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Caruthersville Boys Take Second in Middle School Bootheel Conference
Area Middle School boys’ basketball season ended with the Bootheel Conference during the week of Dec. 4. The teams in the Bootheel Conference include: Kennett, Hayti, Caruthersville, Senath-Hornersville, Malden, Portageville, South Pemiscot, and Campbell. Brackets were set for 7th grade and 8th grade teams. Play started Monday evening, Dec. 4 at the Hayti High School gym. This event was the culmination of the Middle School boys’ basketball season. All teams played hard as they each vied for a chance to play on Thursday evening for the conference championship. Only 2 teams from the both 7th and 8th grade would gain this honor. The competitors for the Bootheel conference would come form the same schools, Caruthersville and Kennett. Kennett was the top seed for the tournament for both grade divisions, Caruthersville was the second seed for 7th grade and third seed for 8th grade.
The Championship games for the 7th grade teams saw Caruthersville win the tip-off, but Kennett quickly took the ball for the first score. Kennett tried to dominate the first period by stealing inbound passes and interrupting the rebound attempts. The Tigers kept up the pressure and managed to slide in-between some of the larger Indian defenders, gaining enough points to stay within range of the larger Kennett team. By the time the second period started, the Tigers had built up good momentum, led by Tylan Goliday and Isiah Rodgers, and managed several rebounds and 3-pointers for their first lead of the game. Kennett didn’t like giving up the lead and quickly retook their position. The two teams straddled each other, staying within one-point, for several possessions. The half ended with Kennett up by a score of 22-21.
Kennett started the second half on a scoring run. The Tigers tried to keep up and pushed hard, managing to temporarily tie the score with the Indians. Kennett quickly regained the lead and the Tigers stayed within a point of the Indians for the remainder of the third period. The fourth period started with Caruthersville tying the score again on a free throw. Kennett again took the ball down court to regain the lead, but the Tigers were fouled on a 3 point attempt. Two of the three free throws were made to again tie the score. The scoring went back and forth in similar fashion for several possessions before Kennett drew ahead for the final time and managed a series of baskets to win the game by a score of 44-33. Kennett took 1st place and Caruthersville 2nd in the 7th grade division of the Bootheel Conference.
The Championship games for the 7th grade teams saw Caruthersville win the tip-off and score first. Both teams played very defensive in the first period. Scoring was low and close the entire first period as the two teams battled it out for dominance. Kennett had a size advantage and eventually, that was the deciding factor starting in the second period. Kennett’s size and success at the free throw line allowed the Indians to keep the Tigers from gaining much momentum. Even so, the Tigers never gave up and battled on to narrow the lead to within striking distance. Cureen Grady made a 3-pointer near the end of the first half to bring the score closer. The end to the half saw the Tigers only down by 4, going into the locker room. Kennett led 26-22 at the half.
The second half saw the Indians continue their advantage over the Tigers. The Tigers would try to make baskets, rebounds and passes, but the longer reach or the Indian defenders allowed them to steal the ball on several occasions. The Tigers continued to dig in and work the court, but the Indians had started to wear the smaller Tiger team out. The fourth period saw the Tigers continue to work the court and regain momentum, only to be stopped cold by the larger Indian defenders. The Tigers ran on heart and effort until the final buzzer, never giving up, but unfortunately never able to regain the needed points to win the game. Kennett took the Conference Championship by a score of 55-28. The 8th grade Tigers placed second in the conference.
“I am just proud of both groups. We knew we were outmanned, we just wanted to some competition. We gave them everything we could, but came up just a little short. We came out and got the conference runner up. And I am proud of them,” said Coach Bell.