NMCC runs past Bearcats

The New Madrid County Central Eagles spoiled Dexter's Homecoming party defeating the Bearcats 80-37 Friday evening at the Bearcat Event Center.

Ra'Mond Brooks and Jadis Jones quickly got New Madrid on the board putting the Eagles up 4-0. Tucker Temples got Dexter on the board with a free throw following a New Madrid foul. The teams exchanged buckets and the Eagles led 6-3. New Madrid was then off and running outscoring the Bearcats 32-6 to take a 38-9 lead after one quarter.

BJ Williamson recorded 11 of his game high 25 points for New Madrid in the first quarter. The Eagles kept up the pressure in the second quarter with smothering defense and rapid ball movement working the ball inside. Most of New Madrid's damage was done inside the paint working the ball to Williamson, Brooks, Maryion Crawford and Jades Jones.

The Eagles built a 61-19 lead by half. In the second half the Bearcats found some footing and played the Eagles even on the score board but it wasn't enough as the Eagles won 80-37.

“New Madrid is definitely an exceptional team. They got a lot of great athletes and their athleticism hurt us tonight especially in the first half,” said Dexter coach Chad Allen. “I was proud of our guys, that second half I thought we did a much better job offensively. They really rushed us a lot in that first half we had to take a lot of quick shots. The guts settled down and did a much better jod that second half running our offense and getting some good shots.”

Dexter will next be in action in the SCAA Tournament where they are the six seed and will take on Richland in the first round. Allen spoke about the tournament.

“We have played Richland twice already, this will be the third time. It is going to be a tough game, it should be a good game,” said Allen. “We are going to have to play better then we did last time against them, Hopefully we will execute really well offensively and do a great job defensively. We just got to prepare one game at a time, we got Richland first and we will just go from there.”

New Madrid will next be action Tuesday when they visit Malden.

For the Eagles Williamson had 25 points, Jaden Jones 17, Brooks 16, AJ Ruff 13, Canford 8 and Malakhi Hughes 1. For Dexter Ethan Zebelin had 15, Gibson Booker 12, Hunter Massey 5, Nate Harris 2 and Devin Turnbo and Carter Stone each had 1.