Dexter seniors learned the value of perseverance

Dexter High School senior guard Nate Harris handles the ball against defensive pressure against Notre Dame this past season at the Bearcat Event Center.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The Dexter High School varsity boys basketball squad labored through a 9-18 season this winter, which didn’t include as much success as some would have hoped, but for the two Bearcat senior players, Nathan Harris and Ethan Zebelin, it was invaluable in terms of preparing them for life.

“I told our seniors how proud I was of them for sticking with it throughout all of these years,” Dexter coach Chad Allen said following the two player’s final game.

The journey for both Harris and Zebelin was arduous. Neither player was handed anything early on in their careers, as they had to work their way into a starting role in their final season.

“Nate and Ethan definitely had to work their tails off through these last four years,” Allen said. “They had a lot of guys ahead of them.”

A lot of talented guys.

A year ago, Dexter graduated seven seniors, who won 20 games for just the third time in 15-plus years, including twice with some of those seniors getting varsity minutes.

This season, Harris and Zebelin, had to lead a young squad which had just one junior (Tucker Temples), as they were all three thrust into much more significant roles.

“Not having upperclassmen,” Allen said, ‘and not having that experience back, it definitely affects you.”

Dexter High School senior center Ethan Zebelin prepares to shoot a free throw against Ste. Genevieve in the recent MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 championship game in Ste. Genevieve. (Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com)

Despite their inexperience, the Bearcats managed to play for a MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 championship before falling in that title game (56-40) to a veteran-laden Ste. Genevieve squad, which like Dexter a year ago, had seven seniors.

“That is where we were last year,” Allen said.

Zebelin closed his career with a nine-point effort while Harris added four. Bearcat sophomore John Sepulvado led Dexter with 16 points.

“Nate and Ethan didn’t get the experience at an early age, as freshmen and sophomores at the varsity level,” Allen said. “Even as juniors, they didn’t get as much experience because we had those good upperclassmen.

“But they fought hard all year, and they improved so much throughout the course of the year.”

After a 3-12 start, Dexter closed the season winning half of its remaining 12 games.

“I told our younger guys that they have now gotten a lot of experience on the varsity level now,” Allen said. “We have to stick together and keep getting better.”

Just like Harris and Zebelin did.