Dexter girls basketball overtakes Kennett 46-43 in final minutes

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Kennett's Caroline Patton drives against Dexter in a varsity girls basketball game Monday at Kennett High School.

KENNETT - The Dexter Bearcats varsity girls basketball squad played from behind most of the way but hit enough shots late to rally past the Kennett Indians.

Dexter overcame a 41-37 deficit in the final two minutes to win at Kennett 46-43 Monday.

“I don’t think we turned it over as much the second half,” Dexter coach Eric Sitze said of the come-from-behind win. “We just have to find a way to execute our offensive sets and get shots off. Right now I’m not even concerned if we make the shots. I just want us to get good shots. I think we did a better job of that in the second half tonight.”

Dexter’s final rally started when Caitlin Giles made a 2-pointer with 1:40 remaining and Dulcie Pullen followed with a transition layup with 1:22 left to tie things up at 41-all.

The Indians led once more after Kaniya Madlock recorded a 2-pointer with 55 seconds left to put Kennett on top 43-41.

Karlee Keirsey answered with a 3-pointer on the end to put Dexter back on top 44-43 with 37 seconds left.

Kennett turned the ball over on its next offensive possession before Magi McBride made a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left to pad Dexter’s lead to 46-43.

After the made free throws, Kennett pushed the ball the length of the floor and passed it to Anelle Harris who was standing near the baseline. Harris got off a desperation shot a foot or two behind the 3-point line about a second before time expired but the shot sailed over the rim, allowing the Bearcats to escape with its 20th straight victory against Kennett in varsity girls basketball.

“They just finished better than we did,” Kennett coach Aaron New said. “We had some silly turnovers late in the game and they hit some shots they hadn’t hit all night."

Kennett jumped out to an 11-2 lead by the 5:12 mark of the first quarter and continued to lead 15-10 at the start of the second quarter. Dexter scored the first seven points of the second quarter to take its first lead at 17-15 but Kennett closed out the first half on a 8-2 run to move back ahead 23-19.

The Indians led by as much as six twice in the third quarter before Dexter cut the margin to 32-31 by the start of the fourth quarter and eventually rallied for the victory.

“We are going to have to find consistency,” New said. “We are good for two quarters and then we are not at times. We’ve just got a find way to get a little bit more consistency out of everyone.”

Pullen recorded 10 points in each half to pace Dexter with 20 points.

“Dulcie does a good job for us,” Sitze said. “She has a nose for the ball. She goes and gets it, jumps well, and finishes well. She a very competitive, hard-working player. We did a good job of getting the ball to her tonight and she did a good job of putting it in the hole for us.”

Senior forward Caroline Patton paced Kennett with 21 points. Patton made seven 2-point buckets and seven of 15 free throws.

“We got the points we needed out of her,” New said. “I thought she played pretty well offensively.”

Two other players also scored in double digits.

Giles contributed seven points in each half on her way to a 14-point performance. Taleigh Harrell tallied 10 points on five 2-point field goals for Kennett.

Kennett (6-7) returns to action Thursday when it visits Charleston. The starting time of the day game is 1 p.m. Kennett won the first meeting with Charleston 52-33 on Dec. 21.

“They are athletic,” New said. “We will have to play better than we did today. Charleston is going to be a challenge for us.”

Dexter (8-5) visits traditional talent Neelyville Thursday night at 6 p.m.

“Neelyville is always good,” Sitze said. They play hard and aggressive. It will be a tough matchup but we are going to get ready for it and do the best we can.”

Dexter 46, Kennett 43

DHS 10 9 12 15 - 46

KHS 15 8 9 11 - 43

DEXTER (46) - Abbie Lloyd 2, Magi McBride 4, Caitlin Giles 14, Karlee Keirsey 6, Dulcie Pullen 20. FG 16, FT 12/18, F 16. (3-pointers: Keirsey 2; Fouled out: None).

KENNETT (43) - Taleigh Harrell 10, Caroline Patton 21, Anelle Harris 3, Kaniya Madlock 6, Ara Speilman 3. FG 17, FT 9/17, F 16. (3-pointers: None; Fouled out: None).

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Dexter's Dulcie Pullen (25) and Kennett's Ara Speilman (50) battle for a rebound in a varsity girls basketball game at Kennett Monday night.