WWW arkcity.net

By MIKE JOSEPH
Traveler Correspondent

DEXTER -- With the outcome in the balance after three periods, the Dexter Fighting Lady Cardinals used a 14-3 run to pull away in the fourth quarter and held on for a 59-50 win over the South Haven Lady Cardinals Friday night.

Senior Amanda Defore led the fourth quarter charge for Dexter, scoring six of her 11 points in the period. After fellow senior Camille Kahrs scored on a baseline drive to open the period, Defore scored on three of four Dexter possessions. South Haven's Beth Davidson fouled Defore, who converted both free throw attempts for a 44-38 lead.

Krissy Kill hit a runner in the lane giving Dexter a 46-38 lead with 6:19 remaining. Defore scored inside a minute later pushing the Dexter lead to ten, 48-38.

Breanna Bryant, playing in her first game in over two weeks since suffering an ankle sprain, pulled South Haven within nine, 50-41, hitting a three-pointer from the right wing.

Defore and freshman Alexis Hafenstein gave Dexter the lead, 54-41, with both baskets coming in the lane and 3:23 left in the game.

With Dexter leading 56-41, South Haven put together a 7-1 run behind four points from Bryant, including a steal and layup with 37 seconds left. Kahrs breakaway layup off the Dexter inbound sealed the win with less than 30 seconds left on the clock.

South Haven jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the first period behind three-point baskets by Tina Clausen and Tricia Cook. Davidson picked up her third foul with 2:36 left in the quarter and South Haven leading 12-6. Dexter got within a basket 12-10 before Clausen intercepted a Dexter pass and drove in for a layup with time running out.

Both teams traded leads in the second quarter as Dexter took a 27-24 halftime lead. Kahrs scored 10 of her game-high 23 points in the half.

Dexter built a seven-point lead, 31-24, early in the third quarter and led 35-28 with 4:16 on the clock. Bryant stole a pass intended for Defore and drove the length of the floor hitting the layup and drawing a foul on Allie Crow. Bryant converted the three-point-play, pulling South Haven back within four at 35-31 with 3:24 left.

Trailing 40-35 with time winding down, Clausen's three-pointer from the right wing pulled South Haven within a basket, 40-38, after three periods.

Dexter coach Debbie Callison felt relieved to get the win.

"We missed a lot of short shots tonight," said Callison. "I think we got a little rattled late but we were able to execute when we needed to. We have had some problem with fouls lately so we decided to use a zone defense to try to cut down on some of the fouls."

Of the loss, South Haven head coach David Hughes said, "We have to defend better than we did tonight. We had a few mental lapses that cost us. I thought with Beth (Davidson) on the bench with fouls, Cassie (Dvorak) did a good job off the bench for us." Dvorak scored seven points and hauled down four rebounds for South Haven.

"Camille (Kahrs) plays with so much hustle," said Callison. "She is really playing well right now."

Hafenstein was also in double figures for Dexter with 11-points. Kahrs pulled down 11 rebounds to go along with her 23 points for another double-double.

Bryant and Clausen led South Haven (11-6, 5-4) with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Dexter (16-2, 9-1) will host Caldwell next Tuesday night while South Haven will travel to Caldwell Monday night for a make up game.

SOUTH HAVEN 14 10 14 12--50
DEXTER 10 17 13 12--59

South Haven -- Bryant 14, Clausen 11, Davidson 8, Dvorak 7, Richards 6, Cook 4.
Dexter -- Kahrs 23, Defore 11, Hafenstein 11, Kill 6, Crow 3, Lawrence 3, McClure 2.