Sikeston, Missouri - The #4 seeded Perryville boys basketball team were upended by the #5 seeded Dexter Bearcats in a smashing playoff game in a heated Class 4, District 1 basketball game Monday night at the Sikeston Field House.
It was in the 2009 - 2010 season six years ago that the Bearcats won a playoff game and to come into this tournament and beat Perryville was icing on the cake. The Pirates defeated Dexter earlier in the season and they were looking to avenge that loss.
“That is a big win for these guys,” stated Dexter head basketball coach Josh Dowdy. “To avenge an 18 points loss in this fashion shows how this team has grown together.”
“We played man to man the first time around and they had their way with us,” Dowdy said of the earlier season match-up. “ We pressed at times and played zone tonight and did a pretty good job keeping a hand in the face of their shooters. I thought we did a tremendous job on the boards tonight.”
“We beat a real good basketball team tonight who is very well coached. I am so proud of our guys in how they executed tonight,” continued Dowdy.
Dexter barely held on to the lead at the end of the first quarter with just a one-point advantage. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter the Bearcats went on a scoring run that propelled them to the 59 – 49 victory. The Bearcats tallied 25 points in the fourth quarter, 15 from the charity stripe.
Senior Ethan Flowers led the Bearcats with a game-high 16 points. He was 100% at the charity stripe hitting all 8 of his free throws. Flowers also contributed two 3-pointers.
“Flowers hit some key free throws down the stretch.” Dowdy said. “We were fatigued and tried to spread the floor on them and fortunately we kept it in our shooters hands and it paid off.”
Dexter’s 6’4” 230-pound sophomore Gabe Jackson threw down a pair of dunks in Monday's contest, a one-hand jam and a two-handed stuff, to add the icing on the Bearcats' victory. Jackson also recorded 13 of his 20 rebounds in the first half and finished the game with 14 points.
“Gabe has been looking for that all year,” stated Dowdy. “He picked a pretty big stage to drive them home. Good for him.”
Dexter (15-11) will take on top-seeded Sikeston tonight at 6:00 p.m. in the semifinal round of the Class 4, District 1 tournament at the Sikeston Field House.
“We play again in about 18 hours against arguably the best team in the state. We are just happy to have the opportunity.”
Final Score Dexter 59, Perryville 49
Dexter 9 12 13 25 - 59
Perryville 8 8 15 18 - 49
Dexter (59) - Jason Jarrell 9, Jacob Pedigo 4, Ben Sindle 4, Ethan Flowers 16, Tyler Heil 8, Ryan Mayo 4, Gabe Jackson 14. FG 21, FT 15/25, F 8. (3-pointers: Ethan Flowers 2. Fouled Out: None).
Perryville (49) - Aaron Mueller 6, McGwire Bartley 14, Conner Stark 8, Josh Robinson 14, Nathan Noland 7. FG 19, FT 5/7, F 20. (3-pointers: Aaron Mueller 1, Conner Stark 2, Josh Robinson 3. Fouled Out: None).
