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Prep roundup: Dillinger’s gem powers Eagles past Clearwater (3/29/24)NAYLOR — The Naylor Eagles defeated the visiting Clearwater Tigers 7-4 on Thursday on the strength of a six-inning, 12-strikeout performance from starting pitcher Chase Dillinger. Dillinger gave up three runs on four hits with only one walk against the dozen strikeouts...
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NMCC's Kimball building his alma mater with energy, enthusiasm (3/26/24)NEW MADRID – The New Madrid County Central High School varsity baseball squad enters its game at Charleston today (4:30 p.m.) in search of its first win of the spring. However, despite the 0-4 Eagle mark, first-year coach Jordan Kimball sees signs that his team is developing.
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Young Dexter shows growth in 11-5 W over New Madrid (3/25/24)NEW MADRID – Dexter High School baseball coach Steve Edwards is only in his second season with the Bearcat program, but he has coached at various levels for a long time, and he is knowledgeable enough to know potential on the diamond when he sees it.
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Powerful pitching from Bratcher carries Mules past NMCC (3/21/24)It only took five innings for the Poplar Bluff Mules baseball team to walk away with the victory. The Mules have gotten off to a steady start at home, and they aimed to keep the momentum rolling in another SEMO Conference matchup against the New Madrid County Central Eagles on Thursday at Strenfel Field...
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Mules open BB season with thriller over New Madrid (3/17/24)BERNIE – Veteran Bernie High School baseball coach Marcus Massey knew he would be counting heavily upon senior Jayden Robinett this spring. The senior athlete not only is a stellar shortstop for the perennially good Mules, but he is also Massey’s top arm on the mound.
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Jenkins, Jones lead NMCC's MBCA Award sweep (3/14/24)SIKESTON – New Madrid County Central's championship run has earned top recognition from the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA). Dontre Jenkins has been named Class 3 Coach of the Year, while phenom Jadis Jones claimed his second consecutive Class 3 Player of the Year Award and all-state honors...
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One Dream, One Team, One Shot: Kayden Minner's unforgettable state championship moment (3/12/24)SIKESTON, Mo. — For a long time Kayden Minner fought to picture his graduation with anything but a sense of loss. But even in the cruelty of competition, there’s room for incredible victories. No high school athlete should have a medical chart as thick as their playbook, yet that's the reality he faced with three knee injuries and countless hours of rehab — a career that was a constant battle against injury, his body seemingly conspiring against his dreams...
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Ruff saves best for last (3/12/24)SIKESTON — AJ Ruff wasn't supposed to steal the spotlight. Known for his slick passing, tenacious defense and steady hand guiding the New Madrid County Central offense, not the one dropping daggers. But, in the most high-stakes moments at the MSHSAA Class 3 State Championship Game, a new Ruff emerged – confident, clutch, and essential to NMCC's victory...
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Title Defense Complete, Legacy Secured: Brotherhood breeds back-to-back state titles for NMCC (3/11/24)COLUMBIA, Mo. — Through victory and adversity, the seniors of New Madrid County Central faced every battle as a united front. Fighting back-to-back, locked arm-in-arm and constantly pushing each other to be better. It was that unshakeable brotherhood — the foundation of success — that elevated the Eagles (28-3) to a second consecutive MSHSAA Class 3 Show-Me Showdown Title with a resounding 86-65 win over Summit Christian Academy at Mizzou Arena on Saturday, March 9...
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NMCC wears down Thayer, advances to Class 3 title game (3/9/24)COLUMBIA, Mo. — From the opening bell, New Madrid County Central didn't just defend the court against Thayer, they owned it. The No. 1 Eagles’ (27-3) were a vise, squeezing the No. 3 Bobcats (22-9) into submission during the 57-44 victory in a semifinal bout Friday night at the 2024 Show-Me Showdown at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri...
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NMCC sends message with 70-38 quarterfinal win over Kingston (3/5/24)PARK HILLS, Mo. – New Madrid County Central’s 70-38 quarterfinal round win over Kingston wasn’t so much a contest as it was a statement to the rest of the Class 3 Field. The final score doesn’t do justice to how thoroughly the No. 1 Eagles (26-3) dominated, exposing the vast gulf between the two teams and their athletic edge against the Cougars (19-10) at Parks Hills Central High School on Saturday, March 2...
