Dexter, Missouri - As the 2012 basketball season ends for the T. S. Hill Middle School teams, the program celebrates a good overall season for both the 7th and 8th grade teams.

Head Coach Josh Dowdy was a great addition to the program in his first year as the "skipper" of the program. Josh was assisted by Coach Mike Vipperman this season.

Josh worked with a very talented group of young men to install his basketball philosophies of hard work and solid defense upon the kids. Those seated in the stands can easily observe that he carries a high passion for the sport of basketball as he communicates with the kids on the floor. But a further discussion with him will highlight that his passion likewise runs deep for the betterment of the kids. He grows young men, not just into better athletes, but  better people as well.

Dowdy brings a spirit of growth and excitement to the middle school program that should provide positive basketball results in the coming year, and will no doubt make better student athletes.

8th grade

With an overall record on the 2012 season of 11 and 4, the eighth grade Cats were able to establish a very strong 6-1 conference record.

The team finished third this past season in the Stoddard County Athletic Association (SCAA) Tournament held in Bernie. The three powerhouse 8th grade teams battled it out down to the wire with the 'Cats losing by two points in overtime to the Bloomfield Wildcats in the semi-final game. Bloomfield went on to win the SCAA Championship over Puxico in the finals.

"I was so proud of the way these boys progressed this year," noted Coach Dowdy. "They (8th Grade) are a bunch that played with some grit and they were relentless down to the wire helping them pull out some comeback victories."

The Bearcats were an offensive machine, posting 728 points on the season and averaging 48.5 points per game. Equally, defense lived up to the teaching of their coach by holding opponents to only 518 points, or a 34.5 points per game average. With only four losses on the season, the 8th graders lost by a combined total of only 24-points.

Significant wins on the season were against the Advance Hornets (55-50), the Jackson Indians (47-32), the Sikeston Bulldogs (50-46), and the Charleston Bluejays (52-36). The win over Sikeston was extra sweet as it was the first time in many years the young 'Cats were able to beat the Bulldogs.

"It was a fun group to watch and coach every day," added Dowdy. "Most importantly, the kids represented the name on the front of that jersey well with a great attitude on and off the floor."

7th grade

The 7th grade middle school team did not post a similar won-loss record on the season, but their .500 record (7-7) was an overall victory in the athletic gains this group made as a team.

Seventh grade is a challenging year as many of the kids are performing on a big stage for the first time. There is a lot to learn and much is thrown at the young team. A big solid group of athletes, this group of young men is just awakening to their full potential.

“Fortunately, I believe these young men have a good understanding of how much time and effort they need to put into dribbling, passing and shooting the basketball,” said Dowdy. “Once we develop a true hunger for the game, I believe these boys will surprise themselves with how much better they can become.”

The young ‘Cats were able to turn in a Conference record of 5 and 1 on the season. They were able to show their progress this season by finishing in second place at the SCAA tournament.

The seventh grade was outscored by their opposition with a narrow margin of 528 points to their opponents 539 points. The Bearcats averaged 37.7 points per game on the season compared to the opposition at 38.5 points per game.

“These boys are awesome ambassadors for our school,” noted Coach Dowdy. “You will not find too many groups who are as respectful as these young men.”

“We just started our next season today!” closed Coach Dowdy. (Editorial: I think he means it).