Dexter, Missouri - The T.S. Hill Middle School wrestling team has already won their first match of the season against Poplar Bluff at their only home match.
They compete in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday, December 1, 2015. Match time 5:00 p.m.
Wrestling for the middle school are: Bottom row left to right: Wyatt Parker, Cutter Cornett, Brayden Barnett, Drew Soule, Travis Waldner. Middle row left to right: Alex Townsend, Dylan Homan, Steven Cupp, Brett Pollock, Mason Keena. Top row left to right: Corey Hawkins, Parker Vanslyke, Cory Ezell, Ethan Harmon, William Beauchemin.
2015 Season Schedule for December
November 24, 2015 Poplar Bluff (Home) 6:00 p.m. (WIN!)
December 1, 2015 Cape Girardeau (Away) 5:00 p.m.
December 3, 2015 Sikeston (Away) 5:00 p.m.
December 5, 2015 Farmington (Away) 9:00 a.m.
December 9, 2015 Cape Girardeau (Away) 5:00 p.m.
December 12, 2015 Cape Girardeau (Away) 9:00 a.m.
December 14, 2015 New Madrid County Central (Away) 5:00 p.m.
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter varsity boys basketball program open their 2015-2016 season against powerhouse Charleston Bluejays on the road. They have a season group of athletes ready to take the court this year and coach Josh Dowdy expects his athletes to give all they have on the court to bring home the win.
The varsity team is comprised of five seniors, two juniors and two sophomores.
Seniors Ethan Flowers and Jacob Pedigo along with junior Jason Jarrell started the majority of the 2014 season and are expected to have a great season for the Bearcats.
“We return Ethan Flowers, Jason Jarrell, and Jacob Pedigo,” commented head basketball coach Josh Dowdy. “Ethan will return as our shooting guard. He is an excellent outside shooter who led our team in 3-point shooting last year. Jason will again help us in many different roles. He was our point guard last year and led our team in scoring and rebounding. Jacob is a returning guard who has a nice jump shot with active hands on defense. I believe Jacob is poised to have a real good senior season.”
Other returning starts for the Dexter Bearcats are seniors Adam Webb, Jacob Crumley, and Tyler Heil, junior Ryan Mayo, and sophomores Gabe Jackson and Dawson Kasting.
"Gabe Jackson will play in the paint for us this year," continued Dowdy. "With the addition of Gabe's strength and size, we will be able to play more of an inside/out style on offense instead of settling for perimeter shots."
"Tyler Heil, Adam Webb, and Ryan Mayo all return and will be key contributors off the bench. All of these guys provided us some valuable minutes at our recent jamboree. Senior guard Jacob Crumley has also joined us this year."
The Bearcats open their season on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 against Charleston, a SEMO Conference game. On Friday, December 4th they will host their home opener against the Sikeston Bulldogs, another SEMO Conference game.
Dexter received the #9 seed in the SEMO Conference Tournament. They play #8 seeded Notre Dame at Sikeston on December 7th at 5:30 p.m.
“The history and success of the SEMO Conference really speaks for itself,” stated Dowdy. “There were some great players who graduated, but there are new guys ready to fill their shoes. Sikeston is obviously the cream of the crop.”
Dexter will also host the Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament in January. The Bearcats took 2nd place to the Bernie Mules in the 2014 season.
“Our primary goal is to practice hard enough to have a chance to compete for a Stoddard County Conference title,” Dowdy said.
“The SCAA Tournament will be balanced once again,” Dowdy said. “Bloomfield will have a real good group this year. They return all of their guys from last season. Advance brings back most of their team, and I expect them to have another good year. Woodland returns most of their guys as well. Their two big guys will be a handful. Bell City will be tough also. I would not count anyone out. Coach Botsch will have his team prepared along with Coach Walk at Puxico. It should make for another exciting year for all involved. I don’t think anyone would want it any other way.”
Dexter will compete in the Class 4, District 1 at Sikeston at the end of the 2015 season against other teams in their District including Cape Central, Notre Dame, Perryville, Sikeston, and Kennett. Notre Dame won last year’s district championship.
“Our attitude towards practice has been much better this year,” explained Dowdy. “We are further along right now than we were at this same time last year. The key for us to compete at the level we expect is to improve defensively by finding a way to grind out stops and make good, sound decisions with the ball. We will only improve as we truly commit to getting stops. That is where we are placing our focus.”
Pictured in the top photo is the Dexter varsity boys basketball team.
Members of the team front row from left to right: #24 Ethan Flowers, #11 Jason Jarrell, #21Jacob Pedigo, #12 Jacob Crumley. Back row from left to right: #15 Dawson Kasting, #33 Ryan Mayo, #10 Adam Webb, #35 Gabe Jackson, #25 Tyler Heil.
