Dexter rolls to easy win at Puxico

Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter's Alan Flannigan throws down a dunk to open the fourth quarter scoring Tuesday night at Puxico. [Click to enlarge]

PUXICO -- Dexter bolted out to a quick lead and never looked back in a 71-44 SCAA win over Puxico on the road Tuesday night.

Alan Flannigan scored the game's first basket and the Bearcats used three 3-pointers in the opening frame to take charge of the game, 22-5. The 6'6" junior finished with 21 points, including a dunk to open the fourth as the 'Cats rolled to an easy win and improved to 6-7 on the season and 2-1 in league play.

Puxico battled the entire game and regrouped after absorbing Dexter's initial push to match the 'Cats with 15 second quarter points to trail 37-20 at the half, but the 'Cats slowly added to their advantage over the next two quarters leading by as many as 22 in the third before finishing with the 27-point win.

John Smith continued his stellar play for the Indians with 19 points. The senior came into the game averaging just over 24 points per game.

Dexter also got a 12-point effort from Brandon Stoker, who knocked two 3-pointers. The 'Cats had four players score seven points.

Dexter shot 43 percent from the field (28-of-65) and 33 percent from behind the 3-point line (4-of-12). Puxico finished 16-of-44 from the field (36 percent) and 2-of-11 from behind the arc (2-of-11).

Puxico slipped to 4-10 on the season and 0-3 in SCAA play.

The two teams will meet again Tuesday in the first round of the SCAA tournament which gets underway Monday at Bloomfield. Dexter enters as the No. 2 seed, while Puxico comes in as the No. 7 seed.

In the junior varsity contest, Dexter took 64-32 decision as Daniel Fitts led all players with 18 points while Nick Summers added 15 and Jake Lee dropped in 14.

The JV 'Cats improved to 4-3 on the season and are the No. 1 seeds in the upcoming SCAA tournament. Dexter has won four straight after starting the season 0-3. Puxico, which is the tournament's No. 4 seed, slipped to 8-4 on the year.

The competition will toughen up considerably when the Bearcats return to the court Thursday against New Madrid County Center in a SEMO Conference contest at the new Bearcats Event Center. That game was originally on the schedule as a Friday game but has been moved up a day to allow Dexter to host the SEMO Conference Wrestling Tournament Friday and Saturday. There will be a freshman game at 5 p. m. to start Thursday's action.

Boxes

Varsity

Dexter 71 , Puxico 44

DEXTER -- (fg-ftm-fta-tp) Stoker 4-2-2-12, Windham 3-0-3-7, Summers 2-0-0-4, Hester 2-3-3-7, Flannigan 9-3-5-21, Robey 2-0-0-5, Bowman 3-1-2-7, Clouse 0-1-2-1, Jarrell 3-1-1-7, Phillips 0-0-0-0. Totals: 28-11-18-77.

PUXICO -- Harty 1-0-1-3, Duvall 0-2-4-2, Smith 6-6-9-19, Woolard 3-0-0-6, Moore 4-0-2-8, Martin 1-2-4-4, Davis 1-0-0-2. Totals: 16-10-20-44.

3-Pointers: Dexter 4 (Stoker 2, Windham 1, Robey 1); Puxico 2 (Smith 1, Harty 1)

Junior Varsity

Dexter 64, Puxico 32

DEXTER -- (fg-ftm-fta-tp) D. Fitts 8-0-0-18, Richardson1-0-0-2, J.. Fitts 1-0-0-3, Lee 6-2-2-14, Miller 5-0-0-10, Summers 5-3-4-15, Moore 0-2-4-2. Totals: 26-7-10-64.

PUXICO -- Plunkett 1-0-0-3, Grane 1-1-2-3, Camdon 3-0-0-7, Martin 6-2-4-14, Roberts 2-0-0-4. Totals: 13-3-6-32.

3-Pointers: Dexter 5 (D. Fitts, 2, Summers 2, J. Fitts 12); Puxico 3 (Plunkett 1, Grane 1, Camdon 1).

Varsity

Bloomfield 75, Bernie 67

BERNIE -- (fg-ftm-fta-tp) Welch 4-3-4-1, Owens 4-5-6-15, Smith 5-5-6-15, McGowan 5-2-2-14, Stevens 1-1-2-3, J. Walker 2-0-0-4, S. Walker 1-0-2-2, Shipman 1-0-0-3. Totals: 23-16-22-67.

BLOOMFIELD -- McNeil 5-0-1-11, Hensley 6-5-6-17, Rice 5-4-5-15, Hill 6-4-4-20, Caldwell 2-3-3-7, Bader 2-0-0-4, Sperino 0-1-2-1. Totals: 26-17-21-75.

3-Pointers: Bernie 5 (Owens 2, McGowan 2, Shipman 1); Bloomfield 6 (Hill 4, Rice 1, McNeil1).