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Tempers flare in sectional showdown, NMCC claims hard-fought win over Charleston (2/29/24)CHARLESTON, Mo. — Emotions boiled over as New Madrid County Central’s fight for back-to-back state titles took a chaotic turn in a heated 74-55 sectional round win at Charleston on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Both teams put in the work, scrapping for every board and loose ball, the intensity reflecting the high stakes of the rivalry matchup. However, it was the Class 3 No. 1 Eagles’ (25-3) championship mettle and veteran poise that ultimately outmatched the Bluejays (14-15) and the charged atmosphere...
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C3D1 BKB: NMCC rolls to fourth straight district championship (2/27/24)PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — New Madrid County Central proved once again that its talent is simply on another level with an 86-56 win over Malden in the MSHSAA Class 3, District 1 Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 24. Fueled by the star power of Jadis Jones and BJ Williamson, the top-ranked Eagles (24-3) cruised the victory over the Green Wave (21-6), taking another step on their quest to defend their state title...
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C3D1 BKB: Jones’ surge leads NMCC past Portageville (2/24/24)PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Jadis Jones's 31-point outburst powered New Madrid County Central to an 80-52 victory over Portageville in the MSHSAA Class 3, District 1 semifinal on Thursday, Feb. 22. The fourth-seeded Bulldogs (17-11) challenged the top-seeded Eagles (23-3) throughout the first half, trailing by just 35-33 at the break. However, Jones took over after halftime, scoring 15 points in the third quarter alone to propel the team to a decisive win...
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NMCC sends five wrestlers to state (2/20/24)FESTUS, Mo. —New Madrid County Central flexed its muscles at the MSHSAA Class 1, District 1 Tournament, showcasing its depth by sending five wrestlers to the state meet. Caleb Moore (31-2) and Gavin Colbert (17-5) led the charge, each dominating their way to district championships...
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Local district tournament wrestling roundup (2/18/24)Four sites, four district tournaments, and a whole lot of wrestlers literally fighting for their place at state on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16-17. Here's the lowdown on how all eight area programs fared in their quest to Columbia, Mo. Next year, it will be nine, with the addition of Kelly...
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Tigers cruise to win over shorthanded Eagles (2/16/24)There was a sense of anticipation heading into Thursday’s clash between the Cape Central Tigers and the New Madrid County Central Eagles. Much of that anticipation was extinguished upon the announcement of the Eagles’ starting lineup as it didn’t include Jadis Jones or BJ Williamson...
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Battle of No. 1s: Sikeston defeats NMCC in epic showdown (2/15/24)SIKESTON — Sometimes a game demands a hero, and sometimes it demands two. PJ Farmer, the ultimate X-factor on the court, and Dontrez Williams, a warrior on the boards and a lethal scorer in his own right, became the driving force behind Sikeston’s 90-76 victory over New Madrid County Central at the Field House on Tuesday, Feb. 13...
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NMCC's Jadis Jones thriving in basketball after leaving football behind (2/11/24)New Madrid County Central senior Jadis Jones recalled the sense of relief he felt when he began his final football season having decided on his college future. He was slated to play football at Coastal Carolina of the Sun Belt Conference, but on Dec. 15, 2023, he announced on Instagram his commitment, the closure of his recruitment for football, and reopening for basketball...
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New Madrid edges Jackson in clash of SEMO Conference titans (2/10/24)Two teams, both undefeated in the SEMO Conference met with a chance to improve their chance to win the regular-season conference championship. The New Madrid County Central Eagles walked away happy as they defeated the Jackson Indians 64-48 on Friday at Jackson High School. BJ Williamson and Jadis Jones led the Eagles with 22 and 18 points, respectively, while Ra’Mond Brooks added 12. The Indians were led by Kole Deck with 19 and Gavin Holdman with 13...
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No. 1 NMCC crushes Caruthersville (2/8/24)NEW MADRID, Mo. — New Madrid County Central continues to solidify its dominance in high school basketball, dismantling Caruthersville 82-43 on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Jadis Jones unleashed another unstoppable performance, leading the Eagles (21-1) to a decisive homecoming victory over the Tigers (11-10) and showcasing why they hold the No. 1 ranking in the Maxpreps Small Town Top 25...
