Dexter

DEXTER – The message was clear that Bernie High School baseball coach Marcus Massey sent to Mule relief pitchers Seth Teel and Leightin Hicks as they worked against Dexter on Thursday at East Park.

For Cole Nichols’ entire athletic existence, his father, Rob Nichols, has always been a constant in his son’s development.

The Dexter High School baseball squad came back down to Earth on Tuesday after earning a surprising 16-5 season-opening win at Poplar Bluff on Monday. The Bearcats fell 11-6 at East Park in Dexter to Portageville (7-0), which was the 2022 MSHSAA Class 2 state runner-up.

POPLAR BLUFF – It didn’t take long for first-year Dexter High School baseball coach Steve Edwards to make an impact with the Bearcat program.

The home opener for the Poplar Bluff boys tennis team didn’t end the way the Mules wanted as they fell 6-3 to the Dexter Bearcats. The Mules are kicking off their season with many new faces, and coach Michael Sowatzke said it was the test they needed to break in the newcomers...

Winter sports have come to an end in Southeast Missouri and for many of the schools in the area, successful seasons. New Madrid County Central won the Class 3 State Championship and the Notre Dame girls and Jackson boys each captured fourth in the state in Class 5 and 6, respectively...

KENNETT – Dexter High School came out on top of the Kennett Quad golf tournament Wednesday, March 22, 2023. On Kennett Country Club's course with a par of 36, Dexter's Alyssa Warren medaled for the Bearcats with a two-over score of 38. With a team score of 164, she was followed by Tucker Temples with 42, Ben Christian with 43, Banks Nesselrodt with 45, Carter Stone with 41 and Ethan Zabelin with 64...

The boys’ and girls’ All-SEMO Conference Team was recently released. Those selected were Sikeston junior Dontrez Williams, Charleston sophomore PJ Farmer and senior Rico Coleman, New Madrid County Central juniors Jadis Jones and Bj Williamson, Cape Central senior Cameron Williams and junior Jay Reynolds, Jackson senior Clayton Ernst and junior Blayne Harris and Dexter senior Cole Nichols...

The Doniphan and Dexter boys and girls basketball teams racked up some honors when the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association released its all-district team for Class 4 District 1. Additionally, Poplar Bluff had two players receive all-district honors in Class 6 District 1 — Darius Graham on the boys side and Madelyn Eads on the girls side...

The Notre Dame Frozen Invite lived up to the name on Saturday. With temperatures in the low 30s despite sunny skies, 15 teams competed, with Jackson placing first in both boys and girls. Cape Central boys placed third behind Festus, while the girls finished in seventh. Notre Dame finished fourth in both boys and girls...

DEXTER — A new skipper is bringing a whole new energy to the Dexter Bearcats baseball team as the team hits the ground running this spring. After spending the previous 10 years as the baseball coach for Poplar Bluff, new Dexter coach Steven Edwards’ excitement for the upcoming season is at an all-time high...

It’s hard to believe it has been a year since we lost Kyle Smith. It was a year ago on Sunday (March 12) when Donna Farley called me. I thought, it has something to do with work — maybe needing me to write about some breaking news that had happened that day, especially since I might have been on call that weekend...

FARMINGTON – Midway through the third quarter of its MSHSAA Class 4 Sectional 1 boy’s basketball game against Central (Park Hills) on Monday at the Farmington Civic Center, things were looking spectacularly good for Dexter.

DEXTER — The wait is over for the Dexter Bearcats. The ‘Cats claimed their first district championship since 2004 with a dramatic second-half comeback Friday night to top the Notre Dame Bulldogs of Cape Girardeau 42-36 in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 championship game at the Bearcat Event Center...

DEXTER — There’s been a Willis Reed sighting in Dexter. Dexter Lady Bearcat senior center Caitlin Giles continued her battle with a knee injury while postponing surgery until season’s end to try and help the No. 4 seed Dexter fight for a Class 4 District 1 title this week, continuing with Thursday’s semifinal against the top-seeded Doniphan Donettes...

DEXTER — The hope for many local basketball fans was for a potential Class 4 District 1 championship rematch of the hard-fought Bloomfield Christmas Tournament final between the Dexter Bearcats and Doniphan Dons. However, third-seeded Notre Dame had other ideas...

