Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter's Katelyn Heil (No. 15) slips around a Caruthersville defender during Thursday's 86-65 Lady Bearcats' win at home.

Dexter coach Chad Allen thinks he knows why his Lady Bearcats looked a little sluggish in their 86-65 win over Caruthersville at home Thursday.

After a long holiday layoff that saw the Lady 'Cats out of action for over two weeks, Allen moved conditioning to the top of the priorities' list.

"Part of this game is my fault, because I've pushed the girls so hard this week," Allen said with a smile after the game. "I told them at Christmas time that the first two weeks back I was really going to push them hard, so I've been working them hard and you could defiantly tell it tonight (Thursday).

Jerry Jarrell photo Dexter's Ashlee Taylor (No. 30) battles for a rebound with Caruthersville's Janique Prather during Thursday's 86-65 Lady Bearcats' win. Taylor hit the boards throughout the game on her way to a 31-point night.

"We didn't have any legs," the first-year girls coach continued. "We couldn't hit layups, couldn't hit free throws. We were just a little slow on defense and a little slow everywhere just because we didn't have any legs."

While the Lady 'Cats may not have looked as sharp as normal, junior Ashlee Taylor still managed to scrap inside for a season-high 31 points. The 5'9" post player connected on 14 field goals, many coming on offensive rebounds and put-backs, and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the foul line.

"I knew she had quite a few points," Allen commented. "She really dominated inside. She works hard and is real patient, and gets to the basket and she scores. She's definitely a big asset."

Dexter's Katelyn Heil scored 22 points, and the Bearcats needed all the offense they could generate to offset the scoring of Caruthersville's Kyisha Ricks and Leola Hubbard.

The two Caruthersville seniors combined for 39 points, with Ricks' 20 leading the way

"Caruthersville is not a bad team," Allen said. "I think they're 7-1 on the year and I guess we don't really hear much about them since they are down in the bootheel. They have those two really good girls, Hubbard and Ricks, and it was just hard for us to stop them all night."

Dexter picked up seven points on the Lady Tigers at the free throw line. Both teams shot 23 attempts, in what was a physical game, but the Lady 'Cats connected on 16 (70 percent) while the Lady Tigers could only manage nine (40 percent).

Dexter moved its winning streak to nine games and improved to 10-2 overall and 4-0 in the SEMO Conference. The Lady 'Cats will look to extend their winning ways next week against some tough opponents.

"Next week we've got three big games, so I'm going to try and rest their legs make sure they get plenty of fruits and orange juice and hopefully we'll come out and be fresh next week and ready to go," Allen said.

"That is really going to be three tough games," he said, pointing to games on the road at Naylor (Monday), Portageville (Thursday) and Saturday against Class 5 Incarnate Word Academy in the Notre Dame Shootout. "That is going to be three of the toughest games, probably the toughest three game stretch we'll have all year.

Naylor I know is ready to play us because we beat them in the Christmas tournament (Lady Royals Holiday Classic final, 64-52) and we'll be at their home, so we've got to come out and really be ready to play.

There was no junior varsity game Thursday.