Pictured in the bottom photo are the Dexter Varsity Seniors:
#24 Ethan Flowers, #25 Tyler Heil, #10 Adam Webb, #21 Jacob Pedigo, #12 Jacob Crumley
Bernie, Missouri - The 2015 Bernie Invitational Boys Basketball Tournament begins Monday, November 30, 2015 in the Mule Barn.
The Bloomfield Wildcats received the #1 seed and will play #8 seeded Risco at 6:00 p.m. on Monday.
Bernie seeded #4 will play #5 seeded Puxico at 7:30 p.m. on Monday.
On Tuesday Twin Rivers with the #2 seed will play #7 seed Holcomb at 6:00 p.m. and the #3 seed Campbell will play #6 seed Piggot, AR.
Games will continue on Thursday with the semifinals and the Championship game will be played on Friday, December 4, 2015 at 8:30 p.m.
Photo above is from the 2014 basketball season.
Farmington, Missouri - The Dexter girls basketball team will travel to Farmington on Monday, November 30, 2015 to begin play in the Farmington Girls Invitational Basketball Tournament.
Team participating are Jackson, Farmington, Notre Dame, Saxony Lutheran, and Dexter.
Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs will play Farmington Lady Knights at 5:30 p.m. to get the tournament started.
The Lady Bearcats will play the Jackson Lady Indians at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
On Tuesday, Saxony Lutheran will play the winner of the Farmington/Notre Dame game at 5:30 p.m.
Good luck to the Lady ‘Cats!
Shown in the photo is Krysten Garrison of Dexter.
St. Louis, Missouri - Being a referee can sometimes be difficult. Most fans do not realize the level of commitment or compassion referees have for the game of football. Most of all they get little recognition for their efforts. This past Saturday, Mark Becker, was honored for his efforts of refereeing high school football for 25 years at the Dome during the MSHSAA State Football Championship games.
That’s 25 years in a sport he lives, breaths, and loves. One can only imagine being yelled at by football coaches, players, and even fans from the sidelines, but each game he has officiated with a professional attitude and has performed 100% as the best referee in the business. We give little credit to the men in the zebra striped shirts, but they deserve a firm handshake and a thank you. Takes a lot of heart and soul to go out and face two teams battling for a win, perhaps even a championship win, Becker does it with finesse and integrity.
Becker was recognized not just for his 25 years of service, but in recognition of outstanding contributions of leadership, guidance, and integrity on the field. He has not only taken part in high school games, but came out on many Saturdays each season to help with Dexter Parks & Recreation’s little league football teams.
He coached the Red Team in the 1980’s for Dexter Parks and Recreation and then moved on to refereeing.
Why did he get involved? “In 1990 I started refereeing. Rick Williams encouraged me to get involved and it was a way for me to stay in touch with the game I love. Camaraderie of the crew and just enjoying the football atmosphere is something I enjoy,” Becker said.
“My best memory was refereeing a game between Kirkwood and Webster Groves,” continued Becker. “It was a semifinal football game with over 10,000 people in the stands. That was great!”
Becker’s referee crew includes Rick Williams, Don Backfish, Pat Carda, and Jimmy Smith. They cover games in Southeast Missouri all the way up to St. Louis, Missouri.
“I have had the chance to do some big games over the years,” stated Becker. “A combination of a great crew and having been graded as a solid crew. We have been able to referee more than a dozen quarterfinal football games; six semifinals, and twice now at the Dome in St. Louis for Missouri State High School Athletic Association Football Championship games. It’s been a major honor to be invited to referee these types of championships.” 
Mark is married to his lovely wife, Cathy and they have a son and a daughter. “It’s been a sacrifice having games sometimes three nights a week. It’s tough, but you know it’s been a good deal.”
He’s also a Bearcat through and through and as the saying goes, “He bleeds Red and Black!” His high school career was from 1971 -1974 and he played mostly as a guard on offense for the Bearcats. He did cover other positions as well especially when people got hurt. He even managed to get some defensive playing time as a defensive end and linebacker.
Becker has been in the game of football for more than 40+ years playing, coaching or being a referee official. He’s seen a lot of changes, new rules, and seen many young men play in this sport. Referees are getting more and more scarce these days. Today’s referee is getting older and the young are not stepping up as much as they did.
“I think young people need to get involved,” stated Becker. “They need to experience the game from a different level. They need to start at the bottom and work their way up then take a test to become an official. It’s a great atmosphere and they would really enjoy it”
Congratulations on Mark Becker’s recognition of 25 years as a referee. Well deserved!!
