Semoball

Dexter boys basketball holds off NMCC for first SEMO Conference win

Dexter's Garrett Henson (33) attempts a shot in front of New Madrid County Central's Donnie Ray Brown during the first quarter Friday night at New Madrid. Henson scored 11 points in Dexter's 50-48 victory.(DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith)

NEW MADRID — The Dexter Bearcats used a 9-0 fourth-quarter run and some crucial rebounds late to beat New Madrid County Central 50-48 Friday night.

The Bearcats fell behind 44-39 early in the fourth quarter before Braxton Foster made a jumper and scored on a drive inside, Nate Gargas scored on an assist from Garrett Henson and Eric Hahn made a 3-pointer to give them a 48-44 lead.

NMCC cut its deficit to two on Kevon Williams’ second-chance basket.

The Bearcats had a chance to clinch the win at the free-throw line, but they missed the front end of three straight one-and-one opportunities to give NMCC life.

During that stretch, Andrew Ellinghouse came up with a steal, Henson snared on offensive rebound and Foster grabbed a defensive rebound before he was fouled with 10.8 seconds left. He made both free throws for a 50-46 lead.

The Eagles’ Christen Phillips scored a wide-open layup right before the buzzer, but they had no time to foul or a get a steal.

Foster scored six fourth-quarter points and finished with a game-high 17.

“Braxton Foster, he missed a couple (free throws), but he hit two real big ones to put us up by four. That was big, allowed us to do what we did there at the end,” Dexter coach Lloyd Hyten said. “He played a good energetic game. He drove. He didn’t succeed every time, but he was really hustling and playing hard. He did a good job.”

The Bearcats (9-6, 1-2 SEMO Conference) won their first conference game of the season. NMCC fell to 8-8 and 1-3.

“Anytime you come to New Madrid and win down here, you’ve played a good ballgame, and we did,” Hyten said. “We didn’t turn it over a whole lot. We had a few turnovers but not as many as a lot of teams do against that pressure defense. Coach (Lennies) McFerren is known for his defense. You score 50. That’s quite a few against his teams.”

Henson (11 points) and Ellinghouse (11) joined Foster in double-figure scoring for the Bearcats.

“Just an excellent team win,” Hyten said. “I was really, really proud of them. I mean, I’m as proud of them as any game this year.”

The Eagles’ Williams finished with a team-high 14 points, Thailin Marsh had 11 and Johnnie Walker had 10.

The game was back and forth with six lead changes, and the score was tied on six occasions. Neither team led by more than eight points.

Ellinghouse made a long jumper to open the scoring in the first quarter, and Henson scored along the baseline for a 4-2 Dexter lead. The Eagles pulled ahead on baskets by Donnie Ray Brown and Williams before Foster tied the score at 6 on a putback.

Williams added six more points to give the Eagles a 12-9 lead after one quarter.

The Eagles picked up the tempo in the second quarter and pulled ahead by as many as eight points (28-20) on Marsh’s 3-point play. However, the Bearcats closed the quarter with three straight 3-pointers by Ellinghouse to give them a 29-28 halftime lead.

Marsh scored five points and had an assist in the third quarter, helping the Eagles take leads of 31-30 and 39-37.

After Marsh scored following a Dexter turnover for the one-point lead, Henson made two free throws to give the Bearcats a 32-31 advantage. The Bearcats pulled ahead by four on another free throw and a layup by Henson.

“It was back and forth,” Hyten said. “We got up for four in the third quarter. You know, you never relax. The next thing you know, you look up there and it’s tied again.”

NMCC tied the score at 35 on a putback by Marsh and a long jumper by Williams, but the Bearcats took a 37-35 lead when Henson finished on a pass from the wing by Ellinghouse.

The Eagles made back-to-back dunks to take a 39-37 lead. Williams tied the score when he dunked after a pass from Marsh, and Walker stole the ball and dunked for the two-point lead.

Foster made a jumper before the buzzer to tie the score at 39.

Seth Rogers left the game in the third quarter after hitting the floor hard. He was kept out because of concussion-like symptoms. 

“We just had everybody step up,” Hyten said. “Nate Gargas, he handled the ball real well after Seth got hurt. Eric Hahn hit a big 3. Ellinghouse hit three (3s) in a row. We were eight down, and he hit 3 in a row to put us one up at halftime.”

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: