FREDERICKTOWN — The outcome was the same for the Dexter Bearcats boys basketball team in Wednesday’s Class 4 District 1 semifinal game against SEMO Conference rival Kennett. However, what was different was the degree of drama.
After beating the Indians twice this season by very narrow margins, the Bearcats (somewhat) cruised to a 63-49 victory over Kennett at Fredericktown High School.
“At this time of year,” Dexter coach Chad Allen said following the win, “it’s about surviving and advancing. We were able to pull away there in the end, but it was pretty tight for most of the game.”
The Bearcats (13-13) gained some separation with a very balanced offensive second quarter.
Holding a 19-17 advantage early in that period, Dexter got offense from five players to take a 37-28 lead into halftime. However, what Allen really liked during that stretch was his team’s defensive focus on Kennett scorers Dyson Watson and Hayden Gilmore.
“We knew coming in,” Allen explained, “that we had to take away their two main guys (Watson and Gilmore). We tried to totally focus on that.
“I thought we did a good job defensively.”
During the second quarter, Watson and Gilmore combined for just three points (all by Watson), and the Bearcat defensive focus carried over following the break.
Watson got loose for seven points in the third quarter, but Kennett only scored nine total points in the period as a team.
“Gilmore can shoot it really well,” Allen continued. “We didn’t want him to get hot. And Watson, he is hard to keep in front of.”
To contain Watson, Allen had junior guard Carter Stone defend him.
“Carter did a really good job on (Watson),” Allen said. “He wore him down, especially late.”
Allen called Stone a “gamer” at the defensive end of the floor.
“Carter just gets after you,” Allen said.
The Indians pulled to within seven in the final period, as Watson and Gilmore combined for 11 of their team’s 12 points in the period. However, Dexter junior guard John Sepulvado sealed the victory by draining eight free throws in the final minutes.
Sepulvado hit all 11 free throw attempts and led the Bearcats with 20 points.
Dexter got 12 points from junior forward Devin Turnbo, nine points each from senior guard Tucker Temples and sophomore center Elijah Ibrahim while Stone tallied eight.
Watson closed his career with a spectacular 26 points while junior Tyquavious Jones added 10 points for Kennett (10-17) and Gilmore had seven.
The No. 2 seed Bearcats advance to the championship game on Friday at 6 p.m. and will play top-seed Notre Dame (14-13).
The Bulldogs got past the host Blackcats 54-47 in the other semifinal.
Notre Dame beat the Bearcats 67-43 in late February in Cape Girardeau.
“We’ve got to find ways to score better,” Allen said of the title match. “Defensively, we have to do a better job, too. We gave up way too many points the last time.
“If we can keep the game in the 50s, then we’ll have a chance.”
Dexter’s last district title was in 2023 while Notre Dame last won a championship in 2020.
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