Bernie, Missouri - Both the Bernie Varsity and Junior Varsity basketball teams took on the Woodland Cardinals at Marble Hill on Tuesday evening.

The Varsity team played extremely well last night.  It was clear the Mules were on top of their game with a score of 46 - 15 at the end of the first half. 

B.J. Jennings scoring 20 total points followed by Joey Walker with 13 points.  Both Troy Kirkpatrick and David Baker scored 11 points and 10 points respectively.  What a team effort the Bernie Mules displayed to get the win.  The Varsity team's record a fantastic 6 - 0 for the year!

"We got solid play up and down our line-up tonight," declared Head Basketball Coach Brad Botsch.  Coach also stated "We still have many things to work on to play at the level I think that we are capable of, and with hard work, we will continue to improve."

The JV team showed just as much spirit with a win over Woodland as they are now 6 - 0 on the season as well.  Brandon Sparks scored the most points with 16 total for the game, followed by Caleb Ellenburg with 15 points and Matt Vernon with 10 points.  Final score was Bernie 56, Woodland 34.  Way to go Mules!!

Coach Botsch was extremely proud of both teams. "This group of players is competing hard and we will continue to work on some things to help us improve."

Join the Bernie Mules this Friday night, December 14th at Bell City as they take on the Rams.  Should be a great game!

Broseley, Missouri - The brackets for the Twin Rivers Christmas Tournament were announced this weekend and the Lady 'Cats of Dexter have been given the number one seed for the sixteen team tournament.  New Madrid County Central receives the #2 seed and Neelyville gets the #3 position in the tournament. 

The tournament begins next Saturday with the first game beginning at 9:00 AM when the Dexter Lady Bearcats take on the Malden Greenwaves.  It will be a busy day as seven additional games will take place in the opening round of the tournament.

Be sure to make the trip to Twin Rivers High School to catch the games next weekend.  The Lady 'Cats will potentially play additional games on Monday and Thursday should they keep their winning ways.

---

Dexter, Missouri - Basketball season is an exciting time for many parents and grandparents as it becomes a time that kids of all ages get a chance to get on the court and improve their skills for the game.  Many times, you wonder what is the right age for kids to start playing organized sports.  A quick glance as the competitiveness of our Lady Bearcat Basketball girls will help you understand that an early start pays dividends at the middle school and high school levels.

Nothing different for a highly talented group of sixth grade girls that were in action this weekend at Southwest Elementary gymnasium.  This group of girls have been playing together since they were in the third grade, and their performance on the court is already proving they have a gift for the sport of basketball.

That gift can many times be difficult for other teams to swallow as the young Lady 'Cats took on a team from Chaffee.  The 6th Grade Lady 'Cats defeated the Chaffee team by a score of  61-3. 

The Lady 'Cats had four girls in double figures on the day as Chaley Mosby had 16-points, Natalie Sitze had 12-points, Maycie Martin and Anna Bishop each had 10-points. 

Experience of the Bearcat girls created a dominance on the court but not all games have gone this way for the season.  The 'Cats currently have a record this year of 6-2 and have played in states of Kentucky, Tennessee and of course Missouri.  The team will also be traveling to Jonesboro, Arkansas on December 22nd for a sixth grade tournament. 

The talented group of sixth graders ended last season on a high note winning the Delta Holiday Tournament.  They also play several teams in Missouri and will be taking on Kelly next Saturday at Southwest Elementary.  These young ladies are fun to watch so you are encouraged to stop by and watch them perform.  Game time begins at 10am. 

The team includes: Anna Bishop, Maycie Martin, Natalie Sitze, Maci McBride, Rylee Allen, Chayle Mosby, Brooke Hessling,and Kirsten Keirsey.  They are coached by Kevin Bishop. 

---

Paragould, AR - The Dexter Lady Cats won the championship of the 19th annual McDonald Shootout with a 42-37 victory over the Paragould Lady Rams on Saturday night.

For the first time in three games of the Shootout, the opposition scored first as Sydney Laylock made a basket for the Lady Rams.  Brittany Harris, member of the All Tournament team answered with a basket and Allison Jarrell (also an All Tournament team member) added a three to give the Lady Cats an early lead.  Paragould then went on an 9 - 0 run with a number of "backdoor" baskets in a great offensive set.  Harris hit another basket for the Cats, Paige Patterson then hit two free throws after getting fouled while shooting and Hannah Noe (game MVP) made a three to give the Lady Cats a one point lead. Mollie Whitehead (11 points on the night) then entered the game, was fouled  while shooting, and made both free throws, giving the Cats a 16-13 first quarter lead.

