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Dexter snaps back, topples Sikeston in rematch
DEXTER, Mo. — It was an uncharacteristic night for Sikeston and a redemptive one for Dexter.
Just two weeks removed from an 18-point loss in the third-place game of the SEMO Conference Tournament, the Lady Bearcats (3-3) turned the tables with a 52-42 victory over the Lady Bulldogs (4-5) at The Bearcat Event Center on Thursday, Dec. 19.
“It was a great team effort and a lot of girls stepped up tonight,” said Dexter coach Eric Sitze. “For most of the game, we executed well on offense. We ran our sets well and got good looks.”
The reversal of fortune wasn’t just about effort; it was about execution. Both teams made 17 field goals, but Dexter’s efficiency from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line tipped the scales.
The Lady Bearcats knocked down seven 3-pointers, while the Lady Bulldogs connected on just two. At the charity stripe, Sikeston, usually reliable, struggled mightily, going 6-of-16. Dexter capitalized, converting 11-of-13 free throws to further distance itself.
The game began with Sikeston showing its trademark energy and hustle, forcing several jump balls in the opening minutes, but the offense never quite clicked.
“I thought we started out a little flat,” said Sikeston coach Vaughn Shephard. “This wasn’t the same team we played against in the SEMO Conference Tournament.”
Despite the offensive struggles, the Lady Bulldogs found some rhythm late in the first quarter when Landri Hammontree grabbed an offensive rebound and fed Kennedi Sims, who finished through contact to give the team its first lead at 8-7 with 2:06 left in the opening frame.
By the quarter’s end, reserve Lunamaria Turner cleaned up another offensive rebound just before the buzzer, pushing Sikeston to a 17-11 lead.
Early in the second quarter, Hammontree and Sims connected again, this time on a classic give-and-go. Hammontree drew the defense near the free-throw line before threading a perfect pass to Sims cutting toward the rim for an uncontested finish, extending the lead to 24-17.
That’s when Dexter’s Kate Nichols took over.
Nichols, a smaller guard known for her craftiness and ability to use positioning to her advantage, found her groove after a quiet first quarter. She relentlessly attacked the paint, using her angles and body control to finish in traffic. Nichols scored eight straight unanswered points, giving Dexter a 25-24 lead with 2:34 remaining in the half.
Nichols finished with a game-high 25 points.
“She’s a competitor with a nose for the basketball,” Sitze said. “She knows how to score and won’t let a couple of missed shots affect her. We were trying to force it to her in the first game, and we couldn’t get it to her at times. Tonight, she did a better job of being patient and finding her spot.”
Brooklyn Goodman closed the half with a 3-pointer, giving Dexter a 29-24 advantage at the break.
Sikeston briefly trimmed the lead early in the third quarter with inside scores from Marlie Crook, but Dexter always had an answer.
Goodman’s sharpshooting highlighted the period, including a second-chance triple that pushed the lead back to double digits. Goodman finished with 17, going 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.
“She hadn’t had a game like that yet,” Sitze said. “But she’s obviously very capable. She comes in the morning a lot and shoots the ball. She’s a good spot-up shooter and she had a great night for us. She gave us a lift.”
The Lady Bearcats carried a 46-36 lead into the final quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs weren’t ready to fold and cranked up the defensive pressure.
The problem was that while Sikeston held Dexter to just six points in the fourth quarter, it couldn’t turn stops into points or string together meaningful possessions.
“We did not bring our A-game,” Shephard said. “We had some good moments on the offensive end but we did not do a good job of communicating on the defensive end. Mentally we did not show up. There were times when we could’ve turned the game around, but that did not happen for us. Dexter did a good job of keeping us in the rearview mirror and we could not capitalize on the defensive stops.”
The Lady Bearcats' victory not only avenged the previous defeat but also showcased resilience and the ability to adapt.
For the Lady Bulldogs, the loss highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in consistency and execution.
“Right now, it's just about getting experience,” Sitze said. “This was a good game for us. I would have liked to build on our lead in the last two or three minutes, and we didn’t. We’re going to learn something from that.”
Both teams now turn their attention to holiday tournaments. Dexter faces Greenville (2-2) in the Twin Rivers Lady Royal’s Christmas Classic on Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.
Sikeston will take on University City (3-2) in the 31st Annual Saint Dominic Christmas Tournament on Dec. 26 at 2:30 p.m.
DEXTER 52, SIKESTON 42
| Sikeston | 17 | 7 | 12 | 6 | — | 42 |
| Dexter | 11 | 18 | 17 | 6 | — | 52 |
Sikeston (42) — Kennedi Sims 16, Landri Hammontree 14, Marlie Crook 8, Lunamaria Turner 2, Jo’Merrah Montjoy 1. FG: 17. FT: 6-16. F: 14. (3-pointers: Hammontree 2. Fouled out: None.)
Dexter (52) — Kate Nichols 25, Brooklyn Goodman 17, Febe Worley 8, Chloe Warren 1, Raychel Robinson 1. FG: 17. FT: 11-13. F: 14. (3-pointers: Goodman 5, Nichols 2. Fouled out: None.)