Experienced, talented Nichols to carry Bearcat load

Then-Dexter High School junior Kate Nichols prepares to shoot a free throw against Saxony Lutheran last season at the Bearcat Event Center.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The Dexter High School girls basketball program has strung together three consecutive non-losing seasons, but if the Bearcats hope to make it four successful seasons, it is going to take a good dose of coaching acumen from veteran leader Eric Sitze and a whole lot of Kate Nichols.

“We’re learning a lot about each other,” Sitze said of the early practices. “We lost a lot of girls from last year. I only have one returning starter.”

But that ONE is a very, very good player.

Nichols is in her fourth season of helping Dexter win games and she can score in a myriad of manners.

“Kate is just a hard-nosed competitor,” Sitze said of the guard. “She wants to win. She plays hard for us every night.

“She leads by example every night.”

Nichols crossed over the 1,000-point plateau as a junior and will be heavily relied upon this year at both ends of the court.

“She is just one of those competitive kids that I hope everyone else feeds off of,” Sitze said.

The Bearcats do have some experience returning, though not a lot.

Senior post player Febe Worley provides a six-foot presence in the paint and is coming off a strong offseason.

“Febe had a really good summer for us,” Sitze said. “I think that she is improving every day.”

Dexter High School girl's basketball coach Eric Sitze speaks with his team during a timeout in a game last season against Saxony Lutheran at the Bearcat Event Center. (Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com)

Worley was a reserve a year ago, but Sitze said this season her role will be much more significant.

“She may not come off the court much for us this year,” Sitze said. “She needs to be big for us inside. She needs to be a good defender for us and a good rebounder for us.

“Every time that she gets the opportunity to score, she needs to take her opportunity.”

Last season, the Bearcats won 14 games and averaged over 53 points per game. With offensive experience lacking, Dexter will have to work defensively each game this season for success.

“If Febe and (sophomore forward Mauriona ‘Mo’ Menley) can be big inside and cause a lot of problems for people to score inside,” Sitze explained, “we’re going to have to figure out how to guard on the perimeter.”

Sitze does have high hopes for Menley, who is nearly six feet in length.

“She will definitely play,” Sitze said of utilizing Menley a lot. “She is our No. 2 option (inside), for sure.”

“I think people will be impressed with what they see from (Menley) this year,” Sitze said. “She has improved a lot and had a really good summer.”

Sitze said Menley has offensive skills both facing and being posted on the blocks, which makes her a “hard guard.”

“She’s got good length,” Sitze said, “and she shoots the ball. She can be a tough assignment for some people.”

Sitze also said that senior guard Kenady Krapf has come out for the team this season after not playing for a couple of years. She will be joined in the backcourt by Nichols and sophomore Brooklyn Goodman.

“I hope they can knock down a couple of (three-pointers) for us,” Sitze said, “and stretch that defense out a little bit.”

The Bearcats will participate in the Kennett Jamboree on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. to open their season before competing for real in the SEMO Conference Tournament next month at Notre Dame High School.