Central girls basketball team's season ends with loss to Dexter

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Central girls basketball team knew it needed to play a near-perfect game to keep up with Dexter in its Class 4 District 1 matchup Tuesday night.

It didn't happen.

Dexter, the top-seeded team in the district, jumped out to a 26-9 lead after one period and methodically eliminated the fourth-seeded Tigers 66-30 at the Sikeston Field House.

Central (9-18) simply had no answer for the Bearcats' inside-outside duo of Hannah Thurmon and Dakota Reynolds. Thurman, an athletic 6-foot freshman center, had 18 points and five blocked shots, while Reynolds, a junior guard, finished with 15 points on five 3-pointers.

"We were trying to keep (our defense) in tight because we know they like to drive," said Central coach Sherri Shirrell. "But when they drive, they kick it out because they've got great outside shooters."

When Reynolds wasn't popping 3s, the Bearcats were lobbing inside to Thurman, who had her way inside against the smaller Central defenders. Thurman connected on 6 of 8 shots from the field, including one 3-pointer. She also scored twice on offensive rebounds and blocked four shots in the first quarter alone.

"We're not very big and we're not very quick, especially down low," Shirrell admitted. "They penetrated and they threw the ball over the top of us. And (Thurman is) a leaper. She went up and got it. She's a very good scorer around the basket."

Central junior forward Bailey Manley drew the unenviable task of trying to defend against Thurman.

"She's big," Manley said. "It was pretty tough guarding her. I had to get in front of her and make them throw it over you and have the help defense behind you."

Central, which trailed 39-19 at the half, needed a quick start to the third period to get back into the contest. And although the Tigers played well defensively, offensively Central connected on just 1 of 11 shots in the quarter.

Meanwhile, Reynolds connected on consecutive 3-pointers midway through the quarter to boost the Bearcats' lead to 50-22 and Dexter never looked back.

"We brought the aggression a little more on the defensive end, but our shots weren't falling," Shirrell said. "But I was proud of the kids. They didn't quit. They came out and they played hard to the end of the game."

Sophomore guard Sydney Tollison, who scored a game-high 19 points in Monday's 58-33 quarterfinal victory over Kennett, finished with six points against Dexter.

"We were gonna stay in tight. We weren't gonna go out and trap except on the corners," said Central senior guard Abby Shupert, who failed to score before fouling out early in the fourth quarter. "But we pulled that in because we decided it would be better if we kept it in tighter."

It didn't make much difference because Dexter (16-9) was able to score both inside and outside with ease. The Bearcats finished 24 of 52 from the floor with eight 3-pointers.

"I thought we shot the ball really well tonight, inside and out," Dexter coach Chad Allen said. "Dakota and Melanie (McKuin), our two guards, did a good job of penetrating and creating. And when they're doing that, offensively the flow is so much better."

Central 9 10 4 7 -- 30

Dexter 26 13 18 9 -- 66

CENTRAL (30) -- Sydney Tollison 6, Corrie Reece 2, Timia Evans 2, Katelyn May 3, Kassidy Pannier 6, Madison Daum 4, Abbie Reece 4. FG 11, FT 4-9, F 17. (3-pointers: Pannier 2, Tollison 1, May 1. Fouled out: Abby Shupert.)

DEXTER (66) -- Dakota Reynolds 15, Melanie McKuin 10, Sydney Rogers 2, Hannah Thurman 18, Katie Reiker 2, Krysten Garrison 11, Harley Allen 6. FG 24, FT 10-16, F 14. (3-pointers: Reynolds 5, Thurman 1. Fouled out: none.)