Flannigan powers Dexter's win

Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter's Alan Flannigan is shown blocking a shot by Caruthersville's Seth Littrell

Alan Flannigan produced a huge double-double in points and rebounds to lead the Dexter Bearcats to a 61-49 win over Caruthersville Tuesday night at the Bearcat Event Center.

Flannigan finished with 32 points and 19 rebounds as the Bearcats snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 13-11 on the season with one regular season game remaining.

Dexter's game-plan was obvious from the start. The Bearcats showed patience while working the ball around the perimeter against Caruthersville's zone defense until they were able to feed Flannigan in the low post.

The 6'6" Dexter junior scored the 'Cats first seven points of the game for a 7-2 lead, and the inside played opened up 3-point shots by Bryn Hester and Gary Summers around a basket by Flannigan for a 15-6 Dexter advantage.

Flannigan added a break away dunk to his first half performance and Hester and Logan Robey added back-to-back treys to end the first quarter with the Cats leading, 24-8.

"Everybody is stepping up and hitting shots," Dexter coach Rob Nichols said. "Bryn Hester (10 points) came in off the bench and hit three or four of perimeter shots in the first and second quarter. For the most part the guys were really patient against that zone and worked the ball to get it inside which is what we wanted to do."

Dexter played solid fundamental basketball and held a comfortable lead throughout the game against the 13-9 Tigers until the final minute and a half which Nichols termed an "ugly end to a pretty game."

"I think overall the kids played really well," Nichols noted. "We passed the ball well, executed the game plan, and I couldn't be happier with how they played for the most part. Sure, we could shore-up some rebounding in certain pivotal points during the game and take care of that last minute and a half were we didn't execute very well. But a lot of those were just mental mistakes, some were fatigue mistakes, but like I told them in the locker room they need to feel good about how they played and just learn from that last minute and a half.

Dexter led 52-35 heading into the fourth quarter and increased the advantage to 18 (61-43) with 2:37 remaining. Caruthersville coach David Heeb, who coached Bell City to two state titles rallied his troops into a frantic, all-out pressure defense at the end that forced three late turnovers by the Bearcats and said the Tigers finish the game on a 6-0 run to set the final score.

Dexter will play its last regular season game Friday night at the BEC when the 'Cats will host the Cape Central Tigers in a SEMO Conference matchup starting at 6 p. m. before opening Class 4, District 1 action at the BEC Monday night at 7:30 p. m. against Fredericktown.