The 2009 Daily Dunklin Democrat Dandy Dozen Basketball Team: Ferguson, Finley at head of class

Staff illustration by Mike Buhler
Clarkton's Dustin Ferguson (left) and Kennett's Jarvis Finley are the 2009 Daily Dunklin Democrat Basketball Players of the Year.

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Despite a vocal student section that spent much of the game taunting him with a chant of "Jar-vis Fin-ley!" the senior guard still scored a team-high 23 points and nearly led the Tribe to an upset that night.

"That was one of nights overall that our team competed well," Kennett coach Jim Vaughan said. "He really shouldered the load that night both offensively and defensively."

It is games like that that have earned Finley and Clarkton senior Dustin Ferguson recognition as the Daily Dunklin Democrat Players of the Year.

The award is the second for Ferguson, and the first for Finley.

Finley had long been known as one of the most talented players in the Bootheel, but had struggled to find his place before this year.

That changed this winter, as Finley emerged as a team leader as a senior, not only leading the team in scoring at 17.2 points per contest but also emerging as a clutch player.

That was no more evident than it was against New Madrid County Central in Kennett's final home game. Finley scored a game-high 19 points, including the game-winning shot with two seconds left to lift the Tribe to a 49-47 upset of the state-ranked Eagles.

"It meant a lot to go out winning on our home court that final game," said Finley.

And Finley didn't just play well late in the year. He had a double-double against St. James in the Potosi Invitational and 17 points to power Kennett to a win against North County on December 13.

"Jarvis was definitely was more serious about his approach toward athletics this year," Vaughan said. "I noticed that with the beginning of football season. He had a lot more focus going into what he was going to do this year."

While the Indians did not win a district title this season, Finley was still pleased with his final season on the high school hardwood.

"Record-wise it wasn't the best we wished it to be," said Finley. "But I had a good time playing with the guys I played with and enjoyed every game. It was just kind of frustraiting having to come to an end. But I feel we went out trying."

Meanwhile, success and winning have followed Ferguson all through high school.

The standout guard helped Clarkton win its second straight Tri-County Conference Tournament title this season -- and its first district title since 2003 -- all while racking up his 2,000th career point and his second TCC Player of the Year award.

"Dustin's a special player," Clarkton coach Scottie Blackburn said. "He has a tremendous work ethic. He spends a ton of time in the gym constantly just working on his game. He's a prime example of what all that work will do -- it'll pay off."

Ferguson had one of the biggest weeks of any southeast Missouri player in the TCC Tournament, almost singlehandedly lifting the Reindeer to the tourney title while scoring almost 100 points for the week.

"There was a lot of talk about who was going to be Player of the Year that week and he just came out and raised his game for all three games," said Blackburn. "He averaged over 33 points per game for the week. That kind of says a lot about what he is as a player -- instead of the pressure getting to him, it just made him better."

Less than two weeks after lifting Clarkton to the league title, he pumped in 26 points to lead the 'Deer to a district championship -- the first in six years for Clarkton and the first for Blackburn as a coach.

"Winning that game meant so much to me and my teammates," said Ferguson, "and to help coach win his first district title was very special to me."

Ferguson scored 2,147 points in his career and averaged well over 20 points per game as a senior.

"My support at home has made a huge impact in my career," Ferguson said. "My parents and my family have always done all that they could to expose me to the best competition and helped push me to get better and better. My parents, cousin, and all of my previous coaches have made me the player I am today -- and I am very thankful for the people that the Lord has put in my life."

Other members of the Dandy Dozen team include: Chelsea Bledsoe, Campbell; Justin Brown, Clarkton; Justin Fowler, Campbell; Michael Gardner, Senath-Hornersville; Aaron McCaig, Cooter; Blake Parr, Kennett; Casey Redden, Clarkton; Jerica Wheeler, Kennett; Brittney Williams, Kennett; and Britton Wilson, North Pemiscot.