Dexter, Missouri - Are you ready for some BASKETBALL?  The Dexter Bearcats Boys Basketball Camp 2016 is slated for May 31st - June 2nd.  It is open to grades kindergarten through 8th grade. (Boys entering these grades in August 2016).  Athletes will receive a Dexter Bearcats Basketball Camp T-shirt.

The basketball camp features team concepts, ball handling and passing instruction, defensive concepts, ability/age grouping, as well as contests and games. 

Contests include Hot Shot, Free Throw, Chair Dribble, 2 Ball Lay-Ups, Lane Slides, One-on-One, and Team Play.  Each contest winner will receive a certificate.

Kindergarten - 2nd grade camp will be 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, May 31st - June 2nd.

3rd, 4th and 5th grade camp will be 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, May 31st - June 2nd.

6th, 7th, and 8th grade camp will be 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, May 31st - June 2nd.

All camps will be held in the Bearcat Event Center in Dexter.  The cost is $25 and payable to Dexter High School.  Please register by Tuesday, May 17th so t-shirts can be ordered by May 20th; however you may also register the first day of camp.

Advance, Missouri - Brian Whitson, a senior at Advance High School, has signed a letter of intent to play golf at John A. Logan College located in Carterville, Illinois.

He is the son of Marvin and Pam Whitson.

Whitson led the Hornets to the team title at the Class 1 sectional tournament last week at The Oaks at Tan-Tar-A in Osage Beach, Missouri, and a spot in this week's MSHSAA state tournament.

"I have been playing golf with my dad since I was able to walk and hold a golf club," Whitson stated. "Through the years, I have also played several other sports.  I have been involved with basketball, baseball, and football.  Although I enjoy each of these sports, I seem to have excelled in golf the most."

"My ulitmate goal is to earn a degree in Education and eventually become a coach myself.  I have been blessed with several great coaches in my life and I would like to some day help others to reach their fullest potential in the sport of their choice," continued Whitson.

John A Logan's golf program for men is one of the best in the country and the Volunteers are a two-time National Champion!  There were second in 2010 and third in 2012.  Two members of the Volunteers men's golf team have claimed national medalist honors.  Marceio Rozo in 2010 and Filip Timmerman in 2011. 

The Volunteers have made 12 consecutive appearances in the NJCAA National Tournament and never finished lower than 8th place.  They are also the reigning Great Rivers Athletic Conference and Region 24 Tournament Champions.  Logan College has produced the last nine individual Region 24 Tournament medalists and 16 Volunteers have earned All-American Honors.

Shown in the photo standing from left to right: Advance Golf Coach Neil Miles, John A Logan College Coach Tom Ferris, and Advance Athletic Director James Hamlin.  Seated from left to right are Marvin Whitson, Brian Whitson, and Pam Whitson.

Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Bearcats finally got their opportunity to play Potosi in the Class 1, District 1 Semifinal today on their home court.  Severe weather all week kept pushing the match back.  Top-seeded Dexter won three doubles matches and the first two singles matches to secure their 5-0 win.

Varsity Doubles:

No. 1 Ethan Flowers/Addison Moore (D) def. Kyle Ziegler/John Rubb (P) 8-1

No. 2 Zach Potts/Joshua Kohlbaker (D) def. Aaron Wright/Colin Boyer (P) 8-1

No. 3 Jacob Crumley/Will Brehmer (D) def. Gabe Adams/Eli Hampton (P) 8-5

Varsity Singles:

No. 2 Zach Potts (D) def. Dylan Wilson (P) 6-1, 6-1

No. 5 Tyler Stevenson (D) def. Colin Boyer 6-3, 6-1

Dexter (10-2) is the defending District Champion and will take on Notre Dame (5-7) in the District Championship on Friday, May 13th at 2 p.m. in Dexter.

Notre Dame is ranked #3 and defeated #2 seeded Arcadia Valley 5-3 on Wednesday, May 11th.

Dexter has played Notre Dame twice this season according to head tennis Coach Kurt Lovelady.  Dexter beat Notre Dame 8-1 in both of those matches.

Dexter, Missouri - Chandler Young became the latest in his family to sign a national letter of intent to play baseball at the college level.  His older brother Chase, a 2013 Dexter graduate, is currently competing on the baseball diamond at Freed-Hardeman University.  Chandler will join him in the fall.

"It is awesome," Chandler Young said.  "it is something you kind of strive for whenever you are a kid.  My brother Chase signed when I was a freshman.  I saw him sign and knew at that moment I really wanted to compete at the college level and see how I could perform."

"My dad has coached baseball and has been very successful at it," continued Young. "I have also seen my older brother achieve on the field.  It is the sport I have seen my family have success with growing up and I have always felt like the baseball diamond is where I can be very successful.