Editor’s note: This poll was based on results through Wednesday. All rankings are performance-based per level and sport and not a head-to-head potential barometer. A lot of teams have seen their seasons end so that will drastically affect the current Power 8 poll, but fret not — a team that loses can still be in the poll one last time before falling out permanently and can be considered for the end-of-the-year Team of the Year top 10 countdown...

The goal for every basketball team – at every level – is to be playing its best basketball as it enters the postseason. In the case of the Dexter High School boy’s squad, that has not happened, and its defensive work, or lack thereof, is why that is the case.

DEXTER — The Dexter Lady Bearcats get their key starter back just in time for the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 tournament. After suffering a knee injury a month ago, senior Caitlin Giles returned to help fourth-seeded Dexter advance to the semifinals by defeating No. 5 Perryville 46-43 Tuesday at the Bearcat Event Center...

DEXTER — The season has taken two different paths for the girls basketball teams at Doniphan and Dexter. This winter, both teams started off hot heading into the Twin Rivers Lady Royals Christmas Classic. Dexter entered the fray 6-1, won its first two round games, and then dropped tough decisions to a pair of quality teams in East Carter and Neelyville...

By ALAN DALE Sports Editor Once again, the Dexter Bearcats will play host to a district tournament — but this time there is a familiar face that is missing from the equation. When the top-seeded Bearcats host the Class 4 District 1 tournament beginning Monday, Dexter (18-8) will aim to get into the sectional round after falling in the district final game three straight years to New Madrid County Central. ...

The stage is set for the MSHSAA Class 4 state wrestling tournament, and 10 local wrestlers are headed to Mizzou Arena Friday and Saturday for an opportunity to bring home the gold. The Poplar Bluff Mules are sending five of their athletes to the big finale...

A big night offensively from the senior duo of Cole Nichols and Truman Krapf propelled the Dexter Bearcats to an 82-65 win over the Notre Dame Bulldogs on Tuesday at Notre Dame Regional High School. The Bearcats held a 19-18 lead after one but were able to create some separation in the second quarter to lead 40-28 entering the locker room at halftime...

NAYLOR — Home was very sweet for the Naylor Lady Eagles Tuesday night. Facing sixth-seeded Southland in the first round of the Class 1 District 1 Tournament, the third-seeded Lady Eagles topped the Lady Rebels 69-33. Third-seeded Naylor was led by Harley Sullivan with a game-high 34 points and Chloe Mitchell with 21 points...

On the same day the Jackson Indians received the one-seed in the Class 6 District 1 Tournament, the Indians cruised to a 51-31 win over the Dexter Bearcats on Monday at Jackson High School. The Indians jumped out to a 13-7 lead after the first, but after turning up the pressure with a 2-2-1 press in the second quarter, the Indians led 24-11 at halftime...

VAN BUREN — The fourth-seeded Van Buren Bulldogs defeated fifth-seeded Cabool 44-32 in a thrilling matchup in the first round of the Class 2 District 2 Tournament Monday night. “We were excited to get on the court and grind it out.” said Van Buren’s Benjamin Hawkins. “The team was the reason we won. We kept each other up and we’re at a point in our season where we finally found our chemistry.”...

Postseason wrestling is one of my favorite high school events to cover for Semoball. I usually go to more than one of these tournaments on a single day. This past Saturday, I started the Class 3 District 1 tourney in Farmington and finished at the Class 2 District 1 tourney in Ste. Genevieve...

New Madrid County Central took home the Class 1 District 1 title, finishing with 181.0 points, firmly defeating Valle Catholic in second place at 152.5. The Eagles got first-place wins from Caleb Moore (106), Devin Rowe (144), Gavyn Colbert (150), Connor Henderson (175) and Ty Blakey (190), while Tharon Harper (third, 113) and Christian Williams (third, 157) both advanced to the state championships after finishing on the podium in their respective weight classes...

The state wrestling tournament kicks off next week, but for both Poplar Bluff and Dexter boys wrestling teams, the first stop is the district tournament, which begins Friday and wraps up Saturday. One team is ready to prove their hard work this past season has paid off, and the other is finally healthy just in time to make a run at a state title...

DEXTER — The Dexter Lady Bearcats have struggled to land a win after losing one of their dominant players to injury. It’s been a rough stretch as they try to recapture the early season success before the district tournament. With an emphasis on defense, the Lady Bearcats ended their losing skid with a 66-52 win over Oran High...

