By Jerry Jarrell ~ SEMO News Service

DEXTER -- After opening the season against four of the best teams in the SEMO Conference, the Dexter Bearcats got to take a breather Monday night at home with a 73-28 win over the Caruthersville Tigers.

But the Bearcats can't relax for long. Dexter will plunge back into the upper echelon of the SEMO Conference tonight when the Bearcats travel to Jackson for a game against the state-ranked, Class 5 Indians.

"This is a good one to have this time of year, this tough stretch we've had against all these state-ranked teams we're playing in the SEMO Conference," first-year Dexter coach Rob Nichols said after the win. "It's good that the kids can come in and just have a good time playing. It helps morale when you get a chance to get everyone involved and in the game.

"We've got two tough ones this week in Jackson and Poplar Bluff, so its gets harder quicker," Nichols continued. "Jackson is well coached - big and strong - and they have a lot of experience. They are probably one of the top two or three teams in the area. They are ranked in Class 5 in the state."

Dexter had no trouble with coach Stan Ray's youthful Tigers team, bolting to a 15-0 lead and finishing off the first period up 30-7.

Things never improved for the winless Tigers as the mercy clock brought the game to a quick end in the fourth period.

Senior Kevin Hart dropped in 18 points on nine 2-pointers to lead the 'Cats offensive attack.

Senior Bobby Rawson and junior Drew Kelley each knocked down 13 points as a total of 10 Bearcats got in on the scoring action.