sports@standard-democrat.com
DEXTER -- Back in the same spot where last season ended, the Dexter Lady Bearcats once again stand just a game away from that elusive final four appearance they've coveted for so long.
All that stands in Dexter's way is the Rosati-Kain Kougars, who the Lady Bearcats will face in the Class 4 Quarterfinals Saturday at 7:45 p.m. at the Farmington Civic Center in Farmington.
On record alone, Dexter, who made the final four last in 2009, would appear to be heavy favorites as the Lady Bearcats boast a 25-3 mark while the Kougars are 11-17.
Dexter is coming off a dominant sectional win over North County where they outscored the Lady Raiders 42-15 in the second half of a 71-33 rout.
Senior Brittany Harris had her best performance of the postseason, and possibly career, with a game-high 31 points, going a perfect 13 of 13 from the field and 5 of 5 at the free throw line.
Harris is averaging 21 points per game through the Lady Bearcats' three postseason games with junior Hannah Noe pitching in 10 points a game during that frame.
Erika Cobb is averaging 7.6 points through the playoffs, including a 10-point effort against North County.
Rosati-Kain, located in St. Louis, is led by senior Katy Kessler, who provided the Lady Raiders with 19 points in their 47-44 Sectional win over Lutheran South.
She shot 8 of 14 from the floor in sectionals while helping her team to a 13-9 fourth quarter charge that proved the difference in the contest.
In the same contest, senior center Oluwashayo Oginni, who stands at 6-3, put up 11 points on 5 of 10 shooting.
It was Oginni who converted a natural 3-pointer to give the Lady Kougars a 3-point lead late before teammate Emily Secrist, a senior, knocked down a pair of game-sealing free throws in the final minute.
The win propelled Rosati-Kain to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1981-82.
Whoever moves on the Show-Me Showdown will earn the honor of facing the winner the of Incarnate Word/Kirksville quarterfinal matchup in the Class 4 semifinals. Incarnate Word boasts an undefeated 28-0 record while Kirksville stands at 24-1.