Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Cape Girardeau, Missouri – It's the first time ever for the Bernie Mules to travel to the Show Me Center! On Tuesday, January 7th they take on Oran at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now!
Each year, both Sikeston and Charleston have had the opportunity to play at the Show Me Center. They seem to produce some of the most talented high school athletes in the area. This year is no different and on Tuesday, January 7th these two teams will match up once again on the hardwood at the Show Me Center. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The night will begin with the Bernie Mules taking on Oran. Oran is coming off of one of their most successful seasons with an appearance in the MSHSAA state tournament and has started this year strong.
Bernie, who finished 20-6 last year is also coming off a state tournament appearance and just finished 2nd only to the Kennett Indians in the 57th Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. They are currently 10-1 this season.
The Oran vs Bernie game will add some history to the Show Me Center as this is the first appearance by the Bernie Mules who have never played a gameon the big court!
Tickets are on sale now. You can purchase tickets in advance online at www.ShowMeCenter.biz or in person at the Show Me Center box office. Court-side is limited and the cost is $25.00 for a ticket. Reserved Seats at mid-court in sections 106-109 & 121-124 are just $12.00 each and general admission for adults is $7.00 and for students $5.00.
Come out and support the Bernie Mules as they play in front of one of the biggest crowds ever. Come early and get your seating!
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Jefferson City, Missouri – Gov. Jay Nixon has made a friendly wager with Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin on the outcome of Friday night’s Cotton Bowl game between their respective alma maters, the Missouri Tigers (#8 BCS ranking) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (#13).
Both Governors are wagering food products from their states, with the food to be donated to a food bank or pantry in the state of the winning team. Gov. Nixon is staking a spiral sliced city ham (with homemade honey ham glaze) and a smoked turkey, delicacies from Burgers’ Smokehouse, located in California, Mo. Gov. Fallin is wagering a food basket with about 50 pounds of products donated by the Made in Oklahoma Coalition.*
When the Tigers win, the food from Oklahoma will be donated to the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri. In the highly unlikely event that the Cowboys prevail, the ham and turkey will be donated to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
“Our Tigers have had an outstanding 11-2 campaign in only their second year in the premier football conference in the country,” said Gov. Nixon, a 1978 graduate of the University of Missouri and a 1981 graduate of the University’s School of Law. “I look forward to watching the Tigers claim the Cotton Bowl title on Friday, and sending the Cowboys home empty-handed across the Red River.”
Fallin, a 1977 OSU graduate, said she is confident the 10-2 Cowboys will be able to corral the Tigers.
“It is definitely an exciting time for both universities to be playing in a historic bowl game like the Cotton Bowl,” Gov. Fallin said. “I appreciate Governor Nixon for showing good sportsmanship by participating in this friendly wager as we continue to raise awareness about hunger in both states. I look forward to the delivery of these goods when the Cowboys win!”
The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday (Jan. 3), and will be shown on Fox.
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Bloomfield, Missouri - For the fourth time in five years, the #1 seed Kennett Indians walk away with the first place trophy. This year it was #3 seed Bernie who fell short of the victory and the opportunity to beat a bigger school.
"That's pretty special," stated Jim Vaughan, Kennett's head basketball coach. "It's a great accomplish for us. Winning it again is always going to be special."
The Bernie Mules knew the difficulty that lay ahead. The house was packed full of Mule fans. It's always a large crowd at Bloomfield, but this year seemed even larger with Kennett and Bernie on the court.
The Indians simply owned the court. They held the Mules to less than 10 points in each quarter and right from the gate began scoring and playing their defense well.
"Our biggest concern today was not letting their shooters get open, commented Vaughan. "How impressive of our kids to recognize that. We jumped a little bit in the half-court and would double the ball and run to a shooter. We just didn't give them time to set up and get one off. That was our biggest key defensively against the Mules tonight. Our kids executed well and got it done. That's on them for taking what they knew they had to do and making sure they got it done."
The Indians ended the half with a 29-13 lead over Bernie and quickly squashed their hopes of winning the title. Kennett came out of the locker room psyched for the 2nd half. They scored 15 unanswered points in the first few minutes of the 3rd quarter jumped to a 44 - 15 lead with about four minutes still remaining in the period.
"We have traditionally had some lackluster 3rd quarters," continued Vaughan. "We guarded the first three possessions and I think we got three turnovers right away. That right there game us momentum the rest of the quarter. We always say the first two or three minutes our of halftime is going to tell the tale of the second half. Our first three possessions kind of set the tone for how we finished the game."
Akeem Nelson recorded the game-high 20 points for Kennett with 2 treys. Senior Kevonte Mitchell tallied 18 points and was 8 for 10 at the charity stripe.
Caleb Ellenburg recorded a team-high 17 points.
Kennett has been impressive during tournament play at Bloomfield. Winning four our of the last five years and only losing to Holcomb last year.
