The Dexter boys’ basketball team is learning valuable lessons in the early part of the 2023-24 season and this week’s lesson was about not letting an opponent back in the game. This time, fortunately for the Dreadnaughts, the lesson didn’t cost them a victory.
Dexter led Southfield A&T by nine points at halftime and five points after three quarters but let the lead slip away in the fourth quarter. The Dreadnaughts regrouped and outscored A&T 17-3 in overtime for a 67-53 win in the non-league game played on Thursday at Ferndale HS in the Motor City Roundball Classic.
“We thought we were going to really pull away in this one, but we missed some easy ones and had some sloppy play that allowed A&T to get back in the game,” said Dexter Coach Jason Rushton. “In overtime we were able to get back under control to get the win.”
Dexter had 10 players score in the victory with five scoring seven or more points.
Jack Meeker had 12 points and Jack DeMerell had 10 points (along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds).
“The game’s MVP, Scott Smith, played a great all-around game and had 11 points and 8 rebounds,” Rushton said.
Will Simpson controlled the boards and had 12 rebounds to go with his 5 points. Ben Murphy had eight points and Marcus Keeler had seven points.
Dexter was coming off a 65-40 loss to Chelsea.
“All credit to their team – their big players played well and their role players stepped up and made winning plays,” Rushton said of the Bulldogs. “Unfortunately for us, we had three great practices leading up to this one and it didn’t translate to the game.
“For most of their group, they’ve had 25-60 plus varsity games under their belt while for most of our players this was varsity game No. 5. We will get there. And we know we need to continue to stack our practices like we have the last three to develop consistency and confidence and it will begin to translate.”
It certainly translated against Southfield A&T.
DeMerell led Dexter with 19 points against Chelsea.
The Dreadnaughts will play at noon on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena against Okemos.
