Neelyville

BERNIE – The baseball programs at Bernie High School and Neelyville High School have disparate histories.

No extra innings were required on Friday as the Poplar Bluff Mules set the tone for the baseball season by dominating Neelyville on opening day. The Mules built a strong lead early to walk away with a 14-4 victory in only 4 1/2 innings. “It feels good to have the kids come out and have a little bit of success to start the season,” Poplar Bluff coach John David Pattillo said. ...

The boy’s basketball season may have ended for all MSHSAA Class 2 programs, however, the postseason recognition has just begun for Cooter High School senior Luke Barnes.

Editor’s note: This poll was based on results through Wednesday. All rankings are performance-based per level and sport and not a head-to-head potential barometer. A lot of teams have seen their seasons end so that will drastically affect the current Power 8 poll, but fret not — a team that loses can still be in the poll one last time before falling out permanently and can be considered for the end-of-the-year Team of the Year top 10 countdown...

SIKESTON — For all intents and purposes both Ozark Foothills Conference rivals — the East Carter Lady Redbirds and the Neelyville Lady Tigers — are overall young teams finding their groove at the right time — playoff basketball time. So, when both met for the third time this season at Sikeston High School in a Class 2 sectional with a chance to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal in Farmington, they were obviously just happy to be here, right?...

HOLCOMB – With a near-constant ear splitting roar in a completely full Holcomb High School gym, the first-seeded Cooter Wildcats “turned it on” in the second half to defeat third-seeded Neelyville in the Class 2 District 1 championship game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023...

BLOOMFIELD — Thursday night’s first girls’ Class 2 District 1 semifinal game was easy and breezy for Neelyville Lady Tigers as they shut down fourth-seeded Hayti early for a coast to the district championship contest. The last time the Lady Tigers faced off against Hayti, they secured the win in dominant fashion, and this matchup was no different with a 72-30 victory...

HOLCOMB – Third-seeded Neelyville held off a last-minute effort by second-seeded Bernie Wednesday night to win 64-60 and advance to the Class 2 District 1 championship game at Holcomb High School. “I have to commend my guys,” Neelyville head coach Brad Burdin said. “They worked their tails off and they did it. The coaching staff gave them an idea of what to execute but they ultimately came out and did it.”...

Editor’s note: This poll was based on results through Wednesday. All rankings are performance-based per level and sport and not a head-to-head potential barometer. District tournaments are in full swing for Class 1, 2 and 3 basketball teams, while the Poplar Bluffs, Doniphans and Dexters are all about getting ready to roll next week in their own postseason journeys...

RISCO, Mo. — A game of runs ultimately favored Risco on Friday as longtime head boys basketball coach Brandon Blankenship picked up his 300th career victory with an 86-83 win over Neelyville. Risco (15-12) used a balanced attack against Neelyville (13-12), as Layden Kellum (24) and Sammy Smith (21) to combined for 45 points...

VAN BUREN — The fourth-seeded Van Buren Bulldogs defeated fifth-seeded Cabool 44-32 in a thrilling matchup in the first round of the Class 2 District 2 Tournament Monday night. “We were excited to get on the court and grind it out.” said Van Buren’s Benjamin Hawkins. “The team was the reason we won. We kept each other up and we’re at a point in our season where we finally found our chemistry.”...

(3) Neelyville vs (6) Campbell Number three-seeded Neelyville (13-12) secured a 53-37 win over number six-seeded Campbell (8-18) Monday in the opening round of the Class 2 District 1 tournament at Holcomb High School. With a contentious, albeit relatively slow, start to Monday night’s game, Neelyville and Campbell tied at 9-9 in the waning minutes of the first quarter with a two-point jumper by the Camels’ Sam Bunting...

Tipping off Monday, the newest edition of the state high school basketball postseason will begin with the boys taking center stage.  A number of area teams will begin their quest in first-round contests while a small group has been awarded byes into the semifinals with only two wins needed to advance to their respective sweet 16s. ...

BONNE TERRE, Missouri — The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules got a big game from Madelyn Eads and pulled away in the second half for a 52-35 win over the North County Lady Raiders Friday night. Poplar Bluff (11-13) led just 19-18 at halftime, but extended its lead to 34-28 after three quarters. However, the fourth quarter belonged to the Lady Mules, who outscored host North County 18-7 to come away with the win...

NEELYVILLE — The Doniphan Dons got big games from Emmitt Jones and Max Owen to take a 57-44 win against Ozark Foothills Conference rival Neelyville Thursday night. “Doniphan was able to convert offensively,” said Neelyville coach Brad Burdin. “We couldn’t hit shots like we normally do and just couldn’t get it done.”...

Editor’s note: This poll was based on results through Wednesday. All rankings are performance-based per level and sport and not a head-to-head potential barometer. Crazy to think that the newest spring season is a month away and basketball and wrestling are now winding down...

NEELYVILLE — What a way to test one’s playoff mettle with a test of iron. South Iron specifically and that’s who came calling to Neelyville Tuesday night as the host Lady Tigers took on one of the better teams in the state a week away from the beginning of the district playoffs...

ELLSINORE — The East Carter Lady Redbirds got 29 points from Brooklyn Kearbey and took a resounding 68-46 victory over the Class 4 Kennett Lady Indians Monday night “Kennett is a more physical team than we’re used to and that’s something we need to get better at playing through,” said East Carter coach Angela Rodgers. “It was not one of our smoothest games, but I’m proud that we didn’t roll over.”...

The Doniphan Donettes made sure that the third time was a charm. After two pretty intense encounters with Ozark Foothills Conference rival Neelyville earlier this season, the Donettes had to dance once more with the Lady Tigers Friday night. This time it was for the OFC Tournament title at the Libla Family Sports Complex at Three Rivers College and No. 1 seed Doniphan took all the drama out of the contest with its defense early and cruised to a surprising 59-29 win over the No. 3 Lady Tigers...

