Dexter improves to 3-0 in SCAA play

Dexter executed just a little bit better than Bloomfield in the fourth quarter Tuesday night at the Bearcat Event Center and the Bearcats improved to 3-0 in SCAA play with a 52-48 win over Wildcats.

It was a tight came from the opening tip as both teams played to within a point in each of the first three quarters. The two teams went into the fourth tied at 40-all, but 8-of-10 free throw shooting by the 'Cats over the final 2:44 helped secure the win.

"It was one of those type ball games where you've got be on your toes and execute every possession and you've got to guard it and rebound it and we just didn't do that and they executed a lot better then we did," Bloomfield coach Jason Karnes said after the game.

"We knew it would be a tough battle," Karnes continued. "Our conference (SCAA) has always been pretty competitive. If you go on the road in the conference against anybody you've got to expect a tough battle. And we knew that coming in.

"Dexter got a lot more loose balls than us and a lot more rebounds than us and that kind of came back to hurt us in the end."

Both teams battled on even terms in the first with Bloomfield taking a 16-15 lead into the second quarter. Dexter made a surge in the second but three consecutive 3-pointers by Zac Goode pulled the Wildcats back to within two at 27-25. Austin Williamson's basket inside late in the period sent the two team into the break tied at 27-27.

"Zac made some big shots the first half that really kind of got us back in it because we were kind of struggling offensively," Karnes said of his 5'11 senior. "He hit some big shots to get us back into it."

The third quarter was much like the first two. Thomas Sanders' old fashion 3-point play for Bloomfield with 1:11 showing on the clock tied the game once more at 40-all heading into the final eight minutes of play.

"I think early in the fourth quarter we had some opportunities," Dexter coach Rob Nichols said. "We missed some chips shots that could have put the game out of reach. I was proud of the kids for plugging away and not getting down on themselves."

A basket by Nick Noble opened the fourth quarter scoring and two free throws by Brad Potts pushed the 'Cats out front, 44-40.

Dexter would never trail after that while Bloomfield would cut the margin to a single point twice at 44-43 and 46-45. From there Dexter connected on six-straight free throws, two by DJ Dowdy (15 points) and four by Chase Young (16 points) to pad the lead to 52-45.

A late 3-pointer by Caleb Baker set the final 52-48 score.

"We had to get the ball in the right guys hands," Nichols said of the final minutes of play. "And that's Chase. He's a good free throw shooter and that's where we wanted it.

"Bloomfield's solid this year," Nichols added. "I think our kids did a real good job finding their shooters. And that's the thing. They've got so many guys on the perimeter that can shoot the ball that you've got to contest shots and rebound.

At times we struggled with the rebound, but I think the kids tried to contest all night."

Bloomfield (8-6) was led by Goode with 13 points, including four treys.

Dexter improved to 3-9 overall and 3-0 in the SCAA. The 'Cats will be on the road Friday for a key league game against Bernie.

"We've still got the favorites coming up," Nichols said of Dexter's position in the league. "Bernie and Advance you've got to play and Puxico is pretty solid this year, So you've got three or four good teams still to play in the conference so we've got to be ready to play every night."