POPLAR BLUFF - The Three Rivers College Raiders men’s basketball team, which won the Region XVI title Saturday night, will play for the District 4 Championship at the Bess Activity Center in Poplar Bluff at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Area residents are urged to turn out to cheer on the Raiders as they take on the Region IV Champions Highland (Ill.) Cougars. The winner of this game will advance to the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Tournament March 20-24 in Hutchinson, Kansas.

The Raiders, who were third seed in the Region XVI tournament, pulled off two upsets to win the regional title, including defeating top-seeded Moberly 66-63 on Saturday.

“These last postseason games are all that really counts,” Three Rivers coach Gene Bess said after Saturday night's Region XVI win over Moberly. “Right now, we’re 2-0 and we’ve got Highland coming in Tuesday (for the district title game). We’ve got to win one more to make it to the big house. The early games prepare you for this postseason play. We didn’t have a great season overall but what’s really important is the postseason play. That’s what really matters.”

“Wouldn’t it be amazing for us to win about five more and be the national champions,” Bess added.

Admission to Tuesday’s game is $5.

For more information about the Raiders, visit RaidersAthletics.com. For information about the NJCAA National Championship, visit njcaa.org.

Alexa Werneck and Ethan Flowers both competed in the Knights of Columbus state free throw competition last weekend. The Dexter youths traveled to Helias Catholic School in Jefferson City, where they faced competition in the 10 year old (Werneck) and 14 year old (Flowers) divisions.

Werneck came in second place, knocking down 20/25 free throws - a new personal best. She was barely defeated, as the overall winner knocked down 22/25.

Flowers finished in fourth place overall, also hitting 20/25 free throws. The 14 year old boys division was incredibly tough this year, with the winner missing just one free throw in the contest.

Alexa is a fourth grader, and is the daughter of Chad and Amber Werneck. Ethan is an eighth grader, and is the son of Tim and Kim Flowers. Both are students in the Dexter Public Schools system.

Thanks to Amber Werneck and Kim Flowers for the photos!

The DHS softball team was hard at work Friday afternoon preparing for the 2012 season. The Lady 'Cats were focusing on their offensive production on Friday, as Kendra Stevenson (above) eyes her pitch in a batting practice session. The Lady 'Cats are set to open the season on March 27, when they travel to Kennett to take on the Lady Indians.

The Dexter Parks & Recreation Women's Volleyball league is closing out the 2011-2012 season and the winners B-Division are the ladies of First Baptist Church in Dexter. The ladies brought home first place iin the division. Team members include: (front row, from left) Jamie Stevens, Tracy Hedrick, Roxanne McGhee, (back row, from left) Shelly Ward, Lisa Gurloch, LaDawne Northcutt, Grace Lee, Brandi Thompson, and Lisa Britton.  Congratulations ladies! (Photo submitted by the team!)

By Andrew Cato, ShowMe Times Sports Editor

Athletic ability runs strong in the Stevens family.

Nate played football at Illinois Valley Community College, and is the only two-time member of the 1,000 Yard Club. Josh played baseball at Mineral Area College, and led the Football Bearcats to a District Championship during his junior year from the quarterback position.

Cody Stevens, currently wrapping up his senior year at DHS, will be following in his dad and older brother's footsteps next year, as he prepares to continue both his football and golf careers with the Missouri Valley College Vikings in Marshall, Mo.

Stevens led the football Bearcats to two of their best seasons in recent memory during his junior and senior year; he was the first quarterback to run and throw for over 1,000 yards in a season. As a wrestler, Stevens was a three-time state qualifier and two-time medalist, and he holds the school record for takedowns in a season with 114. His golf game is great, as well; you'll commonly find him on the links as a member of the DHS Golf team, as well as over the summer, when he enjoys the game with his dad, mom, and little brother, Ethan.

Stevens had a big decision to make regarding where he would continue his athletic career and education, but ultimately Missouri Valley stood out because of its similarities to home.

"Lindenwood-Belleville, Lake Forest, Cornell, and Luther Norse all recruited me," he said. "Three wanted me for wrestling, all wanted me for football, and Missouri Valley wanted me for all three."

"Valley stood out, because the town is small like Dexter is," he continued. "I really liked it when we went to visit, and the golf coach offered me a full ride on the spot."

Stevens said his road to a golf scholarship was quite unexpected. During his official visit to the school earlier in the year, he had already been offered a football scholarship, but wanted to talk to coach Jim Anderson, Mo. Valley's head golf coach, before leaving the campus.

After a brief visit, Stevens and Anderson - a former member of the Philadelphia Eagles - agreed to a more valuable golf scholarship, but with the ability to still play football.

Stevens is now busy preparing for the upcoming golf season, but after graduation in May, he plans to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice.

Photo above:
Cody Stevens (center) signs his National Letter of Intent to play both football and golf at Missouri Valley College next year. With Stevens are (front row): Maria and Nate, his mother and father, and (back row, from left) DHS Golf coach Eric Sitze and DHS Football coach Aaron Pixley.