Advance rides balance past short-handed Dexter boys

ADVANCE, Mo. -- Advance unleashed an aggressive, relentless defense against Dexter on Friday night, holding the Bearcats to less than 33 percent shooting and forcing 25 turnovers in a 65-49 victory.

But the real defensive hero for the Hornets may have been their unheralded small man. The Hornets are used to fielding smaller lineups -- they top out with 6-foot-1 senior Darren VanGennip -- and they turned to a microscopic sixth man against Dexter.

The flu bug did Friday what opponents haven't been able to do all year to Dexter's 6-6 standout Alan Flannigan. Flannigan, who scored 41 of his team's 49 points in a loss earlier in the week to New Madrid County Central, was held to zero points Friday. In fact, the flu bug's lockdown defense kept him out of the building entirely.

"They have him here, it's a whole different ballgame, there's no doubt about that," said Advance assistant coach Dennis Wheetley, who picked up his first varsity coaching victory in place of ill Hornets coach Andrew Halford. "I don't know if we win or not. Probably not.

"Even without him, I knew we would have trouble with this team. But the kids stepped up and did what coach Halford told them to do. They executed."

Advance's Grant Gray shoots between Dexter defenders Chase Young, left, and Bryn Hester during Friday's game. (Fred Lynch)

Flannigan, who averages 24 points and 13 rebounds a game, has signed to play next year at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. The Division I school is in the Patriot League.

Advance, which is returning to health after sustaining injuries to three starters during the Christmas tournament, improved to 12-6. Dexter fell to 12-9.

"That was a pretty good win," VanGennip said. "We always want to beat Dexter. It was kind of a shame Alan Flannigan couldn't play. I really wanted to play against him. He brings a lot of energy to their team."

Flannigan, who had the flu most of the week and was not cleared by doctors, had been accounting for about 40 to 45 percent of the Bearcats' points this season, according to Dexter coach Rob Nichols.

"You bring who you got and try to do the best you can, and we didn't play very well," Nichols said.

Advance's Darren VanGennip shoots against Dexter's Tyler Miller on Friday.

VanGennip and senior Dylan Dunivan, who both missed games earlier in the year with injuries, were among four Hornets starters to finish in double figures. John Middleton led the way with 16 points, VanGennip had 15, while Dunivan and Grant Gray both had 13.

"We've had the same starting five since the Christmas tournament," said VanGennip, who said only 6-3 sophomore Ethan Barr has yet to return. "We've been playing decent ball. Not like we should, but we're getting there."

The Hornets took advantage of Dexter's situation from the start, forcing turnovers on the Bearcats' first four possessions.

"We were just very sluggish looking for offense both halves," Nichols said. "I knew we would struggle for energy, but again we didn't play very well."

Advance led the entire game, scoring its first points on a Hunter Wilson shot from the right side of the lane a minute into the game. The Hornets led 4-2 when they went on a 7-0 burst, which included a Gray 3-pointer.

Advance's Ryan Moses works against Dexter defenders Bryn Hester, left, and Tyler Miller during the second quarter Friday in Advance, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

The lead hit double digits, 13-3, with 1 minute, 21 seconds left in the first quarter when VanGennip scored on a drive to the basket.

"We came out with a lot of energy and played what we call our chaos defense," VanGennip said. "We just run around and find a man and trap."

Tyler Miller scored the first of his game-high 23 points on an offensive putback on Dexter's next possession, but Gray responded with his second 3-pointer moments later to push Advance's lead to 16-5 at the end of the quarter.

Advance opened a 15-point lead in the opening minutes of the second quarter on baskets by VanGennip and Dunivan for a 20-5 lead.

Dexter then began to exert itself on the boards in a 10-1 run. The Bearcats shot five times on one possession before Miller finally put in an offensive rebound. It was one of three offensive putbacks by Miller in the run that cut the lead to 21-15 midway through the period.

"They're a lot bigger than we are," Gray said. "Our big guy [Barr] is hurt, and he's 6-3. He won't be able to come back for another week or so."

Advance answered with a 7-0 burst, capped by two VanGennip baskets from close range for a 28-15 lead with 1:45 left in the half.

The Hornets led 30-20 at the intermission and kept their double-figure lead the remainder of the game.

Advance opened the second half with a 12-2 spurt as the Hornets continually attacked the basket with drives off the dribble. The lead hit 20 points when Jacob Spears scored inside with 2:41 left in the third period for a 42-22 advantage.

Advance took a 44-26 lead into the fourth quarter. Dexter closed within 13 points as Miller scored 15 of his points in the final period, but the Bearcats never seriously threatened.

Dexter 5 15 6 23 -- 49

Advance 16 14 14 18 -- 65

DEXTER (49) -- Chase Young 5, Jake Cox 2, Bryn Hester 8, Logan Robey 2, Jake Lee 4, Tyler Miller 23, Jacob Bollinger 1, Brandon Moore 2, Taylor Jarrell 2. FG 18, FT 10-21, F 17. (3-pointers: Young 1, Miller 2. Fouled out: Jarrell)

ADVANCE (65) -- Grant Gray 13, Hunter Wilson 5, John Middleton 16, Darren VanGennip 15, Dylan Dunivan 13, Hunter Shoemaker 1, Jacob Spears 2. FG 26, FT 10-18, F 16. (3-pointers: Gray 2, Wilson 1. Fouled out: none)