Dexter's Pullum pulls up (9 times) and buries Puxico

DEXTER – There is “feeling it” in the midst of a basketball game and then there is what Dexter senior forward Brayden Pullum did on Tuesday in an 85-55 rout of a very good defensive Puxico (aside from Tuesday) squad at the Bearcat Event Center.

Pullum buried nine 3-pointers, six in the second quarter alone, and finished with a career-high 37 points, as Dexter bombed the Indians.

“I felt good in warm-ups,” Pullum said. “My teammates were getting it to me early on and I noticed when they weren’t really hitting the rim that I felt pretty good.”

The Bearcats (12-4) held a slim 9-8 advantage in the first quarter when – as expected – senior guard Cole Nichols began to score with frequency (as he always does).

Dexter tore off on an 8-0 run and led 21-15 early in the second quarter. However, the Indians (12-4), who have won six straight games, pulled to within 28-25, and fourth-year Dexter coach Chad Allen called a timeout.

Immediately out of the break, Pullum connected on a 3-pointer, and then minutes later, he did it again. And again. And again. And again. And again.

“We had seen what some other teams have done (to Dexter) and had some success,” second-year Puxico coach Bryant Fernetti explained. “We tried going that route, but Pullum, had a great game, obviously.

It wasn’t a case of Pullum shooting 14-15 shots to get his six 3-pointers in the period. He was making everything he threw up.

“We didn’t adjust soon enough,” Fernetti said. “But at the same time, when you’re worried about Nichols on the drive, and (senior shooter) Truman Krapf shoots it really well, you have to pick where you are going to help from.”

The Bearcats scored 30 points during the second quarter (18 from Pullum and 10 from Nichols), as Pullum and Nichols combined for 48 points by halftime and their team led 51-33.

“I really hadn’t pulled the trigger like that yet (this season),” Pullum said. “My teammates really shared the ball.”

With good reason.

As Pullum was sinking shot after shot, the other Bearcat players were making a concerted effort to get him looks, but that only left Nichols more freedom to drive, as he too, scored 37 points in the game.

“With Truman being such a good shooter,” Pullum explained, “it opens up for us on offense. A lot of these teams will key on Truman, so it really opens up.”

Pullum “only” hit two 3-pointers in the second half, but Nichols kept doing what he does, which is score on drives and at the free throw line.

The 6-foot-2 athlete made four baskets in the final half and hit all five of his second-half free throw attempts.

“I thought we did a better job in the second half,” Fernetti said, “but they had nine 3’s at (halftime), that is hard to beat.”

Dexter senior forward Chris Stone added seven points in the win, which was the Bearcats’ seventh in eight games.

Puxico was paced by 6-foot senior Duncan Crabb, who totaled 22 points (and hit four 3-pointers, himself).

Indian juniors Thomas Burch and Jaydon Mitchell had 10 and 11 points, respectively.

Puxico will now travel to MSHSAA Class 2 District 3 beast, Greenville (14-1) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. before hosting Bernie (10-5) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Mules are ranked No. 5 in the latest MBCA polls in Class 2.

The Bearcats will visit No. 1-ranked (in Class 3) New Madrid County Central (9-4) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.