Richland (Essex) rallies for third-straight W over Bearcats

Richland (Essex) High School senior point guard Hunter Sanders dishes off to a teammate on a fast break against Dexter on Monday at Richland (Essex) High School.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

ESSEX – Midway through the third quarter of its varsity boys basketball game against Dexter on Monday, the Richland (Essex) squad was in some degree of trouble.

The host Rebels were trailing 34-26, as the visiting Bearcats had outscored them 10-2 over the opening minutes of the second half.

“We put a (1-2-2) press on,” veteran Bearcat coach Chad Allen said following the game, “and that really caused them some problems.”

The Rebels recovered, however, and stormed back to claim a 52-50 thrilling victory. The win was the third straight by Richland (Essex) over Dexter in the past 12 months, after not beating the Bearcats for over a quarter century.

“We stopped their dribble penetration,” veteran Rebel coach Matt Cline said following the win. “(Dexter junior forward Devin) Turnbo was just taking us to town.”

Richland (Essex) (5-2) was able to quickly climb back into the game after falling behind in that third period, and the play of senior point guard Hunter Sanders had his fingerprints all over the rally.

Sanders buried consecutive 3-pointers to pull his team to within a couple of points and then hit Rebel junior wing Gary Tilley in transition for a lay-in that tied the game at 34.

“When Hunter is having fun,” Cline said, “and I don’t think he was having much fun in the first couple of games when he is having fun, he is our sparkplug.”

Sanders finished with 13 points with eight of those coming in the third quarter.

“(Sanders) had a mismatch the other way,” Cline said of Sanders’ play on the offensive end, “and he is pretty tough to guard. He was able to get around (his defender), and once he did get around him, he made great decisions with the basketball.”

Those types of plays were precisely what happened, as Sanders drove to the basket, got fouled on an “and one,” and put his team ahead 40-37.

Moments later, when Sanders hit Tilley for a 3-pointer, the margin was 43-37.

Richland (Essex) closed the third quarter on a 19-6 run that put the Rebels up 45-40 as the final period got underway.

Dexter was not going to wilt easily, though.

Turnbo scored a basket to put his team back on top 47-46 early in the final period, and with 3:35 remaining, Rebel post Jacob Walley scored on the right block to take back a 48-47 lead.

“(Richland) did a good job,” Allen said, “especially down the stretch. That is what we have to work on, is to get a little bit better down the stretch.”

A Sanders drive resulted in the final margin, but the Bearcats (3-3) had an opportunity to either tie or win the game in the final seconds.

Sophomore guard Will Guethle missed a 3-pointer, and Turnbo had his offensive putback blocked by Rebel senior forward Tucker Hughes.

With 2.5 seconds left, the Bearcats committed a turnover, which sealed the Rebel win.

“I’m tickled with how this team has guarded this year,” Cline said.

Tilley paced Richland (Essex) with 22 points while senior forward Eric Williams added seven points.

Dexter got a team-leading 16 points from junior guard John Sepulvado and 11 from Turnbo.

Bearcat senior shooter Tucker Temples chipped in nine points on a trio of 3-pointers.

Dexter will host Jackson (5-2) tonight at 7:30 p.m.

The Rebels are off until facing Twin Rivers (5-2) at 11:15 a.m. on Dec. 26 in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament.