Dexter holds off history-seeking Richland (Essex)

DEXTER – For the majority of Dexter boy’s basketball victories against Richland (Essex) through the years, and records show there have been at least (and probably more) 20 consecutive of those, the outcome was decided early in the second half. A handful of times, the Rebels kept the game competitive, but such an instance was pretty rare.

On Monday, the Rebels nearly made history, as they battled the host Bearcats until the final minutes before falling 65-59.

“They kept fighting,” Rebel coach Matt Cline said of his team. “They did keep fighting and they executed. But we gave up too many, I thought, easy looks at the (3-point shot).”

Dexter (2-4) led 45-43 early in the final period but stretched the margin to 63-56 in the final minute when sophomore guard Tucker Temples hit a pair of free throws after pulling down an offensive board.

Temples had also done some damage earlier in the fourth quarter by hitting two of his five 3-pointers on the night.

Tucker and sophomore teammate Gibson Booker, who returned after injuring his foot in the season-opening loss at Charleston last month, combined for eight of the 10 Bearcat 3-pointers, with Booker hitting three of those shots in the opening quarter.

“We needed (Booker),” Dexter coach Chad Allen said. “That got (Richland) out of their zone and went man (defense). We really got off to a good start because of him.”

The Bearcats led 23-15 early in the second quarter before Richland (Essex) (4-2) climbed back into the game with a great deal of rebounding at both ends of the court.

The Rebels had 6-foot-3 sophomore Gary Tilley and six-foot juniors Jaden Pope and Eric Williams crashing the boards and getting multiple putbacks as they outscored Dexter 19-8 in the second quarter.

“Coach Cline does an excellent job with them,” Allen said. “They have some guys coming through who have been playing at the varsity level for several years.

“They have a lot of experience, and they have a lot of good guys.”

Dexter senior center Ethan Zabelin grabbed an offensive board and scored at the buzzer to end the third quarter, and that Bearcat momentum carried into the final period.

Dexter sophomore guard John Sepulvado hit a free throw with 1:17 remaining in the game and then followed that with a lay-in with 45 seconds left in the game to put his team up 61-56.

With Richland (Essex) having to foul to stop the clock and try to get back into the game, Dexter sank six of its eight free throws in the final period to seal the win.

“We hit some big free throws toward the end,” Allen said.

Allen explained the rule change on free throws this season, which eliminated the one-and-one free throw shots, has helped players.

“It sort of takes a little bit of pressure off of you,” Allen said of knowing you get two attempts. “Maybe that helped us a little bit.”

The Rebels, who according to an unofficial survey of Richland (Essex) fans, had last beaten Dexter in 1997, were paced by Pope, who had 18 points.

Williams chipped in 17 points while junior guard Hunter Sanders scored 14 points and Tilley had eight.

Temples led the Bearcats with 17 points while Zabelin (16 points), Sepulvado, Booker, and Nathan Harris each had nine in the win.

“We have to toughen up every day,” Cline said. “There are a lot of (talented) pieces here, but every day we have to toughen up more and more.

“If we can do that, come February, then maybe we have a shot at making a decent run.”

Dexter will visit unbeaten Woodland (6-0) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Richland (Essex) will host Delta (0-2) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.