Lady Mules stay hot, beat Dexter

After coming up short in their last matchup, the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules sought revenge against the Dexter Lady Bearcats — and they got it.

The Lady Mules got off to a hot start and ultimately took a 59-39 win over Dexter Monday night at the Poplar Bluff High School gym. It was Poplar Bluff's third win in its last four games and sixth in its last nine.

Both teams entered the game with something at stake. The Lady Mules (10-12) focused on extending their steak, and the Lady Bearcats (10-12) fought not to lose three constructive games for the first time this season.

In their attempt, the Lady Mules didn’t waste any time, gaining a 16-5 lead in the first quarter. Whether getting open shots beyond the arch or capitalizing on points in the paint, the Lady Mules executed as a team. Second-chance shots also played a major role in the Lady Mule's lead throughout the game.

Though trailing for most of the game, the Lady Bearcats still managed to knock down some solid baskets led by Allison Turbo, who finished with 14 points.

Regardless of the strong run by the Lady Bearcats, it wasn’t enough to knock Poplar Bluff out of rhythm.

Despite the traps coming from every angle from Dexter, the Lady Mules didn’t seem rattled as they continued to attack the rim. The Lady Bearcats' turnovers cost them every opportunity to score, and careless passes led to easy fastbreak points for Poplar Bluff.

While holding a commanding lead, the Lady Mules emerged from the second half for their biggest run on the night, putting up a 43-25 lead to end the third. From that point, it was a coast to victory.

Senior forward Adrianne Casey led the Lady Mules with 18 points. She scored most of her points in the post, and with her ability to draw the foul, she spent a good bit of time at the free-throw line.

“I feel like we played four really tough quarters and came together as a team to get the win,” Casey said. “I was feeling really good out there, and coming off of a week that we just had four games, I think it was good for us to get our minds ready for this game.”

Senior guard Madelyn Eads added 14 points, and guard Neveah Larkikns chipped in with eight.

Poplar Bluff coach John David Pattillo said he was pleased with how his team finished tonight and was proud of how they executed on both ends of the floor.

“That's what you want to see as a coach is for your kids to get involved,” Pattillo said. “We scored from different areas and managed to get to the foul line many times. That's been hard for us all year long, and we've recently been doing a much better job.”

Pattillo said he felt his team was loose with the ball in the first half, and it cost them to lose many possessions. After adjusting at halftime, Pattillo said he immediately saw the difference and credited the Lady Mules for limiting their turnovers for the rest of the game.

After starting the season 4-9, the Lady Mules could get back to .500 with wins over Kennett (Thursday) and at North County (Friday). Pattilo said he believes his team is prepared to face anyone in the district.

“We just had a parent meeting after the last game, and I just told everyone we have as good a chance as anybody else in our district,” he said. “We can compete with anybody, and our goal is always to play good basketball. If we do that, we have a strong shot in the district.”

Said Casey: “I think our biggest task ahead is to stay strong mentally. Don't let the game get ahead of us, and don’t let our failures be more than our positives.”