Dexter hoops spending this summer focused on its D

Veteran Dexter High School varsity boy's basketball coach Chad Allen speaks to his team during a recent game in the Rib City Shootout at the Bearcat Event Center in Dexter.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

It’s no secret that the Dexter High School varsity boys basketball program took a step in the wrong direction last season.

After graduating six seniors from a highly successful squad (20 wins and an MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 championship) in 2022-23, the Bearcats endured their first losing season (9-18) in eight years this past season.

“We definitely got some experience underneath our belt from last year,” veteran Dexter coach Chad Allen said after watching his team compete recently in the Rib City Shootout at the Bearcat Event Center at Dexter High School.

The Bearcats graduated just two seniors this spring, so Allen is hoping experience, coupled with a much-improved defense, will lift his program back to its winning ways.

“We got some guys back,” Allen said of six varsity returnees. “So, we just have to keep getting better.”

Last winter, Dexter allowed opponents to score nearly 57 points per game, which was the most since a nine-win 2015 group had allowed.

To remedy that issue, Allen has had his players “playing a lot more man-to-man (defense) this summer.”

“We’re just trying to get better defensively,” Allen said. “I think the (man defense) will pay off.”

Last year, the Bearcats played a lot of 1-2-2 zone defense, and Allen said that could happen again this coming season, even though he has worked on man defense during this off-season.

“Even if we do play that 1-2-2,” Allen explained, “I think our work (on man) will make our zone better, too.”

Dexter will have just one senior this coming season in 3-point shooter Tucker Temples but also returns junior-to-be Gibson Booker, Carter Stone, John Sepulvado, and Devin Turnbo, as well as sophomore-to-be Hunter Massey.

The Bearcats also added Elijah Ibrahim, a sophomore move-in from Poplar Bluff, who will add a presence inside this winter.

“We have to get better at executing our sets that we will run throughout the year,” Allen said.

The next session of the Rib City Shootout continues on July 8-9 at the Bearcat Event Center.