By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

Area basketball fans are in for a treat this weekend with the return of the Rib City Shootout.

The Shootout, now in its third year, has quickly become the premier summer event for basketball teams in the region; this summer has already seen one week of boys action with 45 teams from three states competing in 145 games.

Tournament organizers are busy preparing for the fourth week of this summer's shootout, and the second week featuring boys competition, where basketball fans can see 57 teams from Missouri and Arkansas converging on seven courts - three at the Bearcat Event Center, the DHS, DMS, and Southwest Elementary gyms, and the DPR Gym, located next to the Dexter Aquatic Center - during this weekend's (July 13-14) shootout.

The Bearcats will be represented on all levels - Middle School, JV and Varsity - for the first time this summer; the Varsity squad kicks things off Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the BEC, while the JV squad opens competition at 3:00 p.m. in the Middle School. The 8th grade squad opens at noon on Friday at the DPR gym, while the 7th graders start at 9:45 in the BEC.

Click here to download a complete copy of this weekend's schedule!

The Dexter Competition Cheer Squad is off to a cheer competition on Monday (July 16) - the Southeast Cheer Coach's Association Competition, held at the Jackson High School at 5:25 pm.
The girls have been working very hard and hope to win it all. If they win the competition Monday they will go on to State later in the summer.  The cheerleaders are Seniors Brooke Duckworth, Sydney Graves, Jessica Norman, and Brooke Stoker; juniors Tayler Allen, Chandler Crowley, Christina Harris, and Madison McGowan; sophomores Jessica Gott, Shyann Jines, MacKinlee Rogers, Miranda Rogers, and Courtney Potts; and freshman Victoria Trammell; the squad is sponsored by Michelle Kirkley and Laura Lee Stone.

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The Dexter Bearcat Booster Club is gearing up for it's annual back-to-school membership drive.

The club is busy promoting their upcoming activities via the club's Facebook group - this group is a great one to join if you are a member of the DBBC, and provides an easy place to keep tabs on upcoming community events sponsored by the organization.

The club has several levels of membership, ranging from the $15 per year Alumni (limited to DHS graduates between the ages of 18 and 25) to the $250 per year Sponsor level, as well as Corporate memberships for local businesses.

Membership forms, along with payment, may be mailed to the club at the following address:

Dexter Bearcat Booster Club

PO Box 684

Dexter, MO 63841

Forms may also given to any of the following board members:

• Dana Adams - President
• Candy Miller - Vice President
• Kevin Bishop - Treasurer
• Karen Kiger - Secretary
• Jimmy Aldridge
• Stacy Blocker
• Marrianne Bruce
• Jason Mattisom
• Travis Miller

Members who sign up by August 7, 2012, will be entered into a drawing for $100.

Click here to show your Bearcat Pride and sign up today!

EASTON, Pa. - Head Coach Fran O'Hanlon released the 2012-13 men's basketball schedule on Thursday as Lafayette enters its 18th season under O'Hanlon's direction. The campaign is highlighted by several high-profile non-conference matchups, including a meeting with the reigning national champion Kentucky Wildcats.

"Our non-conference schedule is as challenging as any in the time that I've been at Lafayette," O'Hanlon said. "It's certainly exciting to play the number one team in Kentucky, as well as Stanford and Minnesota who played in the NIT final last year."

Lafayette will compete against teams from 10 different conferences, three 2012 NCAA tournament participants and three NIT squads. The matchup with Kentucky is set for November 16 at Rupp Arena as part of the four-game 2012 Barclays Center Classic. The Maroon and White will also travel to Morehead State (Nov. 18) and Maryland (Nov. 20) during a six-day stretch before Thanksgiving. The event tips off Nov. 12 when the Leopards host LIU-Brooklyn at Kirby Sports Center.

Three days prior to hosting the Blackbirds, Lafayette opens the 2012-13 year against St. Francis (N.Y.) as part of a home doubleheader following the women's contest against Loyola Chicago at 5:30 p.m. Joey Ptasinski made his first-career start and was one of four Leopards in double-figures in last year's victory against the Terriers.

Home meetings with Princeton (Nov. 24) and Delaware (Nov. 28) surround a trip to Monmouth on Nov. 26 to close out the month. The Leopards will look to avenge losses from last season against Princeton and Delaware, and win in their first-ever trip to West Long Branch, N.J. after a 15-point triumph over the Hawks last year.

December opens with the second meeting against defending Northeast Conference champion LIU-Brooklyn, this time in the Big Apple, on the first of the month. The game is the first of four consecutive matchups with NEC foes as the squad hosts St. Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 4, at Fairleigh Dickinson on Dec. 7 and against Sacred Heart two days later at Kirby Sports Center. Last season, O'Hanlon's bunch knocked off FDU, led by a historic three-point shooting performance by Jim Mower '12.

