Missouri: Hatchett picks Midland

Scott County Central (Sikeston)’s Bobby Hatchett likes his coaches as tough as nails. That’s why he recently decided to play basketball at Midland College in Midland, Texas over offers from several Division I schools. When he hits the court for the first time for Chaparral coach Ross Hodge, Hatchett may feel right at home.

“What really made me want to go there was the coach,” Hatchett told the Southeast Missourian. “Coach Hodge, he’s a real little guy. He’s like a point guard’s coach. He’s real strict on his point guards. He’s real hard on his point guards and that’s what I need.

“I’m used to it from coach (Ronnie) Cookson and all those type of guys. That ain’t nothing I can’t handle, and the thing is most Division I schools know that he’s tough on guards … I should be able to go wherever I want to go, so that was a lot of it. He is a point guard coach.”

Just like Hodge, Hatchett is used to winning basketball games. The 5-foot-10 point guard helped lead the Braves to last season’s Class 1 state title, the school’s 14th, with a 96-47 win over Pilot Grove.

Hodge and Midland won 26 straight games to begin the 2009-10 season and finished the year 30-3 following a 76-66 loss to Howard College in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region V finals. The Chaparrals have won national championships in 1982 and 2007, and have made nine national tournament appearances.

Hatchett averaged 20.3 points and 6.7 assists while leading Scott County Central to its second straight title. The two-time first-team all-stater chose Midland over Illinois State, Iowa, Mississippi State, Missouri State, St. Louis, Southern Illinois, Moberly Area Community College and Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff.

Boys basketball: Willis heads home

After accepting the opportunity to coach in his old stomping grounds, Kelly (Benton) boys basketball coach Nate Willis brings a simple philosophy to Bell City next season.

“I expect them to work hard, to be dedicated to what we’re doing and to have discipline on and off the court,” Willis told the Sikeston Standard Democrat of his expectations going into his inaugural season at the school.

“Those are the three things we’re going to work for, is discipline, dedication and hard work. I think if we can have those three things and can establish those early on in our program, then we’re going to be very successful.”



Willis, who also coached baseball all three years he was at Kelly, ran off a 23-51 basketball record with the Hawks. The Cubs went 25-4 in 2007-08 and 15-10 in 2008-09, but finished with a 7-16 record last winter.

Boys golf: Three out of four ain’t bad

Rockhurst won its third Class 4 boys state golf title in four years Monday and Tuesday at the Sedalia Country Club after firing a 36-hole team score of 616. Meanwhile, Whitfield broke Ash Grove’s two-year stranglehold on the Class 2 throne by shooting a 324 at Silo Ridge Golf Club in Bolivar. The Pirates also won the Class 1 title in 2006-07.

Marceline fired a 664 to win the Class 1 team championship, dethroning back-to-back title-holder Tipton. Westminster Christian’s Kevin Bell led the Wildcats to the Class 3 team title after defending his Class 3 individual championship with a 70-75 145 at Island Green Golf Club in Republic. Kevin VandeKamp, a teammate of Bell, also shot a (75-70) 145.

Blue Springs’ Ryan Allen Buerk took the Class 4 individual title after firing a 73-70 143. … Lutheran (St. Peters)’ Samuel F. Deitte managed a 71-77 148 to earn top honors in Class 2. … Tarkio’s Derek Nicholas Hawkins claimed the Class 1 individual championship with a 75-79 154.

Cobb reaches perfection for Rams



Scott City pitcher Skylar Cobb mastered perfection earlier this week when the Rams shut out Kelly 4-0 at the Class 2 District 3 baseball tournament in Perryville. The senior ace struck out 17 of a possible 21 batters in advancing Scott City to a district semifinal contest against East Prairie. The Rams upended the Eagles 7-3 and were set to face Charleston in the district title game as this story was being posted.

“The last two innings I was a little bit nervous,” Cobb told the Southeast Missourian after throwing 68 strikes in 87 pitches. You try not to think about it but you can’t help it.”

Cobb nearly earned a perfect game earlier this season when he threw a six-inning no-hitter against East Prairie. In that contest, one enemy baserunner reached the pads when Cobb gave up a second-inning walk.

Lightning costs Parkview opportunity to advance

Trailing 1-0 at halftime in a Class 3 District 11 semifinal girls soccer match against Nixa, multiple lightning delays put the skids on Parkview (Springfield)’s season. Tournament officials and the head coaches decided to postpone the second half of the contest. Missouri State High School Activities Association officials, however, called the contest complete. Parkview coach Clint Nurnberg appealed the ruling, but was informed Friday afternoon that Nixa would be facing the winner of Friday evening’s other district semifinal contest.

“We just got caught up in a bizarre circumstance,” Nurnberg told the Springfield News-Leader. “It would have been nice if we would have gotten a break from MSHSAA, but they are not known for that. It doesn’t surprise me. I just wish that the best interest of the athlete came first, but that is not always the case with MSHSAA.”



