SEMO Conference: Mules manage to hold off rallying Bearcats

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Poplar Bluff High School sophomore center Justin Briscoe (center) battles against Dexter High School players Landon Annesser (left) and Gibson Booker (right) for a rebound late in a consolation semifinal game on Wednesday in the SEMO Conference Tournament at the Sikeston Field House.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

SIKESTON – The Poplar Bluff High School boys basketball squad starts just two seniors and its key reserves are a junior and a sophomore, but the Mules played more like a seasoned group on Wednesday, as the Mules held off a rallying Dexter team 43-38 in the consolation semifinal round of the SEMO Conference Boys Basketball Tournament at the Sikeston Field House.

“Our schedule is built this way early to play in games like this,” veteran Mule coach William Durden said. “We’ve had three tough games early this year and they have gone one way or the other.”

Poplar Bluff (2-2), which starts sophomores Markell Heard and Sammy Durden, as well as junior Dallas Williams, led throughout the first three quarters, not by a comfortable margin, but by upwards of six, seven, and eight points frequently. However, the Bearcats (3-2) wouldn’t go away and early in the final period, a couple of mistakes by Poplar Bluff led to a 29-29 score.

Dexter sophomore guard Will Guethle buried a three for a 32-29 Dexter lead, and later, former Mule player, Elijah Ibrahim, a sophomore move-in to Dexter, sank a free throw for a 33-29 margin with just under six minutes remaining in the game.

“We got them right where we wanted them,” veteran Dexter coach Chad Allen said following the loss. “We turned them over, got the lead, and then just gave it up.”

Poplar Bluff has had mixed results in games such as these, as Durden alluded to.

The Mules opened this season with a seven-point win over Caruthersville but later lost by four to Notre Dame in the opening round of this tournament.

“We very easily could have booted this game,” Durden said. “We are young and inexperienced.”

In addition to those obstacles, Poplar Bluff lost senior Brendan Durden and Heard to fouls late in the game, which tested the Mules’ depth.

“We are not very deep as far as experience,” coach Durden said, “and when two starters foul out, we had to still figure some things out.”

What Poplar Bluff “figured out” was to drive the ball against Dexter and make the Bearcats foul.

The Mules hit 12 of 18 free throws for the game, with 14 attempts coming in the final period, some of which did occur when Dexter was forced to foul in the final minute, nonetheless.

“We had several bad possessions there (late),” Allen said. “Whether we turned it over or didn’t get a shot off.”

Bearcat junior guard John Sepulvado put his team up 35-32 with a basket, but 6-foot-8 Poplar Bluff sophomore Justin Briscoe grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 2:40 remaining to put his team ahead 36-35.

Mule senior guard Jay Edmundson grabbed his own missed shot, which led to Sammy Durden getting to the free throw line for a make at the 1:27 mark. Edmundson later added a free throw to give the Mules a 38-35 advantage with 62 seconds left in the game.

Williams hit three free throws in the final minute to seal the game.

“I don’t think that we are anywhere close to being as good as we can be,” coach Durden said. “I think that we are going to just keep getting better all year long.”

Edmundson led his balanced team with 10 points while Williams (nine points), Sammy Durden (eight points), Brendan Durden (seven points), and Briscoe (seven points) also contributed.

Sepulvado paced Dexter with 13 points while Bearcat junior forward Devin Turnbo and Guethle each added nine points.

The Mules move on to play New Madrid County Central (1-5) in the consolation championship game on Friday at 5:30 p.m.