BCT 2023: Bernie battles Bearcats, as it usually does

BLOOMFIELD – If your Christmas wish was to watch experienced basketball players compete, then Tuesday’s opening round match-up at the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament between Dexter and Bernie wasn’t for you. However, if you desired to watch a dramatic competition between two teams that did a whole lot of things well, then suffice to say, the Bearcats’ 50-47 victory in the final seconds didn’t disappoint.

“The end of the game situations,” Dexter coach Chad Allen said, “we panicked and had some costly turnovers. We’re going to have to learn from that.”

Between the two squads, only three seniors were playing, two for the Bearcats (Ethan Zabelin and Nathan Harris) and one Mule (Jayden Robinette). However, several young players made plays in critical moments, including Bernie freshmen Cane Hobgood and Chase Guiling.

“One really good thing,” Mule coach Jason Long said afterward, “was that we had some upperclassmen, who played really well. They stepped up and made some big plays. And we had some young kids, we played four freshmen today, we had some young kids that stepped up and made some big plays.”

The Mules (4-4) trailed just 23-20 at halftime, but Dexter (3-5) tore off on a 20-9 run following the break and led 43-29 early in the final period.

“We did a great job extending the lead,” Allen said. “When we got out and got more aggressive and active defensively, we caused problems for them.”

However, in the final minutes, it was the Mules who were the troublemakers.

Bernie cut its deficit to 48-47 on a steal and lay-in by Guiling, while Hobgood was in the process of scoring his team back into contention.

The 5-foot-10 guard scored 10 of his team-high 12 points in the final quarter.

“It’s a good thing that we got that lead,” Allen said, “because they put the pressure on in the end.”

In the final minute, Bernie was forced to foul to stop the clock and, at some point, send the Bearcats to the free-throw line, but Dexter wasn’t in the bonus just yet.

On a Mule foul with 10 seconds remaining in the game, the official called an intentional foul, which sent Harris to the free throw line, AND gave Dexter possession of the ball following those shots.

Harris sank a pair of free throws to extend his team’s lead to 50-47, but Zabelin missed two free throws with eight seconds on the clock, which gave Bernie one final look to tie the game. However, the Mule shooter was clearly inside the 3-point line and missed on the attempt, which gave the Bearcats their ninth win in the series in the past 12 games.

“When you have Dexter and Bernie,” Allen said, “it is always going to be really competitive.”

To Allen’s point, seven of those 12 games have been decided by five points or fewer.

“It’s a big rivalry,” Allen continued. “Both teams are going to get up for the game.”

Dexter, which was playing without sophomore starting forward Devin Turnbo (illness), had three players score in double figures, led by Zabelin with 13 points while junior shooter Tucker Temples (12 points) and sophomore guard Gibson Booker (11 points) also contributed.

Robinette had 10 points while Guiling finished with eight points, as did Bernie junior Cade Arnold.

Dexter, which is the defending tournament champion, will face Malden (6-2) at 5:30 p.m. today in a quarterfinal. The Green Wave topped Bloomfield 67-46.

The Wildcats (4-4) and Mules will play today at 10 a.m. in a consolation quarterfinal.