Nixa (15-4), the fifth seed, will move on to face the winner between No. 2 seed Glendale (Springfield) and third-seeded Kickapoo (Springfield) for the district title. Parkview, the tournament’s top seed, finished the year 14-4.

Missouri boys track and field leaders

100 meters – Anthony Hall, Kansas City-Center, 10.55; Marquis White, North Tech, 10.56; Chris Bledsoe, Eureka, 10.60; Dorial Green, Springfield-Hillcrest, 10.62; Spencer Davis, Hazelwood Central, 10.68.

200 meters – Mike Hester, Hazelwood Central, 21.64; Ronald Dumas, Kirkwood, 21.68; Marquis White, North Tech, 21.80; Spencer Davis, Hazelwood Central, 21.83; Marcus Taylor, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, 21.90.

400 meters – Mike Hester, Hazelwood Central, 47.95; Donald Shumpert, Hazelwood East, 48.23; Ronald Dumas, Kirkwood, 48.35; Tellis Smith, Sumner, 48.49; Scott Rehnquist, Ladue Horton Watkins, 48.49.

800 meters – Nick Seckfort, St. Louis University High, 1:54.46; Dalen Fink, Fort Zumwalt North, 1:55.13; Huns Pitia, Staley, 1:56.42; Corey Schaffer, Christian Brothers College, 1:56.71; Daniel Everett, Westminster Christian, 1:57.04.



1,600 meters – Daniel Everett, Westminster Christian, 4:16.66; David Lambus, University City, 4:17.58; Caleb Hoover, College Heights Christian, 4:18.40; Kevin Colon, Lee’s Summit West, 4:19.04; Maksim Korolev, Harrisonville, 4:19.11.

3,200 meters – Maksim Korolev, Harrisonville, 9:13.57; David Everett, Westminster Christian, 9:24.99; David Lambus, University City, 9:28.16; Kevin Colon, Lee’s Summit West, 9:28.53; Zach Herriott, Rockhurst, 9:28.82.

110 hurdles – Walter Powell, Hazelwood East, 13.90; Spencer Dudley, St. Charles, 14.36; Dapo Akinmoladun, Grandview, 14.54; Zach Ferguson, Poplar Bluff, 14.56; Tyrone Williams, Hazelwood Central, 14.60; Roger Woods, McCluer, 14.60.

300 hurdles – Walter Powell, Hazelwood East, 37.80; Xavier Kennedy, Ritenour, 38.60; Keith Murphy, University City, 38.78; Zach Ferguson, Poplar Bluff, 38.90; Zach Gray, Lee’s Summit West, 38.94.

400 relay – Hazelwood Central, 41.90; Eureka, 42.14; Lee’s Summit West, 42.19; Grandview, 42.32; Hazelwood East, 42.50.

800 relay – Hazelwood Central, 1:27.08; Riverview Gardens, 1:27.50; McCluer South-Berkeley, 1:28.28; Kirkwood, 1:28.39; Fort Osage, 1:28.87.



1,600 relay – Hazelwood Central, 3:15.05; Ladue Horton Watkins, 3:20.47; Hazelwood East, 3:22.46; McCluer, 3:22.59; Riverview Gardens, 3:22.59.

3,200 relay – Jennings, 8:01.99; Columbia-Rock Bridge, 8:02.47; Hazelwood Central, 8:03.41; St. Louis University High, 8:04.23; Marquette, 8:05.06.

Discus – Shon Kyle, Windsor Jefferson County, 172-7; Brian Cooper, Troy Buchanan, 172-3; Thomas Ligon, Ozark, 171-4; Steven DeShazer, Raytown, 166-5; Evan Boehm, Lee’s Summit West, 165-8.

High Jump – James White, Grandview, 6-10; Tim Williams, Waynesville, 6-10; Jermaine Jones, Park Hill Central, 6-9; Seth Matlock, Nixa, 6-8; Josh Jones, Troy-Buchanan, 6-8.

Long Jump – Clark Tanksley, McCluer, 23-2 1/4; Dorial Green, Springfield-Hillcrest, 23-2; Thomas Ligon, Ozark, 22-10; Nic Ford, Centralia, 22-7 3/4; Darion Boure, University City, 22-7 3/4.

Pole Vault – Seaton Owensby, Nixa, 15-7 1/2; Josh Morgan, Branson, 15-0; Kyle Morse, Francis Howell North, 14-8; Kyle Wessel, Hannibal, 14-6; Sawyer Vincent, Willard, 14-6.



Shot Put – George McKinney, Neosho, 57-5 1/4; Shon Kyle, Windsor Jefferson County, 57-1; Brian Cooper, Troy Buchanan, 56-9; Jordan Chrisman, Blue Springs, 55-5; Nick Smith, Park Hill, 55-2.

Triple Jump – Thomas Ligon, Ozark, 47-5 3/4; Dorial Green, Springfield-Hillcrest, 47-3 3/4; Jeremy Lampley, McCluer, 46-10 1/2; Dapo Akinmoladun, Grandview, 46-4 1/2; Darion Boure, University City, 45-11.

