Puxico rallies past Bearcats in BCT title rematch

Last month, in the championship game of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, Puxico needed an entire half to rally from a 10-point halftime deficit to overtake Dexter in boys basketball action.

On Tuesday, the Class 2 No. 3-ranked Indians only needed three-plus minutes to climb out of a hole and ultimately prevail, as they rallied with ferocity in the final minutes for a comfortable 53-43 victory at the Bearcat Event Center.

“We ramped up our defensive pressure,” Puxico coach Bryant Fernetti said following the win. “(Dexter) turned it over a few times and we were able to get some runouts for some lay-ups and some (3-pointers).”

With just over four minutes remaining in the game, the battle appeared to be a sequel to Puxico’s 64-60 overtime win over the Bearcats in the Bloomfield event. Dexter guard John Sepulvado drove in for a lay-in, which put his team ahead 40-37. However, that proved to be the high point for the hosts.

Moments following Sepulvado’s make, Puxico's Mason Parsley was fouled on a 3-point attempt, and he sank all three free throws to tie the game at 40. Little did anyone realize, but Parsley’s points began a closing 16-3 run by Puxico.

Following a Bearcat turnover, with 3:17 on the clock, Parsley buried a 3-pointer that put his team ahead 43-40.

“We gave (Parsley) a little confidence,” Dexter coach Chad Allen said following the game, “and that gave them the run that they needed.”

Dexter (7-9) turned the ball over again and with just under three minutes remaining, Indian shooter Jett Hancock sank a 3 for a 46-40 margin.

Kaysen Long knocked down a couple of free throws with 2:23 on the clock for a 48-40 difference, which was followed by another Dexter turnover.

Hancock knocked down two more free throws with 1:41 left. Those makes put the Indians (14-1) up 50-40.

“Dexter did a good job of trying to take (Puxico guard Landan Burchard) out of the game,” Fernetti said. “They went to a triangle-and-two (defense) because Jett was hot early, so we had to find other ways (to score).”

Puxico did that at the free-throw line.

The Indians connected on 16 of 19 free throws in the game, including 11 of 12 in the final period.

“We couldn’t do anything offensively (late),” Allen said.

Burchard was astonishingly held to a single free throw, but Parsley stepped up with 17 points.

Hancock hit four 3-pointers and tallied a team-best 19 points while Long chipped in 10 and a horde of rebounds, particularly at the offensive end.

Puxico crushed the stationary Bearcats on the glass.

“Puxico was active,” Allen said of the rebounding difference. “We turned around and looked (at the missed shots) a lot.”

Sepulvado paced Dexter with 15 points while forward Devin Turnbo chipped in 12 and guard Will Guethle had nine in the loss.

Puxico has won nine consecutive games and will host Bernie (9-3) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday for homecoming. The Indians topped the Mules 61-38 in the Bloomfield Tournament.

The Bearcats have lost four of their past five games and will visit New Madrid County Central (3-10) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.