Diamond in the tough: Dexter defense stifles Bernie, Johnson

BERNIE – There is no material known to man that is harder than a diamond and on Friday, the Dexter High School boy’s basketball squad put that theory to a test – from a basketball perspective – in its rivalry game at Bernie.

The theory was upheld, as the Bearcats smoked the host Mules from the opening tip 48-28.

“We went with a diamond-and-one (defense),” fourth-year Dexter coach Chad Allen explained of his strategy to contain the Mules. “We were trying to keep (Bernie senior guard Michia Schooley) in check, and I thought we did a great job.”

How “great” was the Bearcat defense?

Schooley, who is a really good shooter, didn’t make a basket all night, while Bernie super-scorer, senior guard Tristan Johnson, finished with just 14 points, but 10 of those came in the final period when the game was already decided for the most part.

“Tristan Johnson is such a great point guard,” Allen continued, “and with that diamond look, you’ve got people in the gaps for help. I thought we did a great job of helping when Johnson penetrated.”

The length of Dexter was simply too much for the much smaller Mules (9-5).

Bernie didn’t start a player over 6-feet, while Dexter had length in all five starters, each of whom is at least 6-foot-1, and three are 6-2 or taller.

“To be honest,” Mule coach Jason Long said, “as small as we are, it’s really tough when you’re playing a team that is that much bigger. Dexter is big and they are long.”

There were signs early that Bernie would be in trouble.

Dexter (11-4) allowed just one basket in the first quarter, as it led 9-3 at the end of one period, and the Bearcats gave up just two makes by halftime.

“(Chad Allen) is as good of a coach as we are going to face,” Long said. “Given the fact that we don’t have much post play this year, you could see how they really lengthened that zone.”

Bernie made just 12 shots for the game, and five of those came from Johnson in the final quarter.

The Bearcats got offense from four different players in building a 40-18 lead early in the fourth quarter, including a solid night – again – from senior guard Cole Nichols.

Nichols finished with a game-high 21 points, but all of his baskets came in building that large margin.

“I’ve always been really impressed with how Cole Nichols handles himself on the floor,” Long said. “He is one of the premier players in this area. He’s a humble kid, even though he is tough to guard.

“We enjoy competing against him because we feel like he is a quality player and a quality kid.”

Bearcat senior Brayden Pullum stepped up in making 3-pointers, as the Bernie face-guard defense on Dexter senior shooter Truman Krapf worked.

Pullum connected on three long shots to finish with 10 points, while forward Chris Stone (eight points) and center Peyton Boles (six points) also contributed.

Johnson’s 14 points were followed by senior Landon Ellsworth, who totaled nine points.

Bernie will visit Oran (7-6) on Monday at 7:30 p.m., while hosts Puxico (11-3) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.