Dexter girls basketball team improves to 5-0 against district foes, routs Cape Central

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Dexter Bearcats varsity girls basketball program didn't pass up an opportunity to add a final impressive victory against a district opponent to its resume eight days before the coaches meet to decide the seedings for Class 4, District 1 on Feb. 20.

Four-time defending district champion Dexter improved to 5-0 in head-to-head play against Class 4, District 1 foes and 14-8 overall with a 75-34 road win against the Cape Central Tigers Thursday night.

Cape Central kept pace early as it built a 9-5 lead with 4:30 left in the first quarter.

Dexter followed with the next 17 points to move ahead 22-9 late in the first period and led by double digits the rest of the way.

"I thought we came out a little flat at the beginning of the game, but once we got our feet moving, pressured the ball and were active in the passing lanes we created a lot of turnovers and scored a lot of points off those turnovers," Dexter coach Chad Allen said.

The Dexter defense forced 25 turnovers and calculated 18 steals against Cape Central.

"Coming into this game our game plan was to put as much pressure on them as we could," Allen said. "Once we got our defense going it helped us score a few more points."

Melanie McKuin proved to be the most successful defensive thief on the Dexter squad.

McKuin recorded a team-high five steals with Dakota Reynolds and Harley Allen finishing just one behind with five steals each.

The Bearcats shot an unprecedented 10 of 20 from 3-point range.

Dexter freshman forward Hannah Thurmon hit a team-high three treys on her way to a game-high 21 points. Thurmon also paced Dexter in rebounds with 13 boards.

McKuin and Reynolds also hit a pair of 3-pointers. Reynolds finished with 16 points and four assists while McKuin had 14 points and six assists.

Dexter freshman forward Krysten Garrison added 15 points on seven 2-pointers and a made free throw.

"We shot the ball really well," Allen said of his team's offense. "We were 50 percent from the 3-point line. We didn't shoot very good from the free throw line, but overall I felt like the flow of the game went well for us offensively."

Sydney Tollison was the high scorer for Cape Central with 12 points.

Dexter plays non-district games at Poplar Bluff on Feb. 16 and hosts Twin Rivers on Feb. 19 before the district seed meeting next Friday.

"Poplar Bluff has definitely got hot," Allen said. "They are playing much better now than they were at the beginning of the year. Coach Kronister is a great coach and he gets his teams ready to play, especially at the end of the year. It's always tough to play at Poplar Bluff. He will probably switch defenses on us multiple times. It will definitely be a good test for us."

DUSTIN WARD - dward@dailystatesman.com Dexter's Hannah Thurmon snags a rebound Thursday night.

Varsity: Dexter 75, Cape Central 34

DHS 25 13 25 12 - 75

CCS 11 9 10 4 - 34

DEXTER (75) - Dakota Reynolds 16, Melanie McKuin 14, Sydney Rogers 3, Hannah Thurmon 21, Krysten Garrison 15, Harley Allen 6. FG 18, FT 9-20, F 10 (3-pointers: Thurmon 3, Reynolds 2, McKuin 2, Allen 2, Rogers. Fouled out: None.)

CAPE CENTRAL (34) - Abby Shupert 2, Sydney Tollison 12, Bailey Manley 6, Maddie Daum 9, Katherine Morton 1, Mary Boerboom 2, Quetaja Martin 2. FG 12, FT 6-8, F 13 (3-pointers: Tollison 2. Fouled out: None.)

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JUNIOR VARSITY

DUSTIN WARD - dward@dailystatesman.com Dexter's Harley Allen looks to make a pass at Cape Central.

Dexter also collected an impressive 47-24 victory against Cape Central in the junior varsity contest.

Cape Central trailed by just 10 points at 25-15 at halftime before Dexter scored all 13 points in the third period.

Nine players scored for Dexter in the junior varsity contest.

JV: Dexter 47, Cape Central 24

DHS 12 13 11 11 - 47

CCS 9 6 0 9 - 24

DEXTER (47) - Nicole Ivy 4, Megan Trout 8, Madyson Crockett 5, Cheyenne Mosby 7, Sydney Rogers 7, Hannah Thurmon 2, Krysten Garrison 6, Harley Allen 6, Madelyn Webb 2. FG 18, FT 4/7, F 9. (3-pointers: Trout 2, Mobsy 1, Crockett 1, Rogers 1, Allen 2. Fouled out: none)

CAPE CENTRAL (24) - C. Reece 2, Beard 2, May 6, Dumey 4, Morton 4, A. Reece 4, Jackson 2. FG 10, FT 2/4, F 7. (3-pointers: May 2. Fouled out: none)

DUSTIN WARD - dward@dailystatesman.com Dexter freshman Madyson Crockett eyes a 3-pointer.

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