Dexter stops Bernie; Green Wave rolls to win

By DAR STAFF

Kevin Hart scored a game-high 28 points and David Hessling added a season-high 13 to lead Dexter to a 57-48 win Friday over visiting Bernie.

"Kevin is a good scorer for us offensively and he wants to carry that load for us, but I think David Hessling may have played his best game of the season," first-year Dexter coach Rob Nichols said. "He showed some leadership, played good defense and really brought a lot of intensity to the game."

Zach Curry led the Mules (9-4) with 14 points while Jake Owens added 12.

Consecutive 3-pointers by Jake Welch and Curry midway through the first quarter capped an 11-0 run for Bernie, which led 21-12 heading into the second quarter.

Dexter, however, finished the half with a 9-3 run and led 32-28 at the break. Hessling opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer after Bernie pulled within 43-40.

"After the first quarter, we really struggled offensively tonight," Bernie coach Brad Botsch said. "I thought Dexter played with more intensity defensively and were the hungrier team."

Malden 70, Bloomfield 40

Chad Hudson and Leonard Burton each scored 13 points to lead five Malden players in double figures as the Green Wave pulled away in the second half.

"Leonard did a real good job around the basket," Malden coach Robert Ison said of the 6-foot-5-inch senior.

The Green Wave (13-2) held a five-point lead after the first quarter and stretched it to 36-25 by halftime.

"We came out flat," Ison said, adding that his team mixed up its defense in an effort to distract Bloomfield's shooters.

The defensive adjustments Ison made at halfime paid off in the second half as the Green Wave limited Bloomfield's Kyle Williamson to three points in the half, all coming in the third quarter, after he had scored 17 in the first half.

"Williamson still got 20 on us," Ison said. "We need to know where he is on the floor at all times."

Nick Perkins added 12 for the Green Wave, while Zech Payne scored 11 and Marvin Fields contributed 10.

Van Buren 63, Clearwater 54

Clearwater's Luke Hillis led all scorers with 24 points, but the Tigers, who used only six players, wore down as the game went on and fell to the Bulldogs.

"This is the second game in a row that Luke has really stepped up," Clearwater coach Louis Bell said.

The Bulldogs outscored the Tigers 24-11 in the second quarter, including scoring the quarter's first eight points, to take a seven-point lead into the half.

The Tigers (1-9) recovered and held a five-point lead in the fourth quarter before fatigue set in and they faded down the stretch.

Holcomb 57, Neelyville 53

Chad Adams scored 15 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Hornets past the Tigers, who rallied from a 12-point deficit early in the fourth quarter but couldn't complete the comeback.

"We didn't rebound and had to play catch-up," Neelyville coach James Patty said.

Neelyville (5-7) scored the first eight points, but the Hornets recovered to claim a 29-22 halftime advantage.

Jeremy Patty led three Tigers in double figures with 17 points. Jeremy Young added 13, while Curtis Hansen scored 10.

Clarkton 88, Gideon 65

The Reindeer built a 31-5 lead in the first quarter for their 10th win of the season.

The Bulldogs managed to trim the lead to as little as 10 points in the fourth quarter before the Reindeer recovered.

Tolby Richardson led the Reindeer offense by dishing out 10 assists to his teammates and adding three points.

"Tolby did a good job pushing the ball down the floor," Clarkton coach Scott Blackburn said.

Campbell 75, Risco 64

Jordan Baggett scored 19 points, Andrew Pearson added 14 and Justin Fowler chipped in 11 to lead the Camels, who led 19-11 after one quarter.