Dexter uses big fourth quarter to pull away from Richland

Dexter's Alan Flannigan goes up for two of his game-high 28 points against Richland Tuesday night in the Bearcats' 71-55 win. Defending on the play is Richland's Ryan Kleffer. David Jenkins, Staff

ESSEX -- One quarter can sometimes be the difference in a ballgame. Tuesday night's game between the Dexter Bearcats and the Richland Rebels was a perfect example.

The Rebels trailed by only three at the end of the third quarter, but were outscored by Dexter 23-10 in the final period and fell 71-55.

"We got a little scattered, we didn't run our offense well and we started playing perimeter ball," Richland head coach John Walker said of his team's fourth quarter. "When we're not getting the ball down to Drew Thornton and Ryan Kleffer on the block we can be in trouble."

Drew Thornton led the Rebels with 17 points, but was limited to two points in the final quarter after fouling out with approximately three minutes left in the game.

The high-scoring Dexter fourth quarter was due in large part to an impressive performance by Alan Flannigan, who scored 12 points in the quarter, including going 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Flannigan scored 21 of his game-high 28 in the second half after playing limited minutes in the first half due to foul trouble.

"We had some kids in the first half who really stepped up when Alan was in foul trouble and kind of carried the load for us," said Dexter coach Rob Nichols. "Brandon Stoker scored pretty well for us, Gary Summers hit some shots. [Flannigan] has been in foul trouble a little bit throughout the year and we've really played pretty well when he's been on the bench. In the second half Alan really just took the game over, which is what your good players need to do."

Stoker helped carry the Bearcats during Flannigan's absence, scoring 13 of his 15 points in the first half, including three 3-pointers.

Dexter hit seven 3-pointers in the contest, as well as shooting 84 percent as a team from the charity stripe. "[Dexter] hit their free throws very well just like the other night when we played them. They got to the line quite a bit and they hit their free throws, and that's what a good team does," said Walker.

Although the Bearcats held a two-point lead at halftime, Coach Nichols felt his team could have played better. "We didn't play with much energy in the first half. We really challenged them at halftime and I think they stepped up and played really good basketball in the second half. That's a really good Richland team right there so that's a good win for us."

Tuesday night's game was the third meeting between Dexter and Richland this season, with Dexter coming away victorious for a third straight time.

"It's tough to beat a good basketball team three times," Nichols said. "Early on it didn't look like it was going to happen, but Flannigan, Bryn Hester and some of the other guys really stepped up and played good basketball in the second half."

In addition to Flannigan and Stoker, Summers and Hester also reached double-figures for the Bearcats scoring 10 and 12 respectively. Mac Thornton, who finished with 16, was the only other player to finish in double-figures for Richland.

Dexter (9-8) will play Bernie in the SCAA championship game tonight in Bloomfield and then host conference opponent Advance Friday night. Richland (14-4) will play Bloomfield in the third place game of the SCAA Tournament tonight and travel to Risco for a game on Friday.

DEXTER (71) -- Brandon Stoker 15, Ryan Windham 2, Gary Summers 10, Bryn Hester 12, Alan Flannigan 28, Jon Bowman 2, Taylor Jarrell 2. FG 24 FT 16-19 F 11. (3-pointers: Stoker 3, Summers 1, Hester 2, Flannigan 1. Fouled out: none.)

RICHLAND (55) -- Mikey Latham 9, Parker Evans 4, Jesse Brown 2, Drew Thornton 17, Ryan Kleffer 7, Mac Thornton 16. FG 24 FT 7-11 F 18. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Brown, D. Thornton.)