BCT 2023: Richland (Essex) makes history with W over Bearcats

BLOOMFIELD – Richland (Essex) High School varsity boys basketball coach Matt Cline took a circuitous route to the classroom as an educator, so in 1997 he was “out in the world working.” But his “late start in life” didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate the historic feat that his Rebels achieved on Thursday.

Richland (Essex) rallied to knock off Dexter 45-38 in a consolation semifinal of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament. The victory was the first by the Rebels over the Bearcats since 1997 (according to the Rebel followers).

“It means a lot to the kids,” Cline said of the win. “They consider themselves, sort of rivals, but it has been a rivalry kind of like a hammer and a nail.”

That’s not the case this year.

The Rebels (7-3) nearly beat the Bearcats a couple of weeks ago in the Bearcat Event Center before falling 65-59, and Thursday’s contest was back-and-forth until the final moments.

“I told our team at halftime,” Dexter coach Chad Allen said following the game, “that the team that whoever won the battle of the boards was going to win. And, of course, Richland did a much better job than us.”

Richland (Essex) certainly grabbed its share of rebounds in the second half, but it also got some very heady plays from junior point guard Hunter Sanders in the final minutes.

The Rebels trailed 23-21 at halftime but fought back to take a 33-30 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats, who were the defending tournament champion, led 35-33 with under four minutes remaining when Sanders grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back into knot the score.

“When (Sanders) is going,” Cline said, “he absolutely is a sparkplug.”

Bearcat sophomore shooter Gibson Booker gave his team a 37-35 lead, but Richland (Essex) sophomore forward Gary Tilley got fouled on an alley-oop attempt and sank both free throws to keep the game tied at 37 with 1:55 left on the clock.

Dexter reclaimed the lead on a free throw by senior center Ethan Zebelin, but Sanders countered with a 3-pointer to put his team up 40-38 and the Rebels never trailed again.

Tilley added a free throw and junior forward Eric Williams scored on a post move and added a late free throw to seal the win.

“Dexter battled us tooth and nail,” Cline said. “But I am really proud of the boys with how they executed in the last couple of minutes.”

Williams led Richland (Essex) with 14 points while Sanders chipped in 11 points.

Tilley and junior Tucker Hughes scored eight and seven points, respectively, in the win while senior forward Jaden Pope had five points for the Rebels.

The Bearcats got nine points from Zebelin and eight from sophomore guard John Sepulvado and senior guard Nathan Harris.

Richland (Essex) will face Portageville (5-3) today at 5:30 p.m. in the fifth-place game.

The Bulldogs got past Kennett in a consolation semifinal game on Thursday.

The Bearcats are off until Jan. 5 when they host SEMO Conference power Cape Central at 7:30 p.m.