Lady Bearcats hold off Rosati-Kain 64-43, earn trip to final four

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FARMINGTON -- Every season since 2009 -- the last year Dexter advanced to the Show-Me Showdown -- the Lady Bearcats have made it one step closer to state.

2010, lost in district championship. 2011, lost in sectionals. 2012, lost in quarterfinals.

2013? Well, they're still stepping.

After a 64-43 victory over Rosati-Kain Saturday at the Farmington Civic Center, the Dexter Lady Bearcats are headed back to Mizzou Arena for the Class 4 semifinals.

"Those girls four years ago set the bar," Dexter head coach Chad Allen said, referring to the 2009 Dexter team that finished fourth in state. "These girls they wanted it too and they've really worked hard for it. Now they're going to get the chance to have that same experience."

This win was an emotional one for Dexter's two seniors, Brittany Harris and Katelyn Frazier, who have been a part of every failed state run since 2010.

"Every year we've gotten a step closer," Harris said. "We all came in here saying, 'This is me and Katelyn's last year. We have to make it for the seniors.'"

"It hasn't really set in yet," Frazier said. "I'm still trying to absorb it. It got really emotional out on the court the last minute. It's -- I don't know. I can't describe it. It just feels really good."

The Lady Bearcats were led in scoring by Hannah Noe's 21 points. Harris added 16 and Erika Cobb scored 11.

"Amazing. Amazing. This is awesome. This is all we've ever wanted is to get to state," Noe said. "We're not stopping here."

Although the final score indicates a blowout, that certainly wasn't the case.

With just 2:46 left in the game, Rosati capped a 9-2 run to cut Dexter's lead to 49-43.

A stretch of empty possessions and turnovers from Dexter led to the sudden turnaround for Rosati, who played inspired basketball for a team with a losing record and their coach stepping down following the loss.

"Rosati--Kain came out inspired," Allen said. "They played an unbelievable game. They shot the ball extremely well. They battled us hard and gave us a great game. I'm just excited that the girls kept their composure, kept on competing and pulled this one out."

Noe, like she's come accustomed to during this year's playoffs, answered with a drive-killing dagger of a 3-pointer that pushed Dexter's lead back to nine with 2:25 left.

"Honestly, I thought they came out with a lot of fire behind them and they really, really showed up to play. I thought they played us very well for as underestimated as they were."

From that point on, Rosati went scoreless until the final buzzer while Dexter sank 8 of 8 free throws and outpaced the Kougars 15-0 down the stretch.

"They're a great basketball team and we knew that coming in," Rosati coach Meghan Taylor said. "They have so many weapons it's hard to pick one thing -- stopping their great 3-point shooters, stopping their post-players. I think we just ran out of gas at the end."

"That three that (Noe) hit once we cut it to six kind of killed us," Taylor.

Dexter, who saw their chances at a state bid end a season ago on the same Farmington court, gained an early 4-2 advantage they would never relinquish.

They led 18-9 after the first quarter and then 32-20 at halftime.

Unexpected efficiency from behind the arc and overall superb shooting in general from the Kougars kept the game between 14-9 points throughout most of the second half.

Rosati (11-18) shot a blistering 75 percent from the free throw line and close to 50 percent overall from the field.

"It definitely surprised us," Allen said about Rosati's shooting ability. "We knew (Emily Secrist) coming in was shooting 40 percent from behind the arc and those other girls didn't shoot nearly as well. But they came out very inspired and wanted to get this win for their coach since she's stepping down after this year.

"I'm just glad our girls kept on battling."

Two free throws from Rosati's Rose Sandt started their rally in the fourth. A 3-pointer from Secrist, who led the Kougars with 17 points, and another basket from Kathryn Kessler trimmed the Dexter lead to six.

Noe's heroic 3-pointer came moments later to squander Rosati's upset bid.

"I'm just really proud of my girls," Taylor, who is stepping down after eight years as Rosati's coach to spend more time with her family, said. "I think they fought really hard against a better team and they've made me really proud."

Dexter (26-3) will play undefeated Incarnate Word (29-0) at 6:50 p.m. Thursday in Columbia.

This is the Lady Bearcats' second trip to the state tournament in school history.

"For the last few years all we've heard about is the final four," Frazier said. "To finally get to this point it feels like you're accomplishing what you set out to do."

Rosati 9 11 14 9 -- 43

Dexter 18 14 13 19 -- 64

ROSATI (43) -- Emily Secrist 17, Rose Sandt 13, Oluwashayo Oginni 4, Kathryn Kessler 9. FG 15 FT 7-10 F 16. (3-pointers: Secrist 3, Sandt 3. Fouled out: Kessler.)

DEXTER (64) -- Mollie Whitehead 8, Katelyn Frazier 2, Hannah Noe 21, Erika Cobb 11, Paige Patterson 2, Brittany Harris 16, Makayla Waldner 4. FG 20 FT 18-20 F 11. (3-pointers: Whitehead 2, Noe 3, Cobb 1. Fouled out: none.)