'Heady' Boles helps Bearcats grab 10th W in romp over 'Cats

DEXTER – There is no shortage of aspects to Peyton Boles’ basketball game that has pleased fourth-year Bearcat coach Chad Allen this season, on the court.

“He is so much more aggressive this year,” Allen said following his team’s 71-33 romp over Bloomfield on Tuesday at the Bearcat Event Center.

The 6-foot-4 Boles has made significant strides at both ends of the court, according to Allen, but the most important traits that Boles brings to the Dexter program are intellect and maturity.

“When you have smart guys,” Allen said, “a lot of times it translates on the court. Peyton is definitely one of those guys. He is such a heady player and there is a reason for that.”

Boles is finishing his basketball career by helping the Bearcats improve to 10-4 with Tuesday’s win, a game in which he scored just four points, but his basketball intellect showed in ways that don’t get measured in a scorebook.

“I try to see where my teammates are open,” Boles said of his thought process when catching the ball on a block. “If they’re not open, then I try to see where I can get an open basket.

“I keep looking around to make sure that we are making the right plays.”

“Making the right play” is something that Boles does with regularity in his life. Allen said he is as solid in the classroom as he is on the court.

Boles is following his older brother, Ryder Boles, to Murray State next fall, which is also where his mother, Bearcat engineering educator, Kristi Boles, played volleyball.

While Ryder is following his mother’s path and studying engineering, Peyton is following in his father’s footsteps. Eric Boles teaches biology at Dexter High School, which Peyton is enamored with and will utilize as he studies nursing.

“It is something that I have always wanted to do,” Peyton said of studying in the science field. “Helping people has been a part of my life and I think that it is just a really good thing to do.”

The brevity of an athletic career is very real to Peyton, who comprehends that his basketball days are nearing an end.

“That really affects my game,” Peyton said. “It makes me want to play 10 times harder.”

But that reality is also why he pushes himself in the classroom.

“I need to be ready for the next part of my life,” Peyton said.

On Tuesday, the Bearcats didn’t need a ton of offensive production from Boles, just defense, rebounding, and “making the right plays” in finding his open teammates.

Dexter jumped on Bloomfield (3-11) from the outset and led 12-5 at the end of the opening quarter and 32-13 by halftime.

Senior guard Cole Nichols led the Bearcats with 25 points, while senior shooter Truman Krapf banged in five 3-pointers for 15 points.

Senior Brayden Pullum added 13 points in the win.

Bloomfield senior Hunter Moore hit 3-pointers and led his team with nine points, while sophomore guard Caleb Upchurch and senior forward Lucas Dowdy each had seven points for the Wildcats.

Bloomfield will host Malden (10-4) on Friday at 7:30 p.m., while the Bearcats visit rival Bernie (9-3) at the same time and date.