Deja vu strikes as Dexter downs Park Hills in Class 4 Sectional

sports@standard-democrat.com

POPLAR BLUFF -- In a rematch of their regular season meeting with Park Hills, the Dexter Lady Bearcats got similar results Wednesday in Class 4 sectionals.

After taking a 10-point advantage into the half, the Lady Bearcats continued to pull away for a 59-42 final that propels them back into the quarterfinals for the third straight year.

"The first time we played them they played us close the first half too," Dexter head coach Chad Allen said. "We talked about that. I just really thought if we put up a lot of pressure on their guards they'd have a hard time getting the ball in the post.

"Also, if we kept on the pressure we'd wear them down. In the second half I thought they wore down."

Coming into sectionals the Lady Rebels' (26-2) only loss of the season was their Jan. 20 matchup with the Lady Bearcats, where they fell 77-58. Wednesday's loss gives Dexter ownership of Park Hills' only two defeats this year.

Like back in January, the Lady Rebels looked ready to give the Lady Bearcats a run for their money early.

Not only did they take a two-point lead in the second quarter, 15-13, but they also put two fouls on Dexter's leading scorer, senior Hannah Noe, in the first two minutes of the game.

With Noe forced to the bench much of the first quarter, however, Dexter was lifted by the play of senior Erika Cobb. She finished the first half with 13 points, including a pair of game-opening 3-pointers.

It was a basket by Cobb with 6:25 left in the second period that tied the game, 15-15 and the Lady Bearcats' never trailed again.

"Erika Cobb did a really good job starting the game," Allen said. "Offensively she looked to score. We'd hit her in the corner and she'd flash middle. She was really active and stepped up at the beginning of the game for us."

Cobb's bucket was followed by back-to-back turnovers by Park Hills, fueling a 9-0 run by Dexter. A pair of Noe free throws gave her team the lead for good early in the rally and Dakota Reynolds 3-pointer capped it 3:37 left in the half to put her team up 22-15.

The Lady Rebels closed their deficit down to six before four straight points by Noe lifted the Lady Bearcats to a 10-point lead at the half, 31-21.

"They came out with a lot of fight," Noe said of Park Hills. "You could tell they really were hungry. I'm not sure how many times they've been in sectionals, but this year is their first year being in it since we've been here. I thought they played really well.

"The first quarter when I got those two fouls I kind of got cold because I sat on the bench. But I'm proud of how my teammates picked it up."

Dexter came out of the break and continued to pressure, holding the Lady Rebels with a field goal the first seven minutes of the second half. Though they had chances at the foul line during this stretch, Park Hills went only 7 of 12 at the charity stripe.

This allowed Dexter to come out on a 16-7 run and take a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter, 47-30. A run of six straight points by Noe in the final period gave the Lady Bearcats their largest lead of the night, 56-34, with 2:43 to play as they cruised to a win.

"Defensively I thought we had a great night," Allen said. "We were moving well, especially in that third quarter. We were covering their shooters and we're definitely denying the Skagg girls (Megan and Sydney) inside. Overall defensively that third quarter is really where we extended the game."

Despite her early absence, Noe finished with a game-high 20-points while shooting 6 of 18 (33 percent) from the floor. She hit at a much higher clip of 50 percent, 6 of 12, inside the arc and added two assists and two steals to her team's cause.

Cobb had an impressive night from 3-point range, hitting on 4 of 5 attempts (80 percent) on her way to 18-points. She shot 7 of 12 (58 percent) overall from the floor, grabbing five rebounds and two steals in the process.

Sophomore Makayla Waldner had seven points to go with a game-high eight rebounds and three steals.

"Our girls played really well," Noe said. "Defensively we have a lot of stuff we can work on before our next game for sure. We're going to hit that in these next few practices, but overall I thought we played really well tonight."

For Park Hills, Sydney Skaggs was their only player to score in double-figures. The junior had 15 points, shooting 4 of 7 (57 percent) from the field and collecting five rebounds.

On the game Dexter won the turnover battle 28-20 thanks in part to 15 steals and out-rebounded the Lady Rebels 23-21.

With many of his senior leaders facing foul trouble at some point, Allen credited his group of sophomores, Waldner, Reynolds and Melanie McKuin, with providing some critical minutes.

"Starting the game we wanted to try and put a lot of pressure on them," Allen said. "We got in some foul trouble with Hannah Noe picking up two (early). But I thought our pressure was good and we wore them down.

"Overall I thought our sophomores really stepped up and had a great game tonight. Especially when we had someone in foul trouble."

With the win Dexter moves on to the quarterfinals, where they'll play Battles Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Farmington Civic Center in Farmington.

Dexter 13 18 16 12 - 59

Park Hills 11 10 9 12 - 42

DEXTER (59) -- Dakota Reynolds 6, Hannah Noe 20, Alison Jarrell 2, Erika Cobb 18, Paige Patterson 6, Makayla Waldner 7. FG 21, FT 9-13, F 21. (3-pointers: Reynolds 2, Cobb 4, Waldner 2. Fouled out: Jarrell.)

PARK HILLS (42) -- Mackenzie Jones 8, Sydney Skaggs 15, Megan Skaggs 4, Jensen Uding 6, Abigail Fischbeck 7, Casey Olivia 2. FG 12, FT 16-28, F 18. (3-pointers: Uding 2. Fouled out: Megan Skaggs.)