Young Bernie squad grabs nice road W at Dexter

DEXTER – No one is going to sympathize with the boy’s basketball coaching staff at Bernie High School, because the dilemma that those guys are facing is one that every single coaching staff in the country wishes that they had.

The truth is, it is more difficult to sustain an incredible level of success than it is to get that first special year under your belt, and the Mules are finding that out this season.

After averaging nearly 23 wins per season for six consecutive winters, Bernie, which has just one senior (Jayden Robinette), improved to 6-5 on the year with an impressive 42-36 win over Dexter on Friday at the Bearcat Event Center.

“We are trying to play the way that we practice,” Mule coach Jason Long said. “This group has really improved.”

Bernie has won consecutive games, but now faces just a brutal upcoming two weeks with games at Bloomfield, which beat the Mules 65-44 last month in the annual Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, and hosting Class 2 No. 8-ranked Puxico (12-1) on Friday.

The following week, Bernie will trek back to Bloomfield for the third time this season for the always-competitive Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament.

“We really work hard in practice,” Long continued. “With our kids, I feel like they work as hard in practice as any of our previous teams have.”

That showed on Friday against the struggling Bearcats (3-10).

Dexter, which has now lost five straight games, led 11-7 early in the second quarter, but the Bernie defense, which is really stringent this season statistically, locked up the Bearcats over the ensuing 16-plus minutes, most notably, Bearcat senior center Ethan Zabelin.

Bernie limited Dexter to just 12 points over the second and third quarters, and Zabelin, who is the top scorer and rebounder for Dexter, was held to just four points on the night.

“I have told (our team) that they are capable,” Long said, “but you are going to have to step on the floor and be confident, believe in yourself, and play together.

“We did a really good job of playing together.”

The Mules sank six 3-pointers through a critical mid-game stretch, which gave them a 34-25 advantage late in the game. Four of those long shots came from senior guard Jayden Robinette, who interestingly enough, hasn’t played since his freshman season, but led Bernie with 16 points.

“Jayden can shoot,” Long said, “especially when he has his feet set.”

The Bearcats, who beat Bernie 50-47 in the Bloomfield Tournament last month, fought back late with an 8-0 run to trim their deficit to 34-33 following consecutive steals, which led to runout lay-ups by sophomore Devin Turnbo. However, Dexter had several late turnovers, and the Mules buried six of their fourth-quarter free throws to help seal the win.

“We were much improved (tonight) in our handling,” Long said of navigating the Dexter zone press. “We had a couple of turnovers late, but then we hit the high post (versus the zone) and converted some baskets.”

Bernie, which graduated five seniors from last year’s 21-win squad, got 10 points from junior Taven Owens, as well as nine from junior Cade Arnold, who played a key role in limiting Zebellin.

Arnold also took a late charge in the game, which aided the Mule cause, as well.

Bernie freshman Chase Guiling added seven points in the win.

The Mules made just six two-point shots on the night but knocked down seven 3-pointers and hit 9 of 12 free throws.

Sophomore guard Gibson Booker led Dexter with 11 points while Turnbo had eight.

The Bearcats, who were without two varsity starters (John Sepulvado and Tucker Temples), got to the free-throw line just four times.

Temples, who suffered a concussion recently, could be back for this week’s games.

Dexter will visit Puxico on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and Class 3 No. 1-ranked New Madrid County Central (12-1) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. before next week’s SCAA Tournament.