Defensive-minded Stone among a group of young Bearcats ready for postseason success

There will be little unknown between Dexter and Kennett today when the two varsity boy’s basketball squads meet today in the semifinal round of the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 tournament.

The game is the second of two semifinals (top-seed Notre Dame faces the host, Fredericktown, at 5 p.m. in the opening game while the Bearcats and Indians tip at 6:30 p.m.

Dexter (12-13) is the No. 2 seed and has played Kennett (10-16), which is the No. 3 seed, twice this season. The Bearcats survived both contests – barely. They beat the Indians 55-52 in the Semo Conference Tournament in December and got past them again last month (68-60) in double overtime.

“If I had to pick a (Most Valuable Player) for this game,” veteran Dexter coach Chad Allen said following the second victory, “it would be (junior guard Carter Stone).”

Two things could play in the Bearcats’ favor today.

First, Allen has junior starting forward Devin Turnbo back healthy after he missed the February match-up with Kennett with a hairline fracture in his left foot.

Secondly, Stone is one of three young Bearcat players (along with sophomores Elijah Ibrahim and Will Guethle) who seem to improve every time the sun rises.

“(Stone) doesn’t score a lot,” Allen said at the time, “but he creates so much defensively. We’ve got to have those kinds of guys.”

The margin for error for Dexter this season has been slim, as noted, particularly against Kennett, which is at a very similar level.

“We’re definitely getting better as the season goes along,” Allen said. “These guys are stepping up.

“It’s a good thing to have.”

Offensively, Stone can score, if needed, according to Allen. On that particular night in February against Kennett, it was Guethle, who torched the Indian defense.

Guethle buried seven 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 23 points.

“When (Stone) is open,” Allen said, “he can knock down a three. He is always trying to get the ball to other people too, offensively.”

Any measurable amount of offense from Stone will help the Bearcats’ cause today, but Allen feels the 6-foot athlete really impacts Dexter’s defense.

“He is always trying to knock (passes) away,” Allen said. “He is always trying to get deflections. He’s just always active.

“These guys just keep getting better.”

The Bearcats ended Kennett’s season a year ago with another narrow win (52-48).

Dexter’s lone District championship in the past two decades was in 2023.