Jerry Jarrell photo - Dexter's Cathryn Heil (No. 11) battles Bell City's Codie Lancaster (No. 8) at the net during the varsity final Saturday at Dexter High School. The Lady Bearcats wrestled the title away from the two-time defending champs in three games, 25-14, 18-25,25-16.

Bell City's reign as Stoddard County Activities Association (SCAA) tournament champions came to an endas the Dexter Lady Bearcats played inspired ball to wrestle the varsity title away from the Lady Cubs, 25-14, 18-25, 25-16, at home Saturday.

A shot at the tournament title and the memory of an ugly regular-season loss to Bell City that saw the Lady Cubs rout Dexter provided all the motivation needed as the Lady 'Cats came out and dominated the first game. Bell City showed why they had won the last two league titles with a gutsy win in game two, but it was the Lady 'Cats that were not to be denied on this day with a late surge in Game 3 that allowed Dexter to celebrate by hoisting the tournament's championship plaque.

"Wow!" Dexter coach Kris Vandeven said. "We are so excited to be the conference tournament champs. I am proud of the girls for being so fired up today (Saturday). They really rose to the occasion. I am especially proud of our juniors for stepping up. All in all, the team played great together. We knew coming onto the court that we wanted to redeem ourselves, and I'm proud of the girls for doing just that."

Junior Brittany Bedford led Dexter with 13 digs and classmate Abbie Warren added seven kills and three blocks, to support the efforts of seniors Cathryn Heil, Kayla Joyner and Jessica Satterfield. Satterfield finished with a game-high 11 kills, while Heil had a team-high 13 assists. Joyner was solid with two kills, two aces, three digs and one block.

Sophomore Elisha Flanigan was charted with 11 digs and three kills, while freshman McKenzie Mitchell recorded one kill, one dig, one blocks and two assists.

For Bell City, it was a disappointing loss in an otherwise successful season.

"We didn't attack very much," Bell City coach Erin Hoffman said after the match. "We were very passive in our play. I don't know if it's that time of the season or what it is, but we just weren't very aggressive."

Is there anything positive you can take from this match? "Nothing ... well maybe it did open our eyes a little. We haven't been playing well for two or three weeks now, but we've still been beating everybody, so maybe now we know we do need to start playing to our potential."

Bell City freshman sensation Jasmine Johnson did entertain the crowd with her aerial attacks and powerful strikes, leading all players with 18 kills. Senior Codie Lancaster finished with 27 assists, while Sherilyn Long contributed 17 digs.

"She (Johnson) is probably the most naturally athletic, talented person, I've ever coached," Hoffman said of her young star. " She does an excellent job just being a freshman, but we're still working on her game. I don't think she's hit her potential. I don't think she's even close to it yet."

Johnson was the youngest member of the 12-player all-tournament team that also included Lancaster, along with Satterfield, Heil and Warren from Dexter, Hannah White, Sara Holloway and Christian Pratt of Puxico, Sami Palmer and Kristin Eaves, both of Bernie, Lauren Johnson of Woodland and Jessie White of Bloomfield.

In the varsity's third place consolation match, No. 4 Puxico upset No. 3 Bernie in three games, 25-16, 23-25, 25-21.

"Poor serving flat out cost us this game," Bernie coach Jeff Rodgers stated. "We served so well against Dexter on Thursday (97%) and so poorly tonight (83%). It boggles my mind on how inconsistent we can be.

"We're having seniors missing way too many serves," Rodgers continued. "Most of the time when you lose you beat yourself. That was the case Saturday. Kristin Eaves played very well, but not well enough to overcome 83% serving. If we want any shot of winning our district, we'll have to have more intensity than we've had. We'll probably look at trying some other servers. Kristin and Sami (Palmer) both played very well in the tournament (3 games) and were named to the all-tournament team. Kristin was as good as any front row player in the tournament and led us with 35 kills and 32 blocks including 15 solo. Sami had 55 assists and had 36 blocks."

In the junior varsity championship (see story on Page 9 of the Daily Statesman), No. 1 Bloomfield survived a Game 1 challenge from No. 2 Dexter before taking the title, 25-23, 25-17. The jayvee consolation match saw No. 4 Puxico defeat No. 6 Advance, 25-11, 25-16.