Redhawks win over Austin Peay big for many reasons

The SEMO basketball team defeated Austin Peay 65-60 Thursday night at the Show Me Center to keep a strong grip on 2nd place in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Here are some of the many important aspects associated with the OVC victory.

**The Redhawks improved to 6-2 in league play matching their total number of OVC wins in 2010-11
**Southeast is a perfect 5-0 at home against league opponents
**SEMO is 9-2 at the Show Me Center this season. With another victory the Redhawks will get 10-wins at home for the first time since 2004-05
**The Redhawks out rebounded Austin Peay 50-26. The rebounding margin of plus 24 is the 2nd highest under coach Dickey Nutt
**Southeast ended Austin Peay's five-game winning streak and snapped a seven-consecutive losing streak to the Governors

A tricky start to Heartland Hoops season

In case you missed our season premiere of heartland hoops on Friday, you missed some really good highlights.
But perhaps the best shot came from a fan. That's right, during halftime of the Cape Central at New Madrid County Central game NMCC senior Kyle Harris made a fantastic though the legs lay up.
Check it out along with a replay of the show on kfvs12.com/heartlandhoops.
See you Friday night on Heartland News at ten

No shortage of compelling High School and College hoops stories

Whatever your favorite round ball game is, there's something good cooking these days in the heartland.
Where do I start? How about with the College guys.
SEMO is making it's first trip to the Ohio Valley Conference Post-Season tournament since the 2006-07 season. Dickey Nutt's Redhawks locked up the bid with a huge upset win over Murray State.
While the win helped the Redhawks, it dropped the Racers into a first place tie with Kenneth Faried and the Morehead State Eagles. These two teams will meet Thursday night in Murray in a game that could decide the top seed in the OVC tourney.
Switching to High School, it would be hard to find two better stories than Sikeston and Murphysboro.
Both teams are unbeaten and hopeful for state titles.
And lets not forget about Scott County Central and Otto Porter. The Braves look like a near lock to win another Class 1 State Championship.
See your Friday night on Heartland Hoops!

The Dream Teams

I don't know about you but I would love to see a four team tournament featuring number one ranked Scott County Central, number one ranked and unbeaten Sikeston, unbeaten and highly ranked Murphysboro and Du Quoin.
It would be interesting to see how the two states would compete against each other and who would be the last team standing.
Talking some Ohio Valley Conference hoops, if your looking for a turning point in the Murray State season it may have been Saturday night in the Racers lopsided victory over SEMO.
Although Murray State is sitting in 3rd place in the OVC,  Billy Kennedy's bunch still has the look of a champion.
Finally, speaking of champion, I can't wait for the Super Bowl.
I love the talent Green Bay has along with two weeks rest.
But Pittsburgh just seems to find a way to win, and these Steelers have more big game experience.
I'll pick Pittsburgh but it would not surprise me one bit if Green Bay takes the title.
See you Friday night on Heartland Hoops!

Heartland Hoops Tips Off

It's great to have Heartland Hoops back for another season!
We will continue with all the highlights, scores, live reports and our Heartland Hoops Subway Shot of the Night.
No lack of talent in the Heartland. Scott County Central is ranked #1 and their top player---6'9" inch Otto Porter is getting national attention--AND HE DESERVES IT!
The Sikeston Bulldogs are also ranked first in Class 4. Head Coach Greg Holifield does a great job with that program and he certainly has some talent to work with.
The Southern Illinois power is stacked in Class 2A with the following rankings: 5. Murphysboro 6. Nashville
and Harrisburg also received votes.
Harrisburg and Murphysboro play tonight on Heartland Hoops.
See you tonight at 10.

Bring on the Baskets

With the Southeast Missouri State football team making a run into December, I can finally turn my attention onto the basketball court. And who knows what the season holds? It is just too early to tell, but it isn't too early to start asking some questions.
Will the Redhawks get healthy and start putting it together in time to be a factor in the Ohio Valley Conference?
Will the Murray State Racers put it all together and make a run like last year?
Will the Salukis be able to give big man Gene Teague enough help to compete with the big boys in the Missouri Valley Conference?
On the high school ranks, it sure looks like Sikeston and Scott City will be teams to watch again in Southeast Missouri.
Murphysboro is off and running in Southern Illinois.
But like I said it's still early, Happy Holidays and enjoy your Hoops!

Redhawks lose Heartbreaker

We are on our way back on the bus from Jacksonville State.
I wish I had better news to pass along but the Redhawks dropped a 29-27 heartbreaker to the Gamecocks.
Jacksonville State scored the winning touchdown on a 17-yard pass play with 11-seconds to play.
SEMO had taken a 27-22 lead with 4:06 to play on a Henry Harris Touchdown Run.
I had a chance to talk to Harris and quarterback Matt Scheible after the game and both were down but still optimistic about their chances in the playoffs.
At the worst, the Redhawks will share the OVC title and if Jacksonville State loses to Tennessee Tech next weekend they will win it outright. The playoff bids will come out next Sunday.
The fans on the bus are a little down but still positive about the playoffs.
Thanks for listening, time for me to get some rest.