BCT Game 5: Dexter presses Eagles

Dexter's Brandon Stoker, center, is sent flying during a scramble for a loose ball during the first round of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament on Friday, Dec. 26, 2008. At left is Taylor Jarrell while East Prairie's Dustin Caldwell is at right. (Daily American Republic/Brian Rosener)

BLOOMFIELD -- Dexter cleaned and pressed East Prairie in the first half Friday.

The Bearcats scored 32 points off turnovers in the first half and led by that many at the break during an 75-29 win in the first round of the 52nd annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament.

"That's kind of what we preached to them," Dexter coach Rob Nichols said. "Make sure we put good, defensive pressure on them. We didn't think they would handle the press really well."

Dexter (2-5) will play 13th-seeded Puxico at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals. It's a rematch of last year's first-round game when Puxico pulled off an upset.

There was no chance of an upset Friday after Dexter jumped out to a 27-9 lead after one quarter.

The Bearcats (2-5) forced 24 turnovers in the first half alone and had four players reach double figures in scoring and 11 in all get into the scorebook.

Drew Kelley scored 16 points and Jon Bowman added 15 for Dexter while Nick Murphey added 11. Luciano Starling scored all 10 of his points in the first 9 minutes, getting a steal and layin early in the second quarter to put Dexter up 29-9.

Scott Connor scored 13 points for the Eagles.

Dexter was without Alan Flannigan, who was injured during a shoot-around drill. Nichols said the sophomore may be back later in the tournament and that Sunday's day off might help.

The Bearcats didn't need much help on offense in the first half as they hit 11-of-16 shots from the field including four 3-pointers.

"We settled in against their zone and got some open looks," Nichols said. "When we get some open looks, we've got guys that can shoot."

East Prairie, however, managed just seven shots in the first frame and hit just one field goal in a six-point second quarter.

Jered Stephens scored all seven of his points for Dexter in the second quarter. The Bearcats scored the first nine points of the frame and didn't allow a field goal until Scott got a baseline drive to fall with 4:46 left in the half.

Dexter led 47-15 at the break.

DEXTER -- Kelley 6(1) 3-7 16. Starling 5 0-0 10. Windham 0 3-6 3. Summers 1 0-0 2. Stephens 1(1) 0-2 5. Stoker 1 0-0 2. Murphey 4 3-4 11. Bowman 5(5) 0-0 15. Jarrell 1 0-0 2. Cox 0 0-0 0. Phillips 0 0-0 0. Sifford 1 0-0 2. Hester 1 0-0 2. Totals: 29(7) 10-21 75.

EAST PRAIRIE -- Hall 0 0-0 0. Martin 0 0-0 0. Borders 0 0-0 0. Williford 0 0-0 0. Jones 1 1-2 3. Johnson 1(1) 3-4 6. Caldwell 2(1) 2-2 7. Scott 5 3-5 13. Totals: 9(2) 9-13 29.