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NMCC edges St. Mary’s in battle of state-ranked teams (2/6/24)CHARLESTON, Mo. — Star-studded squads clashed as New Madrid County Central defeated St. Mary’s South Side in the Charleston 6th Man Shootout on Saturday, showcasing offensive fireworks and late-game drama. Jadis Jones and BJ Williamson stole the show, leading the Class 3, No. 1 Eagles (20-1), while Zyree Collins, the younger brother of former St. Louis University standout Zuri Collins, kept the Class 5, No. 2 Dragons (22-2) in the fight with his scoring skills...
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No. 1 New Madrid County Central overpowers Mules (1/31/24)The Poplar Bluff High School Mules have played some tough teams recently, and their schedule has only gotten more challenging as they took on the No.1 team in Class 3. The Mules hosted the New Madrid County Central Eagles on Tuesday in an SEMO conference matchup. The Mules hung around for as long as they could, but going up against an offensive powerhouse such as New Madrid County, they would need a near-perfect game...
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Jones, Williamson lead NMCC to Nixa Invitational Tournament Title (1/30/24)NIXA, Mo. — New Madrid County Central dethroned defending champion Nixa 72-65 in the championship of the 97th annual Nixa Invitational Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 27. NMCC (17-1), ranked No. 1 and the defending Class 3 state champions, displayed its championship-caliber pedigree against Class 6 Nixa (12-5), sending a clear message that it is not just the Class 3 kings, but statewide giants capable of casting a shadow over anyone, anywhere...
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NMCC captures Priory Invitational Championship with two individual titles and three runner-up finishes (1/30/24)CREVE COEUR, Mo. — New Madrid County Central wrestling won the 14-team Priory Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 27, dominating the competition with a 165-point haul. Standout performances came from Caleb Moore and Jesse Perry, winning individual titles at the 113 and the 132-pound weight classes, respectively...
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NMCC rallies past Marquette 58-52 in Nixa Invitational opener (1/26/24)NIXA, Mo. — New Madrid County Central started about as fast as a dial-up internet connection in the early 2000s against Marquette in the opening round of the Nixa Invitational Tournament, but just like a stubborn modem eventually coughing up a webpage, the Class No. 1 Eagles (14-1) rebooted powered by Jadis Jones' electric play, ultimately prevailing 58-52...
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NMCC blows past Malden; Farmer hits 1,000 points (1/24/24)MALDEN – The New Madrid County Central (NMCC) Eagles swooped into Malden Tuesday and left the Green Wave high and dry in a brutal 94-57 blowout. In what some might call "full contact hoops," the game was a rough-and-tumble spectacle played before a packed house whose fans turned out en masse to support the teams...
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Poplar Bluff's Logan Hite wins third SEMO Conference wrestling championship (1/21/24)By the slimmest of margins, Poplar Bluff senior Logan Hite defeated Jackson senior Hayden Wessell by a 3-2 decision to win his third SEMO Conference championship on Saturday, Jan. 20, in Sikeston, Missouri. Hite’s three-peat is the first in school history, which is an amazing feat for a program with such a rich wrestling history...
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Jones’ 43 points, and 18 rebounds power NMCC past Charleston (1/11/24)NEW MADRID, Mo. – New Madrid County Central’s Jadis Jones scored 43 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 76-63 win over rival Charleston at home Tuesday night. The Class 3, No. 1 ranked Eagles (12-1) took advantage of numerous turnovers by the Class 3, No. 8 Blue Jays (8-7) in the first half to build a 36-25 halftime lead, with Jones scoring 18. ...
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NMCC uses early momentum to down Notre Dame (1/6/24)NMCC uses early momentum to down Notre Dame By Clay Herrell ~ Southeast Missourian It didn’t take long for the New Madrid County Central Eagles to assert their dominance as they downed the Notre Dame Bulldogs 62-45 on Friday. The Eagles opened the contest on an 18-0 run, showcasing their relentless full-court press that forced 11 first-quarter turnovers by the Bulldogs...
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Notre Dame welcomes New Madrid challenge (1/4/24)Notre Dame will battle New Madrid on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Regional High School. The Bulldogs are coming off a win over Charleston in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament third-place game, avenging two prior losses to the Blue Jays this season...
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NMCC puts on second-half clinic to earn spot in Showdown final (12/30/23)The New Madrid County Central Eagles put on a clinic after halftime of Friday's Poplar Bluff Showdown semifinal contest against Christian Brothers College out of St. Louis. After the two teams played a close first half, NMCC defeated the Cadets after the intermission to win 80-65 and advance to Saturday's championship game at the Showdown...