Lady 'Cats 'D-up' in win over Central

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Dexter's defense held Cape Central to just five second half points as the state-ranked Lady Bearcats delivered a workman-like 75-27 SEMO Conference win on the road Thursday night.

Brittany Harris and Paige Patterson dominated the Lady Tigers inside as each produced a double-double effort and the Lady 'Cats improved to 19-2 on the season, 2-0 in SEMO Conference play.

Harris scored a game-high 19 points and hauled down 11 rebounds, while Patterson dropped in 12 points and charted 12 boards. Dexter held a 39-14 advantage on the glass. Harris also led the Lady 'Cats with eight steals.

Dexter's Brittany Harris (right) comes up with one of her eight steals as the Cape Central Lady Tigers try to get the ball inside to Bailey Bliss during Dexter's 75-27 win on the road Thursday night. Harris, along with Paige Patterson (left) each charted a double-double in the win. Harris finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Patterson scored 12 and hauled down 12 boards.

Dexter had the game under control before the second-half defensive stand, leading 19-10 after the first quarter while taking a 45-22 lead into half-time.

Dexter coach Chad Allen had little to be upset with at the break, so his half-time talked zeroed in on the one thing that can always be improved on... defense.

"I thought we were really active today and really got after it defensively, expecially that second half," Allen said after the game. "I don't know how many they scored that second half, but we really clamped down defensively and really put together a great half.

"We've had that talk (about picking up the defense) the past two or three games, and just like the radio guy said, maybe I need to have that talk before the game," Allen continued. "But I think part of it is just wearing down our opponents. I think they got tired in the second half, we really clamped down defensively and did a great job.

"With our depth, we definitely utilize our depth and try to run girls in and out, and it pays off," he added.

Central's lone basket in the third quarter came on a 3-point shot by Kassidy Pannier at the 1:32 mark of the frame, while a long 2-point shot by Baily Bliss at the 1:36 mark of the fourth accounted for all of the Lady Tigers' second-half scoring.

Dexter, ranked No. 5 in Class 4, had eight players put points on the board. Alison Jarrell and Erika Cobb each had two 3-pointers, while netting 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Hannah Noe dropped in eight points while Katelynn Frazier scored seven points and added four assists and four steals.

Cape Central's Alayah Cooper-Johnson had eight points (all in the first half) and recorded 10 rebounds in the loss. Katie Williams grabbed six rebounds for Central, which slipped to 9-13 on the year.

Dexter will next be in action Monday on the road at Poplar Bluff.

"Coach (Kirk) Chronister does a great job with Poplar Bluff," Allen noted. "They've gotten better throughout the course of the year, so it definitely is going to be tough, especially at their place. So we've got to be ready to play and hopefully get another SEMO Conference win."

Dexter won the junior varsity game against Cape Central.