The Poplar Bluff Mules needed a near-perfect game to knock off the Dexter Bearcats, and a mid-game turnaround helped them do so a 55-48 win. The Bearcats brought the heat within the game’s first minutes, but the Mules (9-12) found a way to put out that fire with a response after each basket...

Of the 10 losses in 22 games endured by the Dexter High School girl’s basketball squad this season, half of those have come in the last month, following Monday’s 59-39 defeat at Poplar Bluff.

DEXTER – With each basket and/or free throw that Dexter High School senior guard Cole Nichols makes for the remainder of his phenomenal career over the next few weeks, he is going to etch his name in the lore of Bearcat basketball over and over again.

After coming up short in their last matchup, the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules sought revenge against the Dexter Lady Bearcats — and they got it. The Lady Mules got off to a hot start and ultimately took a 59-39 win over Dexter Monday night at the Poplar Bluff High School gym. It was Poplar Bluff's third win in its last four games and sixth in its last nine...

DEXTER – Friday night got off to a poor start for Dexter High School senior guard Cole Nichols.

For the Dexter High School varsity boy’s basketball squad, the lesson learned this week is that sleeping is optional, and effort on the court is definitely not.

CAPE GIRARDEAU – Like two ships passing in the night, the varsity girl’s basketball squads at Cape Central and Dexter high schools are heading in opposite directions at the moment, and that became evident early in the second quarter of their game on Thursday at Cape Central...

It’s time for local ladies wrestlers to make their case for a trip to state.  Both Poplar Bluff and Dexter are sending a small contingent of girls grapplers to their individual district meets beginning today and both squads are heavy with optimism. ...

DEXTER – If Wednesday’s practice was any indication of the health of Dexter High School senior wrestler Eric Harmon, then the three-time MSHSAA Class 2 state qualifier is ready to go for the upcoming Class 2 District 1 Tournament at Ste. Genevieve High School on Feb. 17.

Editor's note: This poll was based on results through Wednesday. All rankings are performance-based per level and sport and not a head-to-head potential barometer. The regular season for basketball, swimming and wrestling are just about over with hoops still having a week or so remaining before the games that matter most tip off...

BELL CITY – If you attended the Bell City High School varsity boy’s basketball game against Dexter on Tuesday at Bell City, and focused on the Bearcats winning 83-27, you really missed the bigger picture regarding the Cubs.

CAPE GIRARDEAU — The Dexter wrestling team went 1-2 in the Cape Central quad meet on Tuesday with a win over Notre Dame and losses against Cape Central and Kennett. Despite the results, head coach Cody Boyer was pleased with how the Bearcats competed overall...

Regional rival Dexter made the short trip to Poplar Bluff late Monday to finally get to work on a dual that was suspended a week due to winter storms at the beginning of the month.  However, the host Mules were celebrating senior night and that would be all they needed for motivation, plus a shorthanded Dexter lineup, to cruise to a 54-15 win over the Bearcats on Monday night.  ...

SIKESTON – Dexter had four players produce offensively in its SEMO Conference boy’s basketball game on Monday at the Sikeston Field House. The host Bulldogs had nine players register in the scorebook, with five of those being non-seniors.

DEXTER – Kids can have a lot on their minds during the summer months. There is going to the local swimming pool and hanging out with friends. There are dates to go on.

Editor’s note: this poll was based on results through Wednesday. All rankings are performance-based per level and sport and not a head-to-head potential barometer. The poll this week is a little special for lovers of winter storms, hard, icy roads and needing ice skates to go to your mailbox...

DEXTER — The Dexter Bearcats wrestling team came into the 2022-23 campaign with plenty of expectations for the team, but alas, that might have taken a left turn into oncoming traffic just a bit.  Head coach Cody Boyer has had to navigate through plenty of obstacles and challenges with the Bearcats as the season’s spate of injuries grew from the onset and hasn’t let up. ...

DEXTER – A mere 14 days earlier, the Dexter High School boy’s basketball squad had done battle with down-the-road rival Bernie and shut down the Mules’ offensive attack, including its super-scorer, senior guard Tristan Johnson in a 48-28 thumping.

SIKESTON — Kate Nichols and Allsion Turnbo led Dexter to a 63-45 win at Sikeston on Thursday, Jan. 26. Nichols finished with 27 and Turnbo added 22 for the Lady Bearcats (12-7), while Landri Hammontree scored a team-high 19 for the Lady Bulldogs (4-14)...