Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter varsity boys’ basketball team will once again participate in the SEMO Conference Tournament. Dexter competed in the SEMO Conference last season, but chose not to take part in the tournament.
Dexter has typically not performed well in wins at the tournament with a record of 2–13 only defeating Caruthersville in 2006 and Kennett in 2007.
Schools participating in the SEMO Conference for basketball are Dexter, Notre Dame, Cape Central, Jackson, Charleston, Sikeston, Poplar Bluff, Kennett, and New Madrid County Central.
Dexter is one of only a few schools in the entire state of Missouri that chooses to participate in two conferences. The Bearcats also compete in the Stoddard County Athletic Association (SCAA) Conference and play in the SCAA Conference Tournament. Schools in the SCAA Conference are Bloomfield, Dexter, Bernie, Bell City, Woodland, Richland, Advance, and Puxico.
Last season, the Dexter School Board allowed the boys basketball team to opt out of the SEMO Conference Tournament, but that time, the SEMO Conference passed a new By-Law stating “any team that chooses not to participate in the Tournament will be assessed $500.00:
The choice was either to completely get out of the SEMO Conference Tournament and keep the same basketball schedule as last year or pay the fine. During the 2013-14 season, because of an odd number of teams playing in the conference, Dexter was only guaranteed one game in the tournament unless they won, and therefore elected to bow out of the SEMO Conference Tournament. They remained in the Conference, but by not playing in the tournament, they were allowed to pick up two additional regular season games against Perryville and Twin River.
On a recommendation to the School Board by Dr. Thomas Sharp, Superintendent, Mr. Derek Urhahn, Athletic Director and High School Asst. Principal, and new head basketball coach Josh Dowdy. “We felt that it was best for our program to keep the schedule the same as last year. By having to play in two conferences and conference tournaments, we can only schedule one game outside the two conferences,” stated Dowdy.
Since 2008, the Dexter boys’ basketball team’s record is 4–55 against SEMO Conference Schools.
The Dexter School Board voted to place the boys’ basketball team back into play at the SEMO Tournament. “Our schedule may look a little different this year, but our approach will remain the same,” stated Dowdy. “It was a tough decision for anyone to make, but the Board elected that we remain in both conferences and we trust they know what is best for our kids and our basketball program.”