Editor's note: This poll was based on results through Wednesday. All rankings are performance-based per level and sport and not a head-to-head potential barometer. The regular season for basketball, swimming and wrestling are just about over with hoops still having a week or so remaining before the games that matter most tip off...

It may be soon to pay adieu to a sport she loves, but Three Rivers College women’s basketball player Makenzi Davis has made the most of her time as a Lady Raider. The redshirt freshman has played in 18 of 20 games this season while averaging 3.8 ppg on 52.1 percent shooting from the field while snaring 3.1 rebounds a contest...

GREENVILLE — The third-seeded Neelyville Lady Tigers dominated early and staved off a big rally to upset No. 2 East Carter 57-43 Monday in the semifinals of the Ozark Foothills Conference Tournament. The crowd was electric for this matchup as both teams came in with a strong winning record and the chance to prove who was the best between the two...

The weather did whatever it could to disrupt things in the region and other parts of the country, but it couldn’t put a dent in the Ozark Foothills Conference’s plans. The newest edition of the conference basketball tournament will go on as planned as of Wednesday as both seven boys and the same number of girls programs will once again vie for bragging rights in Southeast Missouri...

NEELYVILLE — The East Carter Lady Redbirds had four players in double figures and steadily pulled away in the second and third quarters for a 76-63 win at Neelyville Thursday night. East Carter led 15-13 after the opening period, but pushed its lead to 41-32 by halftime and took a 62-47 lead to the fourth quarter...

NEELYVILLE — it may have been a little brisk weather-wise in Southeast Missouri Friday night, but it was a cauldron of rising temperatures inside Neelyville High School. Amidst some hot tempers and hotter momentum swings, it was the host who had the biggest momentum at the most pivotal times to fight off a feisty challenge by visiting Twin Rivers in a 69-56 win...

ELLINGTON — Thursday was a good night for the top two boys seeds at the Black River League Tournament. The top-seeded South Iron Panthers turned back host Ellington 67-48 in the early semifinal Thursday, then No. 2 Bunker defeated East Carter 66-41 in the late game...

*Note – this poll was based on action finalized on Wednesday. The Greenville Bears take the biggest leap in the poll following its win over No. 1 and defending Class 1 champions South Iron and a big 26-point win over Neelyville Tuesday night...

GREENVILLE — Two Ozark Foothills Conference foes met Tuesday night with their own positive narratives they hoped to continue playing out. The host Greenville Bears, coming off a program defining win over top-ranked South Iron over the weekend, was back home searching to ride that momentum further in search of an eventual first district title next month...

GREENVILLE — The Greenville Bears had three players score in double figures as they defeated defending Class 1 state champion South Iron 62-50 Friday night. Easton Evans (14 points) led the Bears (14-1), while Trey Porter (13) and Talan McDaniel (11) joined him in double figures...

*Note – this poll was based on action finalized on Wednesday. We return for week two of the new Power 8 poll – a ranking based on pure performance and not what classification, sport or gender. Feedback will always be welcome and can be directed to sports@darnews.com...

NEELYVILLE — The Neelyville Tigers defeated the Clearwater Tigers 93-69 at home Tuesday night in an Ozark Foothills Conference contest. Preston Goodnight led Neelyville’s scoring with 21 points, with Casen Stephens putting in 17 points in the victory...

ELLSINORE — Nineteen days after the Doniphan Donettes and East Carter Lady Redbirds battled for the Lady Royals Christmas Classic title, the two squads met Monday in a key Ozark Foothills Conference battle. And for the second time in 19 days, the Donettes emerged victorious, this time by a score of 59-49 in a battle of two of the area's best girls basketball teams...

KNIGHTSTOWN, Indiana — Kaylee King scored a game-high 39 points to lead the Ellington Lady Whippets past the Twin Rivers Lady Royals in the gymnasium made famous by the 1987 movie “Hoosiers.” It was the second 39-point performance by King, who also scored 39 to lead Ellington to a win at East Carter on Tuesday...

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Poplar Bluff Mules outlasted the Carl Junction Bulldogs 53-45 in the opening round of the Kaminsky Classic Tournament Thursday night in Joplin. Gavin Rivers led the Mules with 12 points, with Dallas Williams and Mar’Lon Hickman-Roberson scoring eight each...

DONIPHAN — Max Owen and Emmitt Jones combined for 46 points and the Doniphan Dons opened the new year with an 80-61 win over Mountain View Liberty Tuesday. Owen (24 points) and Emmitt Jones (22) led the Dons to victory. Doniphan was down in the first quarter, but came back and took the lead from Liberty...

As the sports world put the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic behind it in 2022, several teams and individuals in this area rose to the top in their respective sports. From history-making achievements on the hardwood to first-in-school-history performances on the diamond, this year proved itself to be a memorable one for local sports fans...

We return for Week Three of the new Power 8 poll — a ranking based on pure performance and not what classification, sport or gender. Feedback will always be welcome and can be directed to sports@darnews.com. Movement was limited since last week, but still, some slight variations to the poll are evident...

It’s impossible to leave behind the Lady Royals Christmas Classic without stating the obvious: Twin Rivers High School is a class act. The lengths and efforts the members of the athletic department went to put on another showcase event to highlight the excellence girls basketball can bring to our sports universe were as top-notch as it gets...

BROSELEY — Two teams separated by different identities, but not talent level faced off in the Lady Royals Christmas Classic final Wednesday night at Twin Rivers High School with Doniphan and East Carter fighting through the fumes of a week’s worth of hardcourt battles...