The Lady Cats changed from their patented "match up" zone defense to a straight man to man and played some of the best defense of the season the last three quarters of the game. The Lady Cats scored 12 points in the second quarter, 7 by Hannah Noe and 5 by Mollie Whitehead, and held Paragould to 5 points in the quarter to open up a 28-18 halftime lead.

The third quarter began with a number of turnovers for Dexter which allowed the Lady Rams to score 7 straight points and make it a three point game.  Two free throws by Mollie Whitehead and a nifty steal and layup by Makayla Waldner made the score 32-27 at the end of three quarters.

The fourth quarter opened with both teams missing shots and turning the ball over before Allison Jarrell hit a three pointer from the right corner.  Paige Patterson then made a two from in the paint to increase the lead to 10.  A basket by Carson Gill and a three by Erica Cobb (All Tournament team) gave the Lady Cats a little breathing room with an 11 point lead.  The rest of the way the Lady Cats missed a few free throws but held on for the 42-37 victory. 

In addition to the three players listed above, Katelynn Frazier was voted to the All Tournament team for her great defense and ball handling.  The Lady Cats will next be in action on Thursday night with their first home game of the season at the Bearcat Event Center.  JV game against New Madrid County Central starts at 6 p.m. with the varsity game to follow.  Come out and support the state ranked Lady Cats! 

Paraqould, AR – The Dexter Lady Cats won a hard fought 62-50 victory over the Buffalo Island Central Lady Mustangs Friday night in the semi-finals of the McDonalds Shootout in Paragould, Arkansas.

After turnovers by both teams started the game, the Lady Cats scored first as Alison Jarrell hit a three pointer from the left corner to give the girls an early lead.  After a made Caasidy Qualls free throw for BIC, the Cats scored 5 quick points on two free throws by Hannah Noe and the second of four three pointers on the night by Jarrell to take an 8-1 lead.

After the teams traded baskets, including a bucket in the paint by Brittany Harris, Brittany Fowler, the Division 1 signee with Arkansas State, took over for the Lady Mustangs. She made two three’s and a routine basket from the field, on her way to a game high 23 points to give the Lady Mustangs a 14-12 lead.

Erika Cobb knocked down a three point basket for three of her team high 16 points to give the Cats a short lived lead, before BIC scored four straight.  A final basket by Brittany Harris ended the quarter and the Lady Cats trailed 18-17.

Hannah Noe opened the second quarter with a quick steal and was fouled as she went down to shoot. Making one of two free throws to tie the game at 18 she then hit a layup to give the Cats a lead they would not give up the rest of the evening. 

Brittany Harris was fouled in the act of shooting and made one of two throws, and then Erika Cobb made a long three to give the Cats a five point lead.  The teams traded baskets and after two BIC free throws the lead was cut to three.  A big basket by Junior Mollie Whitehead (2 points, 4 rebounds and a steal on the night), a three by Cobb (who was chosen game MVP) and a basket by Noe gave the Cats a 33-24 lead.  Free throws by all state player Fowler for BIC and a basket late in the half by Paige Patterson gave the Lady Cats a nine point half time lead 35-26.

The second half was similar to the first in that the Lady Cats dominated the rebounds (28-12 on the night) while shooting free throws poorly (42% for the game).  Paige Patterson started the second half as she ended the  first with a quick basket (4 points, 5 rebounds and a block on the night) to give the Cats an eleven point lead.

BIC hung tough lead by Brittany Fowler to cut that lead to 8.  Hannah Noe then hit a basket, one of her 12 points for the evening and Alison Jarrell hit her final two three point shoots of the night to give Dexter a 48-36 lead. 

Katelynn Frazier then hit one of her three free throws on the night to give the team their biggest lead of the game at 13.  From there the team traded baskets for the rest of the quarter including freshman Melanie McKuin’s only bucket and the Cats had a 51-42 lead after three quarters.

The Lady Mustangs cut the margin to as few as 10 in the fourth quarter but could never get any closer as free throws by Cobb and Frazier and baskets by Cobb, Noe and Harris were enough for Dexter to hold on for the 62-50 victory. With the win the Lady Cats play the Paragould Lady Rams in the title game on Saturday at 4:30 in Paragould.  Try to attend of possible, but if you can’t the game will be broadcast on 90.3 FM.  Good luck to the Lady Cats..