Preview: SEMO Conference
Life after Fred Thatch, Jr. begins not only at Sikeston High, but in the SEMO Conference as a hole. For the past four years, Thatch has been a dominant force in leading the Bulldogs to four consecutive conference titles and two Class 4 Final Four appearances. Now a freshman at Saint Louis University, Sikeston leaves as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder.
The Bulldogs will still be a formidable unit in the first year post-Fred Thatch, but there are a few teams poised to challenge Sikeston for the top spot. One of those teams is Cape Girardeau Central, which fell one-point short of upending the Bulldogs in the district championship game. Poplar Bluff should also be strong after winning a Class 5 district championship a year ago. Charleston can never be overlooked, but it must replace its dynamic duo of Demarcus Sharp and Mardareyon Clark from a team that advanced to the Class 3 state championship game.
Key Returning Players
TreyJenkins 6’7″ Sikeston (’19)
Dominique Hardimon 6’3″ Poplar Bluff (’19)
Kevin Jones 5’10” Sikeston (’19)
Tyrus Reddin 5’8″ Cape Girardeau Central (’20)
Chauncey Hughes 6’0″ Cape Girardeau Central (’19)
Samuel Bledsoe 6’2″ Charleston (’19)
Parker Long 6’2″ Sikeston (’19)
Kinyon Hodges 6’2″ Cape Girardeau Central (’19)
Carter Long 6’2″ Sikeston (’19)
Kam Dohogne 5’10” Notre Dame (’20)
Seth Buessink 6’9″ Jackson (’19)
Johnny Walker 6’0″ New Madrid Central (’19)
Tyler Cline 6’0″ Poplar Bluff (’19)
Blessin Kimble 6’5″ Charleston (’20)
Joseph Hardimon 5’10” Poplar Bluff (’21)
Xander Martin 6’2″ Poplar Bluff (’19)
Donald Brown, Jr. 6’6″ New Madrid Central (’21)
Predicted Order of Finish
1 Sikeston
2 Poplar Bluff
3 Cape Girardeau Central
4 Charleston
5 Notre Dame
6 Jackson
7 New Madrid Central
8 Kennett
9 Dexter