against Sikeston's Tyanne Townsend during Monday's girls basketball at Kennett High School. [Click to enlarge]

"We had to pick it up because we barely beat Sikeston in the Christmas tournament," said Kennett junior Caroline Shetley. "We had a pretty though time against them, so we had to play as a team."

Veronica Amos and Alexandra Brown led the scoring in the third with six points apiece while Brittney Williams and Whitney Callaway took over the rebounding game.

"Whitney came of the bench and she was a power house for rebounds," said Kennett coach Casey Bunting. "Brittney's second half was much better. She was playing a little lethargic and the first half. She got out there in the second played stronger and more to her capabilities."

The Lady Tribe stretched their lead to 50-27 at the end of three periods.

The girls could breathe a sigh of relief as they closed out the fourth quarter after a slow start through much of the first half.

"We have to play four quarters and it doesn't matter who we're playing, where we're playing, who's in the gym, who's not in the gym," said Bunting. "We have to learn from the minute we step on the floor to play ball."

However, if someone only watched the first half they would have been surprised by the final score.

Amos started the game by picking up where she left off last game and hitting a 3-pointer from the baseline in the first 30 seconds. That would be the only scoring, besides a foul shot from each team, for the next five minutes though.

Neither team had much success with getting shots to drop, and most of the first quarter was a battle on the boards.

"The first half was not our best half," said Bunting. "We were playing flat and we couldn't focus."

At the end of the first period, Kennett had a slim one point lead (11-10).

During the second period, both teams settled in a little from the field and started droppings some shots.

Asia Liggins for Sikeston was able to establish an inside presence and get three buckets to drop in the first couple minutes of the period, while Kennett started playing better as a team in the remaining minutes to open up a little distance.

Kennett's Jerrica Wheeler found open teammates for baskets and tacked on some jumpers herself.

Amos knocked down a few more shots while continuing to play strong on the boards and Kennett was able to take a seven-point lead into the half.

"On our offensive end in the first half we just weren't warm or hitting anything," Bunting said. "We came out in the second half a lot stronger"

Kennett had three players to get into double figures. Amos led the scoring with 17 points, while Williams put in 14 and Shetley added 12.

"She (Shetley) did a good job for us," said Bunting. "Every game she gets a little stronger with her rebounds and put-backs and even on the defensive end when she rebounds and tosses it out."

Sikeston's leading scorer was Liggins with 17.

Bunting and Shetley were both also proud of the win because of the loss from Friday night.

"It's a little revenge for the boys, so it felt good," Bunting said. "The girls wanted to get a win and take care of the boys a little."

Added Shetley: "We were ready to get after them."

The Lady Indians next game will be at Hayti on Thursday.

Senath-H'ville 75, Hayti 11
At Hayti, the Lady Lions held the Hayti Lady Indians scoreless until the second quarter as they rolled to their seventh straight win, a 75-11 decision here Monday night.

"It's a seven-game winning streak for us," Senath-Hornersville coach Jamie Johnson said. "Those winning streaks don't happen very often so were pretty happy for that."

The Lady Lions (10-5, 4-1 Bootheel Conference) dominated from the opening tip, leading 33-0 after one period and 50-5 at the half.

Seleena Neal lead the way for the Lady Lions with 26 points, while Hannah Kennedy added 12 and the duo of Megan Smith and Jami Jackson put in 10 apiece.

"It's nice to get some girls starting to shoot the basketball better," said Johnson. "I thought we did a good job of establishing inside and working the basketball around. We really tried to work the ball inside tonight and get our post players to get some good looks."

Senath-Hornersville is set to host Portageville on Thursday in a Bootheel conference game.