Confident, unbeaten Woodland snaps long skid versus Dexter

MARBLE HILL – The last time that the Woodland High School boy’s basketball team had beaten its counterpart from Dexter, current Cardinal sophomore guard Korbin Kinder was in the second grade.

The last time a game was even competitive between the two teams was seven years ago. However, none of that mattered to the confident group of Woodland athletes, who took the court on Friday in Marble Hill to try and snap a nine-game losing streak to the Bearcats.

“These kids do a lot together outside of basketball,” Cardinal coach Shawn Kinder said following the game. “This group is like a family.”

That cohesion showed throughout Friday’s game, as four Woodland players scored in double figures and it topped Dexter 67-62.

“They definitely beat us up quite a bit on the offensive boards,” Dexter coach Chad Allen said afterward. “That is what I thought hurt us quite a bit. We definitely had too many turnovers. That was a little costly, as well.”

The Cardinals (7-0) remained perfect this season and have now won 14 of their last 15 games dating back to last season.

The Bearcats (2-5) jumped out to a 15-11 lead early in the second quarter, but the Cardinals stormed back with an offensive surge in the second quarter and led 34-28 at halftime.

“(Dexter) came out and punched us a little bit from the get-go,” Shawn Kinder said. “We had to lock in.”

Coach Kinder said the Bearcat 1-2-2 zone defense gave his team “a fit” early because of the Dexter length.

“We really tried to focus on filling that high post (spot),” Shawn Kinder explained, “and getting a lot of cutting action. Less off the dribble (movement) and more cutting action.

“We were able to do that, and we hit a couple of shots inside and out.”

Five different Cardinal players contributed during that second quarter, including Korbin Kinder, who scored in a variety of manners.

The young guard made a pair of two-point buckets, a couple of free throws, and a pair of 3-pointers. In all, he scored 12 of his game-high 19 points in that period.

“I feel like Korbin sees the floor very well,” Coach Kinder said of his son. “I think that he does a nice job with his mid-range jumper.”

Woodland led 63-59 with just two minutes remaining in the game, but a pair of Dexter turnovers stymied its threat to retake the lead.

The Cardinals also had three late turnovers, which prevented them from stretching the margin late.

Dexter sophomore shooter Gibson Booker buried a 3-pointer with 37 seconds on the clock, which pulled his team to within 64-62. However, against the stretched-out Bearcat press, Cardinal senior Brayden hastings drove into the lane and dished off to senior Trae Cook for a lay-in, and a 66-62 margin, with 15 seconds left in the game.

Booker tried one more 3-pointer in the final seconds, but a Cardinal defender blocked the shot and Hastings hit a free throw to seal the win.

“I’ve told (my team),” Allen said, “if we clean up some things, we’ll get a whole lot better.”

Four Cardinals scored in double figures, including Hastings (17 points), senior Reed Layton (12 points), and junior Lane Lee (10 points).

Dexter was paced by sophomore Devin Turnbo with 17 points while senior post Ethan Zabelin (16 points), junior guard Tucker Temples (nine), sophomore guard John Sepulvado (nine points), and Booker (eight points) also contributed offensively.

Woodland will host Oran (2-4) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Dexter will face Bernie (4-3) on Dec. 26 at 2:15 p.m. in the opening round of the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament.