Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter's Tyler Scott (No. 24) battles on the boards during Monday's 55-49 win over the Kennett Indians during SEMO Conference tournament action.

The 6'3" senior did most of his damage inside, posting up and crashing the boards for offensive rebounds. Hart did step behind the arc once for a 3-pointer, but he was only 3-of-9 from the free throw line as the while Dexter team struggled from th charity strip connecting on just 13 of 28 attempts.

With the win, Dexter played its way into the tournament's main bracket where they will not be pitted against top seeded Cape Notre Dame at 5:30 p. m. today.

Kennett got points from 10 different players, but only Tevin Hempton reached double digits with an 11-point effort.

The Indians lost starter Blake Parr early in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. The Tribe were in the mist of a comeback that had trimmed a 27-12 first half deficit down to 38-34 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Kennett never wrestled the lead away from Dexter, but the Indians made what had started off as an ugly game into a horse race at the end.

Both teams were as cold as the weather outside to open the game, missing their first eight shots before Bobby Rawson's layup broke the drought at the 6:05 mark. Ishmael Whatstone quickly answered for Kennett, but it would be almost two minutes before Dexter's Logan Carwile scored and it wouldn't be until the 2:45 mark that Hart scored his first basket to make it a 6-2 game.

Dexter was able to make it a 10-6 lead heading into the second where the Bearcats picked up the pace offensively while the Indians continued to struggle.

Dexter led 27-12 at the break.

The second half belonged to Kennett as the indians used a 9-2 run to end the third and cut the margin of difference to four at 38-34.

No. 4 Charleston 53, No. 5 New Madrid 45

By Andrew Powell

SEMO News Service

SIKESTON -- The Charleston Bluejays and the New Madrid County Central

Eagles did battle Monday night to cap off the opening round of the

SEMO Conference Tournament in Sikeston. In the end, Charleston won

the turnover battle to give the Bluejays the 53-45 victory.

"We pride ourselves on our defense," said Charleston head coach Danny

Farmer. "They tried to keep pressure on us and we tried to do the

same to them. It was a good, defensive game and I thought we won the

battle of the defenses."

The first quarter proved to be an obstacle for both offenses as

neither team was completely able to settle in and create a good run.

In the closing minute of the starting quarter, the Charleston bench

was called for a technical foul which consequently gave NMCC the lead

10-9 heading towards the second quarter.

However, instead of hindering the Bluejays, it proved more as

motivation, sparking the Charleston team to a 6-0 run. Up 15-10, the

Bluejay defense stepped up their game even more as they continued to

create turnovers, resulting in several fast break opportunities.

"We just gave the ball away too many times," said NMCC head coach

Travis Day. "We had turnovers after turnovers and against a team like

Charleston you can't give them easy opportunities.

"That team knows how to win and if you give them the ball, they're

gonna make you pay and that's what they did to us," Day added.

The Bluejays came out of the locker room at the half up 23-19 and

continued to steadily pull away from the Eagles behind the leadership

of junior Antonio Riggens and senior Brian Parham.

Riggens finished the game with 11 points, including a 3-pointer while

Parham led Charleston with 18 points.

"Brain played an excellent game and he really steeped it up for us

tonight," said Farmer. "Antonio also stepped it up and I thought he

handled the pressure they put on him on defense well. Those two are

my captains and I expect them to continue to pick it up."

NMCC was lead by Koney Ealy with 13 points and Josh Minner who got in

on the action with 12 points.

The Bluejays (3-1) will be back in action Thursday when they play the

winner of the Notre Dame/Dexter game at 6 p.m.. NMCC (1-2) will try

to bounce back in the consolation bracket Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

when they will play the loser of the Notre Dame/Dexter game.

Cape Central 72, Caruthersville 46

The Cape Central Tigers used strong outside shooting and an active

pressure defense to take a 48-18 lead into half against the

Caruthersville Tigers and cruised to a 72-46 win Monday in a play-in

game of the SEMO Conference Tournament.

Cape Central (1-2) was led by Jajuan Bell's 20 points while Anthony

Watts and Chase Johnson finished with 12 and 11 respectively.

Caruthersville (0-1) was led Vohland Fonda who finished with 14.

Caleb Moss ended with 13.

Cape Central will play Jackson tonight at 7 p.m. Caruthersville will

take on Kennett at 5:30 p.m. Wesdnesday.