Alexa Werneck and Ethan Flowers both competed in the Knights of Columbus state free throw competition last weekend. The Dexter youths traveled to Helias Catholic School in Jefferson City, where they faced competition in the 10 year old (Werneck) and 14 year old (Flowers) divisions.

Werneck came in second place, knocking down 20/25 free throws - a new personal best. She was barely defeated, as the overall winner knocked down 22/25.

Flowers finished in fourth place overall, also hitting 20/25 free throws. The 14 year old boys division was incredibly tough this year, with the winner missing just one free throw in the contest.

Alexa is a fourth grader, and is the daughter of Chad and Amber Werneck. Ethan is an eighth grader, and is the son of Tim and Kim Flowers. Both are students in the Dexter Public Schools system.

Thanks to Amber Werneck and Kim Flowers for the photos!

The DHS softball team was hard at work Friday afternoon preparing for the 2012 season. The Lady 'Cats were focusing on their offensive production on Friday, as Kendra Stevenson (above) eyes her pitch in a batting practice session. The Lady 'Cats are set to open the season on March 27, when they travel to Kennett to take on the Lady Indians.

The Dexter Parks & Recreation Women's Volleyball league is closing out the 2011-2012 season and the winners B-Division are the ladies of First Baptist Church in Dexter. The ladies brought home first place iin the division. Team members include: (front row, from left) Jamie Stevens, Tracy Hedrick, Roxanne McGhee, (back row, from left) Shelly Ward, Lisa Gurloch, LaDawne Northcutt, Grace Lee, Brandi Thompson, and Lisa Britton.  Congratulations ladies! (Photo submitted by the team!)

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

Athletic ability runs strong in the Stevens family.

Nate played football at Illinois Valley Community College, and is the only two-time member of the 1,000 Yard Club. Josh played baseball at Mineral Area College, and led the Football Bearcats to a District Championship during his junior year from the quarterback position.

Cody Stevens, currently wrapping up his senior year at DHS, will be following in his dad and older brother's footsteps next year, as he prepares to continue both his football and golf careers with the Missouri Valley College Vikings in Marshall, Mo.

Stevens led the football Bearcats to two of their best seasons in recent memory during his junior and senior year; he was the first quarterback to run and throw for over 1,000 yards in a season. As a wrestler, Stevens was a three-time state qualifier and two-time medalist, and he holds the school record for takedowns in a season with 114. His golf game is great, as well; you'll commonly find him on the links as a member of the DHS Golf team, as well as over the summer, when he enjoys the game with his dad, mom, and little brother, Ethan.

Stevens had a big decision to make regarding where he would continue his athletic career and education, but ultimately Missouri Valley stood out because of its similarities to home.

"Lindenwood-Belleville, Lake Forest, Cornell, and Luther Norse all recruited me," he said. "Three wanted me for wrestling, all wanted me for football, and Missouri Valley wanted me for all three."

"Valley stood out, because the town is small like Dexter is," he continued. "I really liked it when we went to visit, and the golf coach offered me a full ride on the spot."

Stevens said his road to a golf scholarship was quite unexpected. During his official visit to the school earlier in the year, he had already been offered a football scholarship, but wanted to talk to coach Jim Anderson, Mo. Valley's head golf coach, before leaving the campus.

After a brief visit, Stevens and Anderson - a former member of the Philadelphia Eagles - agreed to a more valuable golf scholarship, but with the ability to still play football.

Stevens is now busy preparing for the upcoming golf season, but after graduation in May, he plans to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice.

Photo above:
Cody Stevens (center) signs his National Letter of Intent to play both football and golf at Missouri Valley College next year. With Stevens are (front row): Maria and Nate, his mother and father, and (back row, from left) DHS Golf coach Eric Sitze and DHS Football coach Aaron Pixley.

COLUMBIA - Appearing in its fourth AMC Postseason Tournament championship game in as many years, the William Woods women's basketball team guaranteed a fourth straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament with a dramatic 72-67 win over Columbia College. Sharron Andrews (Oakland/Hayward, Calif.) posted a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, capped by a game-sealing layup with less than 10 seconds on the clock.

Despite losing the opening tip, the Owls opened the scoring, with Megan Aubuchon (Old Monroe, Mo.) blocking a 3-pt effort from Airielle Eldridge and converting a jumper on the other end. Blake French (St. Charles, Mo.) added to the Owls lead with a 3-pt make of her own, but Columbia tried to claw back with a trey from Kristi Wilkerson with 17:57 on the clock.

The Lady Cougars were able to pull back to a 7-7 tie with 15:23 on the clock before a 8-0 William Woods run put the Owls in front with just over 12 minutes left in the half.

Columbia would answer with a 19-8 run over the next six minutes, taking a 23-26 lead with 6:29 left in the half. But the Lady Cougars couldn't hold onto the lead, with the teams going into the intermission deadlocked at 31-31.

William Woods posted another five point snap out of the locker room, with a Katie Scherder (Bowling Green, Mo.) trey following the Aubuchon bucket, but the Owls couldn't push the margin further.

The hosts put together a small push, with a Tierney Seifert 3-pointer giving Columbia a 49-53 advantage with 10:40 left in the contest, but WWU put together a 10-3 run to take the lead back for the final time in the contest.

Down the stretch, William Woods pulled away as far as seven, but Columbia found itself within striking distance with 1:05 left in the game. The Lady Cougars forced a turnover, but couldn't connect on the ensuing possession, and they tried to play for the last possession. A 3-pt attempt from Ashley Fisher went astray with 17 seconds left, and WWU came up with the rebound.

With 15.1 seconds on the clock, WWU inbounded the ball but it was tipped out and the Owls were forced to call a timeout deep in the corner in front of the Columbia bench.

The Lady Cougars put a hard press on the Owls out of the time out, but Andrews slipped through and Aubuchon found her with a long bomb of a pass, with Andrews converting the easy layup, drawing a foul. The senior missed the free throw and the desperation heave by Fisher was off the mark as William Woods collected the win.

The Owls finished the game with a solid .430 shooting percentage, with Columbia mustering just a .318 mark for the contest. Andrews led all scorers with 20 as the Owls saw four players finish with double figures in the contest - Andrews, French (16), Aubuchon (14) and Olivia Storjohann (Eldridge, Iowa) (12).

Dexter native Ashlee Taylor had a cold shooting night (2-15 from the floor), but was able to come up with five points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal.

Julie Teeple finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Lady Cougars, with Fisher adding 16 and Wilkerson chipping in 10.

William Woods moves to 23-9 on the year, and will learn its first round foe for the NAIA National Tournament on Wednesday. Columbia falls to 24-9 on the year and will await the announcement of the tournament field and hope for an at large bid.