Longtime head baseball coach Brian Becker has had both brothers on his varsity squad.  "Anytime one of your players signs a letter of intent to go to college you are always proud of them," commented Becker.  "I am extremely proud of Chandler.  He is a kid that has put in a lot of hard work and deserves to reap the benefits of that."

Becker recalled Chandler's ability to deliver at the plate under pressure since his very first high school at-bat.  "His first varsity at-bat I had the bunt sign on and he missed a bunt," Becker said.  "He had two strikes on him so I called him down to the third base coaching box and said, 'You better find a way to get on base.' and he got a base hit.

Young has served many positions on the field.  He has been extremely versatile as a corner infielder, outfielder and a pitcher.  He hopes to keep his options open as he heads off to college.

"It is kind of undecided right now," Young said. "I am looking to play a corner infield or outfield position. But I would also be interested in pitching as well and haven't ruled that out."

Coach Becker thinks hitting could be Young's best asset at the college level.  "I would say in college he would probably be a better hitter than anything because he has got a really good stroke at the plate and I think he will do well down there."

Freed-Hardeman is an NAIA school that competes in the American Midwest Conference in baseball.

"It is a great place," stated Young.  "It is a Christian college and it is a small college so class sizes are smaller and education is a big factor for me.  They also have a winning program that is currently ranked nationally.  They are second in their conference right now and hopefully they can build on that in their tournament.  It is a successful program as well that offers good academics."

Young plans to major in Psychology and minor in Business at Freed-Hardeman.  "I hope to open my own practice, contract out to people, obtain customers and build a business."

Shown in the photo seated are from left to right Christine Young, Chandler Young, Marty Young.  Standing from left to right are Cody Boyer, Derek Urhahn, and Brian Becker.

Dexter, Missouri - Dexter High School senior Brittany Brown signed her letter of intent to play volleyball at Crowley's Ridge College in Paragould, Arkansas and will have the opportunity to rejoin her sister Ashley Brown on the court next season.

"I am very excited," stated Brown.  "It is going to be more challenging, just like transitioning from middle school to high school volleyball, It is just another step."

Brittany's sister Ashley is currently a setter in volleyball at Crowley's Ridge.  Head volleyball coach Barry Wheeler is excited to land both girls on his team.

"Brittany is a great player and I am very excited to have her come and play for us," Wheeler said.  "With her sister being there it helped quite a bit getting her to come here.  She will have a shot to start right off the bat as a defensive specialist for us.  We are banking on her being able to play right away.  She can get to a lot of balls that kids cannot get to and it is fun watching her."

Brittany has played the position of libero most of her high school career under the leadership of Coach Carmen Morgan.  She has also enjoyed a fair share of success her senior year winning the SCAA Tournament and SCAA regular season titles for a third straight year.  She was also selected SCAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

"I am really excited for her and the program," stated Dexter head volleyball coach Carmen Morgan.  "Brittany is a tenacious player.  She gives effort every day, even in practice games.  She is a go-getter that never complains.  She is the kind of player you love to coach."

"Defense is a game within a game," continued Morgan.  "It is a state of mind.  Brittany has that defensive state of mind.  She will step in there and never let a ball get past her.  She is quick and agile."

Morgan said that Brittany displayed her defensive abilities time after time in a drill called 21 in their regular volleyball practices.  "We have a drill that we do called 21 where you have to touch 21 balls thrown/rolled to you," said Morgan.  "The balls are rolled everywhere fast and slow.  It is all about foot speed and they have to touch them before the balls roll out of bounds.  Brittany would always go last and she would always get every ball.  She would touch every one without me throwing an extra ball and she would get every ball."

Brittany said her most memorable moment on the volleyball court was winning a District Title in 2014.  "Now that was really cool!"

Crowley's Ridge College competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association in women's basketball, volleyball, and softball.  It is a four year college.

Wheeler is enter his first season as head volleyball coach at Crowley's Ridge.  he served as head coach at Houston High School before coming to CRC.

"I am bringing in 12 freshmen with three returning players off of last season's squad.  These 15 players will be the most they have ever had on a team and I was able to bring in five players from the area in Missouri where I came from," stated Wheeler.

"They only had 7 players last year, but managed to qualify for regionals and that is a pretty big deal with only seven kids."

Brittany said she is unsure about a major, but is considering a degree in the medical field, perhaps nursing like her mom.

"I may want to do something with nursing, maybe," Brown said. "My mom is a nurse and Ashley is wanting to be a nurse, maybe I will follow in their footsteps."

Shown in the photo are seated from left to right: Regina Brown, Brittany Brown, and Johnny Brown.  Standing from left to right are Barry Wheeler, Joyce Kitchens, Ashley Brown, Bill Kitchens, and Carmen Morgan.