Summer work paying dividends in winter for Dexter hoops

DEXTER – Kids can have a lot on their minds during the summer months.

There is going to the local swimming pool and hanging out with friends.

There are dates to go on.

There are camping/hiking/boating adventures to embark on out at Lake Wappapello.

And there are fireworks to mess around with for what has often become a month of celebration in the mid-summer, as opposed to just one night.

However, the seven senior boys basketball players at Dexter High School ignored the calendar and focused on basketball.

“Since last March,” Bearcat senior shooter Brayden Pullyum said recently, “when we lost (to New Madrid County Central) in the Districts on our home court, we’ve had Districts and making a state run on our minds.”

The Bearcats can match last year’s win total (16) with a victory tonight, as Dexter (15-5) hosts Advance (17-4) for Senior Night at 7:30 p.m.

A year ago, Dexter didn’t win any type of championship.

The Bearcats lost twice in the SEMO Conference Tournament, fell to Malden in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, and got knocked off by Bernie in the Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament.

They narrowly got past Doniphan in the opening round of the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 Tournament before losing to the Eagles, who, by the way, advanced to the Final Four and lost to eventual champion Vashon.

Dexter seniors Pullum, Truman Krapf, Peyton Boles, Cole Nichols, Chris Stone, Clayton Bell, and Logan Josupait all got busy in the summer preparing for their final season together and since the opening tip of this season, that diligence has shown.

“Everything is opening up,” Pullum said, “and we are finding where we need to be in our season. If we just keep executing like we are, I think we can be a pretty solid team.”

The Bearcats, who have won three straight games, will achieve their eighth consecutive winning season, which is already guaranteed, as they have five regular-season games remaining and the postseason.

Dexter won 21 games in the 2020-21 season and had 20 victories in the 2017-18 season, both of which can be topped if they play up to their potential.

“We worked hard (for this) in the summer,” Pullum continued. “We had about 40 to 50 Rib City (Shootout) games. We have always been in the gym after school until the season started.

“We really want it bad this year. If all of the pieces start adding up, I think we can make it somewhere this year.”

Nichols inches closer

Nichols is getting closer with each passing game to etching his name atop the Bearcat history books.

The 6-foot-2 senior guard is now just 71 points shy of passing former Bearcat great Brett Hale as the all-time leading scorer in Bearcat history.

Hale finished his career in 2001 with 1,800 points, while Nichols has totaled 1,730 after dropping 40 points in a recent win over Bernie in the SCAA Tournament championship game.

“Cole does so many things, whether it is off the ball,” fourth-year Dexter coach Chad Allen said, “he gets offensive rebounds, stick-backs, pulling up and shooting a jumper or driving to the rim.

“He’s great at changing speeds and being able to get to the rim. That has really been his game, is getting to the rim. But he is starting to shoot the ball really well.”