Girls hoops season gets rolling at local showcase

By MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

FARMINGTON — Central looked to deliver the extra pass throughout its girls basketball season debut on Saturday night, and handed new head coach Aaron Tyree his first career varsity win.

Returning all-state players Khloe Dischbein and Allysa O’Connor each posted double-doubles, and the Lady Rebels outran Sikeston 76-56 at the Amped Lifestyle Shootout.

Central (1-0) unofficially forced 28 turnovers while committing 21, and featured three returning starters in its first action since placing third at the Class 4 state tournament in March.

The Lady Rebels quickly seized control with an opening 18-3 run, and six different players contributed points toward a 28-12 lead through one quarter,

Taylor O’Connor and Grace Populis nailed open 3-pointers, while forwards Blair Sitton and Courtney Dortch finished shots through contact off entry passes.

Dischbein scored several times on moves into the congested paint, including a driving layup near the conclusion of the first period, and totaled 24 points with 10 rebounds and four steals.

Allysa O’Connor raced end to end off a rebound and steal for a pair of transition layups to help create the largest lead of the first half at 39-16.

She finished with 13 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and five steals, and remained on the court for extensive minutes when Sikeston (0-1) managed to hang around late.

Taylor O’Connor produced 18 points with five steals, and knocked down three 3-pointers as Central quickly moved the ball. Sitton had 13 points in her debut with the Lady Rebels.

Junior guard Landri Hammontree dazzled at times in defeat while netting a game-high 28 points for the Lady Bulldogs. A pair of triples helped her team draw to within 43-29 at intermission.

Hammontree scored on her own steal and transition attack before cashing in another takeaway and assist from Alex Segers to make it 47-40.

Populis and Allysa O’Connor countered with a 3-pointers during a key 13-3 response, and Dischbein muscled in a conventional putback and free throw to help restore a 60-43 cushion.

Marlie Crook had a strong game from the low post to balance Sikeston. The junior forward scored 16 of her 20 points in the first half, and collected eight rebounds.

Freshman teammate Kennedi Sims picked up five steals.

Farmington 51, Principia 48

FARMINGTON — A committee of Farmington defenders were called upon to contain 6-foot-1 freshman center Dasia Scott of Principia during a tight season opener on Saturday.

After allowing 26 points to the Panthers in the second quarter, the Knights responded by outscoring them 15-6 in the third and earned a 51-48 victory at the Amped Lifestyle Shootout.

Senior guard Brynn Johnson equaled game-high honors with 19 points while striking three times from beyond the arc, and Farmington (1-0) turned a 30-25 halftime deficit into a 40-36 lead.

Madison Mills drained two crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and added 16 points while going 4-of-4 from the line. Raylin LaCava tossed in seven points for the Knights.

Scott totaled 19 points, and perimeter threat Nylah Young added 14 more for Principia (0-1), which recorded one field goal in the first quarter before surging over the next eight minutes.

Arcadia Valley 63, Herculaneum 36

FARMINGTON — Braelyn Turnbough compiled 25 points, 12 steals, eight rebounds and six assists in a tremendous freshman debut for Arcadia Valley on Saturday evening.

The Lady Tigers outscored Herculaneum 34-12 in the second half, and opened their season with a 63-36 victory at Farmington Civic Center.

Addison Gallaher finished with 12 points, and Paige Newstead-Adams added 10. Arcadia Valley (1-0) turned a 14-10 deficit through one quarter into a 29-24 lead at intermission.

Freshman Lillie Adams provided eight points and four steals in the win.

Abby Smith scored 11 points, and Jillian Jarvis had eight for Herculaneum (0-1).

West County 56, Poplar Bluff 47

FARMINGTON — With an entirely new starting lineup, the West County girls basketball team delivered a strong statement during its season opener at the Amped Lifestyle Shootout.