Missouri girls track and field leaders

100 meters – Collin Groves, Orchard Farm, 11.54; Shawntanay Johnson, Fox, 11.70; Alexis Bates, St. Joseph Central, 11.74; Tianna Valentine, Hazelwood East, 11.78; Tiffani McReynolds, Pembroke Hill, 11.79.

200 meters – Tiffeney Cannon, Beaumont, 23.03; Lauren Cheadle, Lee’s Summit West, 24.63; Montenea Roye, Ladue Horton Watkins, 25.00; Ekate Lymon, Waynesville, 25.01; Ayeshia Ewing, Cardinal Ritter, 25.17.

400 meters – Kianna Ruff, McCluer South-Berkeley, 55.42; Montenea Roye, Ladue Horton Watkins, 55.85; Samantha Levin, Ladue Horton Watkins, 56.66; Asia Thomas, Cape Girardeau Central, 57.64; Cheyenne Hoerr, Affton, 57.72.



800 meters – Jessica Jackson, Neosho, 2:13.28; Alyssa Rebecca, Eureka, 2:13.32; Samantha Levin, Ladue Horton Watkins, 2:14.07; Colleen Quigley, Nerinx Hall, 2:14.75; Dallis Bailey, Conway, 2:15.74.

1,600 meters – Sarah Goetges, Duchesne, 4:43.30; Colleen Quigley, Nerinx Hall, 4:54.93; Diane Robison, Parkway Central, 4:55.64; Samantha Levin, Ladue Horton Watkins, 4:56.63; Krista Menghini, St. Joseph’s Academy, 4:57.67.

3,200 meters – Liga Blyholder, Lee’s Summit West, 10:57.48; Courtney Wood, Neosho, 10:59.12; Colleen Quigley, Nerinx Hall, 10:59.69; Sierra Jenkins, Clinton, 11:03.04; Diane Robison, Parkway Central, 11:07.06.

100 hurdles – Tiffani McReynolds, Pembroke Hill, 13.73; Jordan Stiens, Maryville, 14.51; Anna Holtermann, Washington, 14.71; Madison Smith, Lee’s Summit North, 14.83; Lindsay Vollmer, Penney, 14.87.

300 hurdles – Tiffani McReynolds, Pembroke Hill, 43.72; Lindsay Vollmer, Penney, 45.00; Jordan Stiens, Maryville, 45.07; Courtney Mitchell, Hazelwood East, 45.15; Madison Smith, Lee’s Summit North, 45.39.

400 relay – Raytown South, 48.43; Hazelwood Central, 48.70; Hazelwood East, 48.90; McCluer, 49.13; Riverview Gardens, 49.16.



800 relay – Raytown South, 1:41.87; Ladue Horton Watkins, 1:42.30; North Kansas City, 1:42.70; Hazelwood Central, 1:43.28; Hazelwood East, 1:43.47.

1,600 relay – Ladue Horton Watkins, 3:54.00; Riverview Gardens, 3:54.36; Eureka, 3:58.58; Hillsboro, 3:59.97; Raytown South, 4:01.34.

3,200 relay – Eureka, 9:14.49; Kirkwood, 9:23.28; Neosho, 9:33.62; Lee’s Summit West, 9:38.09; Lindbergh, 9:43.82.

Discus – Jill Rushin, Jackson, 150-7; Sandra Hampton, Lee’s Summit North, 143-0; Dahlia Dyson, Fort Zumwalt West, 140-11; Kelly Klusmeyer, Boonville, 140-1 1/2; Deanna Price, Troy-Buchanan, 138-4.

High Jump – Jasmine Reynolds, Waynesville, 5-6; Shelby Lueckenotto, Raymore-Peculiar, 5-6; Felicia Watkins, Blue Springs South, 5-6; Morgan Whitson, Moberly, 5-5; Shelby Sutherland, Moberly, 5-5.

Long Jump – Erika Miller, Mexico, 19-1 1/2; Ekate Lymon, Waynesville, 18-7; Ahshane Johnson, Moberly, 18-3 1/2; Jakyra Shelton, North Kansas City, 18-0; Kaylee Morgan, Carthage, 17-11 3/4.



Pole Vault – Sydney Hasse, Kearney, 11-6; Maggie Givens, Branson, 11-2; Sara Page, Liberty, 11-1 1/2; Shelby Franklin, Monroe City, 11-0; Shelby Markum, Fort Zumwalt North, 11-0.

Shot Put – Jill Rushin, Jackson, 48-7 1/2; Kylie Cornman, Liberty (Mountain View), 44-11; Ashlee Shimmin, Joplin, 42-6; Roxanne Koke, Waynesville, 41-6 3/4; Sarah Hall, Columbia-Hickman, 40-10.

Triple Jump – Ahshane Johnson, Moberly, 39-5 1/2; Nataliyah Friar, Holt, 37-7; Jackie Mesh, Grain Valley, 36-10; Julie Reisinger, Troy-Buchanan, 36-10; Lauren Cheadle, Lee’s Summit West, 36-7 3/4.