DEXTER DISCARDS RAMS IN IMPRESSIVE FASHION

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- The Scott City Rams never had much of a chance Friday night against a talented Dexter Bearcats team that dominated every phase of the game.

The Bearcats, the third-ranked team in Missouri Class 3A, mauled the Rams 96-56 at Scott City High School.

"They were just taller, quicker and better than we were," said Scott City coach Derek McCord. "They're the best I've seen this year."

Dexter, which improved to 21-3, used a trapping zone to shut down Scott City. The Rams, who fell to 17-7, committed 11 turnovers in the first quarter alone as the Bearcats ran up a 20-4 lead.

For the game Scott City managed to hit only 31 percent of its shots from the field.

All-stater Brett Hale, who was questionable due to a severely sprained ankle suffered Saturday night in a loss to Caruthersville, entered the game heavily taped toward the end of the first quarter.

Hale, committed to Southeast Missouri State University, lit it up from all over the floor in the second quarter when he poured in 18 of his game-high 28 points, including all four of his shots from beyond the 3-point arc.

The Bearcats took a 51-27 lead into the intermission and continued to blitz the Rams throughout the second half as five players scored in double figures.

"We've got a lot of weapons," said Dexter coach Paul Hale. "We've got people over there that sit on the bench that can play for a lot of people."

Shannon Wright added 16 points for Dexter, while Chad Gill finished with 12 and Matt Christian and Jeremy Mooty tallied 11 apiece.

Ben Sample and Nick Steimle led the Rams with 18 points apiece.