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Following the Dexter boys’ basketball team’s 61-42 District semifinal loss to Skyline last week, Thomas Seeland addressed the end of the season in the locker room after the game. “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you respond,” the senior said to his teammates.
The Dreadnaughts responded all year.
“Our guys fought hard against a good Skyline team and we have done that all year,” said Dexter Coach Jason Rushton. “We couldn’t be more proud of that.”
Rushton was “rushing” back from Dallas the afternoon before the game and wasn’t expecting Evan Haroldson to play after talking with his assistant coaches. Haroldson, a standout senior, sprained his ankle pretty good in the game against Ypsilanti last week.
“Of course, being the tough young man he is, he went against doctor’s orders and was going to gut it out,” Rushton said. “I hustled to make it before tip off (thanks to my wife picking me up curbside and getting me there safely and swiftly) and Evan was dressed, taped up and ready to play, although you could tell he was going to be very limited.”
Haroldson’s commitment to play was just another example of this team responding.
“We showed a lot of heart and kept things close in the first half,” Rushton said. “We just didn’t have an answer on the glass in the second half due to our lack of size. Nonetheless, this group never quit as they haven’t all season long. We know the record doesn’t reflect it, and from the outside we may not see what we do in our locker room – but we have a lot to be proud of this season.”
Skyline got out to a strong 9-0 lead to start the game with defensive intensity and attacking the basket prompting Dexter to call a timeout. The Dreads would claw back into the game in the first half working to try and slow the game and Skyline down and started making some shots.
The Eagles led 27-24 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Skyline turned up the full-court defensive pressure and was able to hold Dexter to four points in the third quarter while scoring 20 to break the game open. Skyline led 47-28 at the end of the third quarter.
Jayden Potts and Ben Stille each scored 17 for Skyline. Sam Koelling had 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Garrett Sharp led Dexter with nine points. Reeves Taylor scored eight. Haroldson, Jack DeMerrell and Ben Murphy each scored six.
Skyline defeated Brighton 60-47 in Friday’s District final. Skyline lost 48-45 to Belleville on Monday in a Regional Semifinal at Lincoln HS. Huron defeated Northville 56-45 in the other semifinal.