After a break for finals, Arcadia visits Easton Dec. 18 before a pair of marquee road games against Minnesota and Stanford Dec. 22 and 29, respectively. Stanford knocked off Minnesota last season to capture the NIT Championship. Seth Hinrichs (Clara City, Minn.), Les Smith (Cotati, Calif.) and Tony Johnson (Folsom, Calif.) will wear the Lafayette uniform in their home states.

"Another aspect of our scheduling is we always try to bring our guys close to home to play," O'Hanlon added. "It adds excitement for our players and their friends and families to be able to see them play in person. In addition to Seth, Levi Giese also has family members from Minnesota that will be able to see us play."

The 2013 calendar year begins with the final two non-league games of the season. NJIT comes to Kirby Sports Center Jan. 2 before Lafayette takes on Penn at The Palestra in the 45th meeting between the two schools six days later.

Patriot League action starts Jan. 12 as the Leopards welcome Navy to Kirby Sports Center. A pair of road contests, at Army and Bucknell, awaits Lafayette on the 16th and 19th, respectively, before Holy Cross makes a visit to Easton Jan. 23. Last year, Lafayette split its regular season meetings with the Crusaders and then picked up a win on the road in the Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinals in Worcester, Mass.

The 219th meeting between Lafayette and Lehigh is renewed Jan. 26 when the Maroon and White travel to Bethlehem, Pa. After hosting Colgate to close out January, a visit to the nation's capital is slated for Feb. 2 when Lafayette clashes with American at Bender Arena.

A week later the Navy Midshipmen host Lafayette in Annapolis, Md. four days before Army visits Easton on Feb. 13. The Leopards won all four games against the service academies in 2012. Lafayette remains at home for a Saturday matchup with Bucknell on the 16th.

Lafayette travels to Holy Cross Feb. 20 prior to a showdown with Lehigh in Easton on Feb. 23. Four days later, the team heads to Hamilton, N.Y. to play Colgate prior to closing out the regular season Mar. 2 against American.

Patriot League Tournament play begins Mar. 6 with four quarterfinal matchups based on the regular-season standings. The two semifinal games are scheduled for Mar. 9 and the Patriot League Championship is planned for March 13 at 7:30 p.m. Each game of the tournament will be held at the site of the higher-seeded team, with the champion earning an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

DHS alum Alan Flannigan currently attends Lafayette, where he is a member of the Leopards basketball team.

For more information on Lafayette athletics, make sure to visit GoLeopards.com!

PLEASE CHECK REGULATIONS CAREFULLY: Special regulations may apply to designated portions of water bodies; some baits and lures may not be legal for all portions.

SOUTHEAST REGION (573) 290-5858

LAKES

Clearwater Lake: 88 degrees, normal, clear; channel catfish fair on jug lines and trotlines; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Council Bluff Lake: normal, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Cypress Lake: 85 degrees, normal, dingy; crappie slow in 1 - 3' of water on minnows and jigs; bluegill and redear sunfish fair in 1 - 3' of water on jigs, crickets, and worms; largemough bass slow in 1 - 3' of water on minnows, jigs, plastic worms, and crankbaits; channel catfish fair in 2 - 8' of water on worms, crickets, and stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Duck Creek CA Pool 1: 82 degrees, low, clear; bluegill good on crickets; largemouth bass good on topwater lures; all other species slow. Note: boaters be aware of tree stumps due to low water levels. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Lake Girardeau: normal, clear; bluegill fair on worms; channel catfish fair on worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Perry County Lake: 84 degrees, muddy; largemough bass fair on crankbaits; channel catfish good on stinkbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Robert DeLaney Lake: 87 degrees, normal, channel catfish fair on stinkbaits and worms; bluegill fair on crickets and wax worms; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Wappapello Lake: 86 degrees, normal, black bass fair on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early and late; channel catfish fair on trotlines and jug lines using live bait at night; all other species slow.

Anglers should note the 9" minimum length limit regulation for crappie on Wappapello Lake. Call the Wappapello Lake Recreation Hotline for updates at 573-222-8139. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

RIVERS

Black River (above Clearwater Lake): 79 degrees, low, clear; all species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Black River (below Clearwater Lake): low, dingy; black bass fair in early morning; channel catfish fair on live bait and worms; walleye fair on crankbaits; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Castor River (above Zalma): low, clear; all species fair. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Mississippi River (middle): falling, muddy; blue catfish and channel catfish good on stinkbait and cut bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Mississippi River (Ohio River to Arkansas): normal, muddy; channel catfish fair on livers and cut bait; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

St. Francis River (above Wappapello): low, dingy; all species extremely slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

St. Francis River (below Wappapello): 82 degrees, low, dingy; channel catfish fair on chicken liver, stinkbaits and nightcrawlers; flathead catfish fair on goldfish and small sunfish; all other species slow. (Report made on 7/5/2012)

Anglers are invited to send pictures of their catch to the ShowMe Times - simply email a photo to SMT Sports Editor Andrew Cato, including your name, where the fish was caught, the species of the fish, and - if you care to share - what bait you were using!