Jones dazzles, Schreacke shines and Talton scores in season debuts on college hardwood

QUINCY — Three area basketball products enjoyed solid season debuts Monday.

Hannibal’s Dezi Jones dazzled in his first game with the Austin Peay men’s basketball program. Quincy Notre Dame’s Abbey Schreacke helped the Missouri women’s basketball team open with a victory. And Quincy High School’s Jeremiah Talton reached double digits for the Lindenwood men.

Jones, who transferred to Austin Peay from Quinnipiac last spring, provided the spark the Governors needed to gain separation from Life University in their season opener.

Austin Peay led 57-56 with 12 minutes remaining in the second half when the senior point guard buried three consecutive 3-pointers to extend the lead to 66-58. The Governors eventually won 90-72 at F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tenn.

Jones finished with 23 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range to go along with four assists and four steals in 27 minutes.

He wasn’t the only player with local ties to help the Governors succeed. Dez White, a freshman guard, scored 11 points with five assists and one steal in 34 minutes. White is the son of former Monroe City standout Andre White.

Meanwhile, in Columbia, Mo., the Mizzou women opened with a 72-61 victory over Belmont as Schreacke made her collegiate debut.

QND’s all-time leading scorer was the first player off the bench for the Tigers, made a 3-pointer from the left corner for her first collegiate basket and finished with seven points, three rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal in 25 minutes of action.

The Lindenwood men’s team opened its season at Nebraska, suffering an 84-52 loss. Talton, a sophomore who transferred to Lindenwood from John Wood Community College, scored 10 points in 20 minutes off the bench. He made 2 of 5 3-pointers, grabbed three rebounds and had a steal.