By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

The Dexter Middle School Lady Bearcats put on an outstanding show Friday night, downing the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules in both the seventh (28-21) and eighth (43-24) grade contests.

The Lady ‘Cats got one of their first tastes of playing in the Bearcat Event Center, and the young squads definitely rose to the occasion.


The seventh grade contest was easily the more entertaining of the two. The Mules jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, before a pair of steals from Harley Allen and Emily Mouser cut the Mule lead to 5-4. The two teams traded buckets until the end of the first quarter, with Dexter on top 10-9.

Both squads played outstanding defense in the second quarter - each team only scored two points - to send the Lady ‘Cats into the locker room with a 12-11 halftime lead.

Sydney Rodgers quickly put 4 points on the board to open the second half and increase Dexter’s lead to 16-11, but the Mules went on a 4 point lead to bring it back to a one-point game. At the end of the third, Dexter led 18-17.

Allen had a big fourth quarter, coming up with a block and steal, and hitting a big three-point basket at the 5:50 mark. Dexter’s defense stood tough, and held the Mules to just three points in the closing frame to take a 28-21 victory.

Poplar Bluff won the opening tipoff of the eighth grade contest, but MaKayla Waldner quickly stole the ball and put two points on the board for the Lady ‘Cats. Dakota Reynolds hit two threes late in the opening frame to help propel the ‘Cats to 14 unanswered points. The Mules were able to squeeze in a bucket at the close of the quarter, but Dexter held a commanding 14-2 lead at the end of the frame.

Julia Hahn came off the bench and hit a pair of threes midway through the second quarter, which the ‘Cats opened with a 7 point run. Waldner picked up a block that led to a Alexis Tankersley trey in the last minute of the opening half. The Lady ‘Cats went into the half with a 27-8 lead.

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Waldner hit a three to open the second half, helping the Lady ‘Cats to a 38-12 lead at the end of the third.


Poplar Bluff’s defense stepped up in the fourth quarter, holding the ‘Cats to just five points, but it was too little, too late for the Mules. The Lady ‘Cats would go on to earn a 43-24 victory.


Both DMS squads are a perfect 11-0 on the season, and will be in action again on Tuesday, when they host the Kennett Lady Indians at T.S. Hill Middle School.

The contest is set to get underway with the seventh grade game tipping off at 6:00 p.m., and the eighth grade game immediately following.