Dexter Varsity Girls Capture Division Championship

With a Southeastern Conference White Division title hanging in the balance, Dexter’s girls’ varsity basketball team took care of business Friday night defeating visiting Adrian 41-30. With the victory, the Dreadnaughts captured the division championship.

“It’s a goal we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season,” Dexter head coach Mike Bavineau said. “We’ve been close the last two years, so it was nice to win it tonight. This has always been our goal. It’s great.”

With Dexter celebrating Senior Night against the Maples, the Dreadnaughts’ five upperclassmen started the contest. Looking like they’ve been playing together most of their lives, Dexter’s senior five raced out to an 11-0 first quarter lead. Senior guard Sarah Moir drained two three-pointers, while senior forward Zaryn Jennings had one triple and senior guard Serena Bidwell had two free throws helping spark the Dreadnaughts to an early advantage. The other Dexter seniors starting the game included center Nyki Caldwell and guard Kasey Swoverland.

After the Dreadnaughts’ early onslaught, Adrian settled down outscoring Dexter 4-0 to finish out the first quarter trailing 11-4.

To begin the second quarter, Maple senior center Haley Seegert scored an inside basket drawing Adrian closer at 11-6 with 7:12 remaining in the first half.

The Dreadnaughts, however, would outscore the Maples the rest of the second quarter 9-8 spurred on by junior center Olivia Cares’ two free throws and a triple from Jennings. At halftime, Dexter led 20-14.

To start the third quarter, the Dreadnaught senior five once again played well as a unit. In similar fashion to the opening of the first quarter, Dexter’s upperclassmen played like a well-oiled machine helping the Dreads go on a 10-0 run to take a commanding 30-16 advantage with 1:23 left in the frame.

Key baskets for Dexter in the run included a three-point play down low by sophomore center Emma Kill and a jumper from the foul line by Bidwell. To close the third quarter, Moir connected with junior forward Polly Washabaugh on a nice pass in the lane, which Washabaugh converted into a basket at the buzzer. Entering the fourth quarter, the Dreadnaughts led 32-18.

In the fourth quarter, Adrian cut Dexter’s lead to 10 points on junior guard Samantha Garcia’s short jumper with 2:08 remaining on the clock, but it was as close as the Maples would get the rest of the game. In grand fashion seniors Bidwell, Jennings and Moir all made free throws in the final minute and a half to seal the Dreadnaughts’ victory and the league title.

Jennings paced Dexter with 10 points, including two three-pointers, while Moir and Bidwell each added eight points.

Cares finished with six points, while Kill had three points for the Dreadnaughts. Caldwell and Washabaugh each netted two points for Dexter.

Junior guard Krysta Bowerman led Adrian with eight points, while Seegert had six points.

Senior guard Jacquelyn Lanczki, junior center Bronte Shulters and Garcia each chipped in four points, while sophomore guard Emily Cornelius and junior forward Morgan Timms each had two points for the Maples.

Bavineau said his team played well despite losing its last two games.

“We wanted to bounce back going into districts,” he said. “I was a little worried coming in tonight with it being Senior Night, but we were able to get a quick start and that helped settle us down. We knew if we could defend well tonight we would be okay.”

Dexter next begins Class A state district tournament play facing the winner of Ann Arbor Huron/Pinckney game on Wedneday. Ann Arbor Pioneer is hosting the district tournament. If successful in their opening round, the Dreadnaughts will compete in the district final at 7:15 p.m. Friday

“We just need to keep playing our game,” Bavineau said. “We’re not that far off. If we believe in ourselves and our ability it will make all the difference in the world.”