'Cat guard managing, learning new role this winter

Dexter High School sophomore guard John Sepulvado drives against Woodland recently in Marble Hill.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

There is no shortage of new faces this winter on the Dexter High School boy’s basketball roster, and that inexperience has shown.

The Bearcats have dropped five of their first seven games, and defending its title in this week’s Bloomfield Christmas Tournament will be a monumental task.

“We just have to keep getting more experienced,” Bearcat coach Chad Allen said recently after falling to Woodland for the first time in nearly a decade. “We just have to keep getting better.”

Dexter is the No. 5 seed in the Bloomfield event and will open play today at 2:15 against No. 12 seed Bernie (4-3).

There have been several young Bearcat athletes who have shown ability at times this season, none more so than the most experienced player Allen has at his disposal, senior center Ethan Zebelin.

“Ethan can score quite a bit inside,” Allen said earlier this season of the 6-foot-4 post player. “He’s a beast on the boards. He’s our main rebounder.”

Zebelin does work the glass well, however, Dexter has shown that it has to do everything by committee, given a lack of star power, as it had a year ago with now-graduated Cole Nichols, who left the program as the leading scorer in Bearcat history.

One of those contributing players is lanky sophomore guard John Sepulvado.

“He’s never played point guard before,” Allen said of Sepulvado’s new role. “I wanted to stick him out there, and with him handling the ball, it will just make him a whole lot better (of a player).”

Dexter High School sophomore guard John Sepulvado pulls down a rebound in a crowd against Woodland recently in Marble Hill. (Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com)

Sepulvado has shown, not just the ability to run the Bearcats’ offense, but he can score because of his length, as well.

He also has a quick enough first step to get into the heart of opposing defenses and create issues for the opposition.

“He has done a great job for us,” Allen continued. “He’s another one who is just going to keep getting better.”

In the Bearcats’ most recent game, a loss at Woodland, Sepulvado scored nine points.

Earlier, in a close victory over a good Richland (Essex) team, Sepulvado’s late free throw and lay-in were critical to the Bearcats holding off the Rebels, as he had nine points in that game, as well.

“There is no margin for error with us,” Allen said of this year’s squad. “We’re going to have to get after it all of the time.”