They all aren’t going to be masterpieces but any game you can paint a “W” next to is a brushstroke in the right direction. “It was ugly, but we got the job done,” Dexter Coach Lauren Thompson said after her team’s 45-36 win over host Ypsilanti in an SEC White Division matchup on Friday night.
Dexter’s Maddie Valentine saved her best for last. The sophomore scored nine of her-time high 15 points in the fourth quarter. She had a triple in the final period and also knocked down all four free-throw attempts to help seal the deal.
The Dreadnaughts’ offense was spread around as everyone who played scored. Sophomore Sydney Pnacek had eight points including two triples in the first half. Kylee Niswonger had six points and Brianna Rodriguez scored five.
Kaila Simpson scored four and Alayna Babut and Kyleigh Valentine each scored three. Shannon Schoch scored a point for Dexter.
The Dreadnaughts were coming off a tough 51-43 loss the night before against Lenawee Christian in a non-league game. They may have been a little tired as they struggled in the first quarter with just six points and trailed 8-6 after one.
But the offense got going as five different players knocked down three-pointers in the third quarter to help the Dreadnaughts take a 22-12 halftime lead. The Grizzlies outscored the Dreads 14-6 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 28-26 heading into the final period.
But Dexter outscored the hosts 17-10 in the final period to lock up the victory.
Dexter hosts Pinckney at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
