Bell City gathers big honors

It was a magical season for Bell City's boys basketball team this year, and this was the icing on the cake.

Dominitrix Johnson, the 6-foot senior guard for Bell City's Class 1 state championship team, was selected first-team all-state with the release of the Missouri Class 1-3 All-State voting today by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters.

"This caps off a great year," said Bell City coach David Heeb, who was selected the Class 1 coach of the year for the second time in three years. "His first goal was to win the state title, and now, I guess, the individual awards will start rolling in, and he deserves every one of them."

It was Johnson's third consecutive all-state selection. He was chosen second team the past two years.

Chris Pullen, a 6-foot-3 senior forward from Scott County Central, was also selected to the first team.

Johnson, who has given a verbal commitment to Three Rivers Community College, averaged 29.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists a game this season. He surpassed the 2,000 point plateau shooting 53 percent from the field.

Johnson scored at least 40 points seven times this season. The last occasion came in the Class 1 championship game in which Bell City defeated St. Elizabeth 74-62 for its second state title in three years. Johnson's 40 points tied him for the 11th best single-game point total in Show-Me Showdown history. He averaged 24.7 points in the playoffs.

As expected, Bell City (29-4) finished No. 1 in the final Class 1 state poll.

"I don't know if this is the best team we've ever had, but they certainly had to overcome the most," Heeb said.

Mark Dannenmueller of Scott City was selected second team in Class 3. Dannenmueller, a 6-foot-4 junior, averaged 22 points, 9.5 rebounds and three assists this season for Scott City (21-5), which was ranked in Class 3 for much of the season.

"It's an honor.he definitely deserves, but to say I expected it going into the season? I really didn't, but I knew he was capable," Scott City coach Lance Amick said.

Pullen averaged 21.6 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks this season while leading Scott County Central to a district title. Scott County Central fell in the first round of the Class 1 state tournament to Bell City. The Braves finished fifth in the final Class 1 state poll.

Also from Scott County Central, senior Jennifer Hoots and junior Janet Penrod were selected second team. Hoots averaged 19 points and eight rebounds, and Penrod, who had an injury-riddled season, averaged 18.6 points, seven rebounds and four assists.