SECOND (QUARTER) WIND: Mules shake off slow start, hold on to beat Dexter

The Poplar Bluff Mules needed a near-perfect game to knock off the Dexter Bearcats, and a mid-game turnaround helped them do so a 55-48 win.

The Bearcats brought the heat within the game’s first minutes, but the Mules (9-12) found a way to put out that fire with a response after each basket.

However, ball movement and quick attacks to the rim put Dexter out front with a 19-12 in the first quarter, setting a tone for what they thought would be an easy route to victory.

The Mules had other plans, as the second quarter belonged to them. They made quick adjustments to the defense and took away those open shots the Bearcats were getting in the first. Quick hands and talking on defense worked in Poplar Bluff’s favor, with most of their baskets coming from forced turnovers.

“I thought we were reacting too much in the first quarter and careless with the ball,” Poplar Bluff coach Will Durden said. “Our intensity in the second quarter was the biggest adjustment we made. We were more proactive on defense and made smart plays by sticking to our game plan.”

While the game stayed close for much of the second quarter, the Mules took a 28-22 lead with an 8-0 run before halftime.

Momentum stayed with the Mules throughout the third, but Dexter remained within striking distance where a quick run could help the ‘Cats regain the lead. The Mules continued to make plays, but a few bad plays on both ends of the floor would cause the lead to trim down quickly.

Though having a strong lead to start the fourth, the Bearcats (16-7) recorded 10 points from the free throw line alone to cut the score 44-43 with less than five minutes to go.

A big 3-pointer from Dexter’s Cole Nichols, who finished with 13 points and five rebounds, brought Dexter within three points, but the Mules kept their composure to close out the game with a few shots from the foul line.

Junior guard Darius Graham led the Mules with nine points and six rebounds. Preston Moore chipped in with eight points and three rebounds, while sophomore guard Brendan Durden added seven points, four rebounds, and was a terror on defense with four steals.

“We have really picked up our play the last few games,” Coach Durden said. “We’ve had some success, and I thought we played well (Monday) night. To come back to back after playing two tough teams, I thought we stepped up big time. I’m just I’m excited and glad that the kids played as hard as they did.”

Dexter coach Chad Allen for Dexter said he gives all the props to the Mules for coming out the way they did but is proud of how his team played.

“I thought we battled extremely hard that second half, but Bluff was really good defensively,” Allen said. “We got off to a good start and were able to settle in early on, and I just thought that bluff picked it up a little bit more than we did. But of course, good teams will always make a run, but you have to find ways to respond, and we just didn’t do that.”

Poplar Bluff is back in action Thursday at Charleston.