Freshman Dhatri McRaven scored 19 points while going 8-of-9 from the line, and drilled three 3-point shots as the Lady Bulldogs beat Class 6 program Poplar Bluff 56-47 on Saturday.

Paige Monroe also starred with 17 points, and freshman guard Maylee Merrill added nine to bolster West County (1-0), which trailed 27-23 at halftime.

Kennedy Zgaynor had a team-high 13 points for Poplar Bluff (0-1), which squandered a 17-9 lead through eight minutes of action.

The Lady Bulldogs gained separation after taking a 38-37 edge into the final quarter.

Jackson 53, Fredericktown 42

FARMINGTON — The Fredericktown girls are not sulking as injured star P.J. Reutzel takes on more of a motivational role this season.

Through two games in two nights, the Lady Cats have shown a willingness to fight for rebounds and loose basketballs while adjusting to necessary changes.

Fredericktown refused to fade against Jackson during the Amped Lifestyle Shootout on Saturday, but standout guard Holland Guiliiams was difficult to stop.

Guilliams compiled 25 points with 11 rebounds, and sank timely 3-pointers in the second half to help the Indians prevail 53-42 in their season opener.

Cameryn Alsdorf added 11 points and four steals, and Jackson (1-0) navigated some foul trouble with enough defensive pressure to pull through.

Senior guard Keira Francis tallied 10 points plus six rebounds, and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the line for Fredericktown (1-1), which beat Woodland on Friday night.

Gabbie McFadden sank her second 3-pointer to keep the Lady Cats with 38-32, and Ava Penuel forced a timeout with an excellent 1-on-1 defensive sequence late in the third quarter.

Guilliams answered from long range, then struck twice in a row to create the largest lead of the game at 50-34 with 5:46 remaining. She finished with six threes.

Penuel curtailed the 12-2 run with an aggressive drive, and totaled seven points, seven rebounds and three assists while handling the ball against early pressure.

Offensive rebounds by Calie Allgier and Penuel created second-chance points in the first quarter, but Jackson turned multiple steals into an 8-0 push for a 17-8 lead.

Penuel sank a 3-pointer from straight away, and two Francis free throws slashed the halftime margin to 26-21. The Indians opened the third with baskets from Skyler Stroder and Alsdorf.

Amelia Miller and Allgier each added seven points for Fredericktown.

St. Paul 47, Christian 26

FARMINGTON — Junior forward Mia Sherrill made 8-of-12 free throws, and scored 16 points Saturday morning as St. Paul topped Living Word Christian 47-26 at the Farmington Civic Center.

Pippa Detring also shared game-high honors with 16 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, to begin her senior campaign for the Giants.

The rocky first quarter featured five combined points, but St. Paul (1-0) built momentum with a 16-10 halftime lead before outscoring the Eagles 17-5 in the third.

Juliana Lunsford provided nine points, and Elissa Blackmon had eight in the victory.

Ellie Smith scored 13 points for Christian (0-1).

St. Pius 55, North County 33

FARMINGTON — St. Pius rallied from a slow start, and surrendered only three points to North County in the second quarter on Saturday at the Amped Lifestyle Shootout.

Guards P.J. Krodinger and Carlei Clubb each scored 14 points, and the Lancers triumphed 55-33 in the season opener for both teams.

Olivia Charleville chipped in nine points for St. Pius (1-0), which carried a 19-17 halftime lead after North County (0-1) jumped ahead 14-7 in the first quarter.

Amy Layton paced the Lady Raiders with 13 points, and Alyssa Ludwig added six more.

Fredericktown 69, Woodland 49

FREDERICKTOWN — Ava Penuel began her senior basketball season for Fredericktown with a game-high 23 points, six assists and six rebounds on Friday night.

Junior forward Amelia Miller posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and the Lady Cats defeated visiting Woodland 69-49.

Fredericktown (1-0) carried a 35-23 lead into halftime, and pulled away by outscoring the Cardinals 20-10 in the third quarter.