Sikeston struggles in the third-place game, end 14-game winning streak over Poplar Bluff

SIKESTON — Fourteen games ago, the Poplar Bluff boys’ basketball team earned a victory over Sikeston.

But, streaks are supposed to end, and the Mules did just that on Thursday evening in the third-place game of the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Sikeston Field House with an 81-65 victory over the Bulldogs.

Senior Chance Campbell scored a game-high 24 points, shooting an efficient 8-of-12 shooting. He also added six rebounds.

“He did a great job, but we didn’t do a good job of stopping the basketball,” Sikeston head coach Gregg Holifield said. “They were beating us off the dribble and kicking out. When he had the ball in the open-floor, we didn’t do a good job of stopping him, and to his credit, he’s a good player, and they’re a quality team. We have to make adjustments, and our guys have to continue working on getting better.”

Thriving off runs, the Mules continued to pound the Bulldogs early and often.

After trailing 3-0 to start the game, Poplar Bluff (3-1) went on an 8-0 run.

However, Sikeston (1-2) responded with a 7-0 to take a 10-8 lead. A driving layup by senior Lontas McClinton, followed by a 3-pointer from senior Leroy Atkins and an and-one layup from McClinton, made up the Bulldogs’ scoring.

Despite leading 17-15 after the first, Sikeston could never find a groove for the rest of the contest.

The Bulldogs went on a 5-0 run to end the first period, with three coming from senior Tylan Pobst.

Another basket from McClinton extended the Sikeston lead out to four, 19-15, to start the second period, but Poplar Bluff followed that up with a 13-1 run to push the lead to eight points, 28-20.

Continuing to go back-and-forth, the Mules would fire, what looked like, the knock-out blow to end the half.

Tied at 31, Poplar Bluff would go on a 9-0 run to head into the break with more than enough confidence. During that stretch, Campbell hit a 3-pointer, while junior Darian Webb converted an and-one layup after rebounding a missed opportunity by sophomore Jeridon Young to make it 40-31.

From there, the Mules never looked back, edging Sikeston by seven points in the second half, 41-34.

“It becomes one of those things where it’s consistency,” Holifield said. “You have to continue getting better and better, and it’s all about maturity. We have some seniors, but not a lot of experience.”

Trying to mount a comeback in the third, Sikeston cut the Poplar Bluff lead to four points, 49-45, after a 3-pointer from junior Cleo Taylor.

Whenever Sikeston managed to climb right back into the game, though, Poplar Bluff seemed to find a way to not the Bulldogs seize momentum or make them feel like they had a chance to change the script.

Following Taylor's jumper, the Mules went on a 10-0 run to stretch the lead out to double-figures, 59-45.

A layup by senior Vashawn Upchurch ended the surge to cut the deficit to 12, while Taylor rebounded a missed 3-pointer by junior Heath McCain and turned that into an and-one chance. He would miss the ensuing free-throw attempt to keep the score at double-digits, 59-49, equaling the total of the third quarter.

McClinton led Sikeston with 17 points and nine rebounds. He shot 7-14 from the floor.

“I thought his attitude was great, and I thought he worked hard,” Holifield said. “The thing we have to do is do it every day, and we have to continue working every day to get better. I thought Vashawn had good moments. He was aggressive offensively, and we have to continue to work to get better.

“I say it all the time. Our goal and our objective this year is to be a quality team by February.”

Atkins was the other Sikeston scorer to reach double-figures, as he added 16 points.

Outside of Campbell, three other Poplar Bluff players finished in double-figures as well.

Senior Joseph Hardimon had 17 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Jeridon Young had a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.

Junior Gage Rivers reached double-digits with 10 points, to go along with five rebounds.

Poplar Bluff plays Parkview next Friday at 6 p.m., while Sikeston plays at Christian, in O’Fallon, on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Poplar Bluff 15 25 19 22 — 81

Sikeston 17 14 18 16 — 65

POPLAR BLUFF (81) — Chance Campbell 24, Joseph Hardimon 17, Jeridon Young 12, Gage Rivers 10, Darian Webb 8, Gaven Rivers 5, Darion Combs 2, Nik Brummett 2, Kannon Carr 1. FG 30, FT 12-16, F 20. (3-pointers: Campbell 5, Hardimon, Gage Rivers, Gaven Rivers, Webb. Fouled out: none)

SIKESTON (65) — Lontas McClinton 17, Leroy Atkins 16, Vashawn Upchurch 9, Cleo Taylor 7, Dylan Thornbrough 4, Carson Beaird 4, Dylon Turner 3, Heath McCain 2, Tylan Pobst 2, Adrian Smith 1. FG 23, FT 14-25, F 20. (3-pointers: Atkins 2, Turner, McClinton, Taylor. Fouled out: none)