"That's pretty special," Vaughan said of the winning streak. "I don't care what size schools are in it when you get in this tournament there are small schools and a mixture of us and Dexter in Class 4. You get teams, coaches and the atmosphere that is competitive. Winning this is still a good accomplishment for us regardless of who is playing it it. Obviously, you have got to come and play every night."
"South Pemiscot gave us a really good game Saturday night. I really think that helped boost us and kind of worked our kids up a little going into the championship game. We really came to play and winning it again is always going to be special."
"We play New Madrid County Central next Tuesday in New Madrid. They have a special guard and some others who can rebound well. They are active and tough. It will be a game of skill and who can just come out on top."
Final Score Kennett Indians 59 Bernie Mules 27
Kennett 15 16 19 9 - 59
Bernie 6 9 6 6 - 27
Kennett (59) - Antavies Drake 9, Rantrell Caruthers 4, Akeem Nelson 20, Kevonte Mitchell 18, Andre Oliver 4, Materion Jones 4. FG 23, FT 10/16, F 18. (3-pointers: Drake 1, Nelson 2. Fouled Out: none)
Bernie (27) - Matt Vernon 1, B.J. Jennings 2, Bubby Schwent 3, Joey Walker 4, Caleb Ellenburg 17. FG 11, FT 5/11, F 15. (3-pointer: none. Fouled Out: none)
The next big game for Bernie will be held at the ShowMe Center in Cape Girardeau. They will play Oran on Monday, January 7th.
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Bloomfield, Missouri - The battle for 5th place between the Twin River Royals and the home-town favorite Bloomfield Wildcats took some interesting turns throughout the game.
Coming out of the first quarter Bloomfield had a 1 point advantage over the Royals, but failed to keep pace in the 2nd quarter scoring only 6 points to the Royals 10. At the half it was the Royals on top 24 - 21.
Chance Wilkerson had the game-high score of 13 points and Eric Ray added 12 more for the Royals. Mason Douglas hit 2 treys for the Royals helping them to a 5th place victory in the 57th Annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament.
Alex Gibbs was the only Wildcat in double figures with a recorded 10 points including one trey.
Nathan Newell and Tyler Battles each added a 3-pointer for the Wildcats. Tim Fox added 2 treys.
It was an outstanding performance by these two team.
Final Score Twin Rivers 58 Bloomfield 50
Twin Rivers 14 10 15 19 - 58
Bloomfield 15 6 14 15 - 50
Twin Rivers (58) – Zach Underberg 3, Jase Worley 10, Nathan Watson 7, Chance Wilkerson 13, Andrew Mittlestadt 7, Eric Ray 12, Mason Douglas 6, FG 17, FT 19/27, F 22 (3-pointers: Jase Worley 2, Eric Ray 1, Mason Douglas 2, Fouled Out: none)
Bloomfield (50) Nathan Newell 7, Tim Fox 8, Tyler Battles 6, Jacob Clary 3, Noah Vandiver 8, Alex Gibbs 10, FG 16, FT 13/25, F 21 (3-pointers: Nathan Newell 1, Tim Fox 2, Tyler Battles 1, Alex Gibbs 1, Fouled Out: none)
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Bloomfield, Missouri – The first game on Monday featured the #14 Puxico Indians and the #5 Saxony Lutheran Crusaders in the consolation game. The Puxico Indians seem to have been the sleeper team of the tournament, quietly winning each of their games and upsetting both the #11 seed East Prairie Eagles and the #5 seed the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders. This definitely will be a team to continue watching this season.
Puxico came out hot and scored in the first few seconds of the game. The Indians jumped out ahead and at the end of the first quarter they were leading 21 – 10.
Saxony fought back opening the second quarter with a bucket, but the Indians of Puxico answered right back with one of their own.
Half time score was 50 – 37 all Puxico!
The Indians had Garrett Payne #14 as their powerhouse player of the game. He scored a team-high 18 points. Seth Luttrull #43 added 15 including two 3-pointers. Austin Teichman shot 5 buckets for 10 points. Corey Pratt added 9 points including a trey and was 4 for 4 at the charity stripe.
Jack Lake # 45 scored a game-high 24 points for Saxony. Zach Beal #3 added 14.
It was all Puxico in the 2nd half as they led 50 – 37 in the 3rd quarter and added another 18 points to seal the win in the consolation game.
Final Score Puxico Indians 68 Saxony Lutheran Crusaders 54
Puxico 21 14 15 18 - 68
Saxony Lutheran 10 16 11 17 - 54
Puxico (68) – Ronnie Wegener 4, Garrett Payne 18, Corey Pratt 9, Austin Teichman 10, Tim Hancock 4, Seth Luttrull 15, Zach Tucker 8, FG 29, FT 7/9, F 18 (3-pointers: Corey Pratt 1, Seth Luttrull 2, Fouled Out: none)
Saxony Lutheran (54) – Zach Beal 14, Chase Steffans 1, Ryan Palmer 5, Taylor Richmond 2, Elwood Voss 2, Hunter Coe 6, Jack Lake 11, FG 24, FT 5/13, F 12 (3-pointers: Ryan Palmer 1, Fouled Out: none)
