Kennett steals game from Dexter in closing seconds at Bloomfield tourney

Staff Photo by Dustin Ward
Kennett's Kevonte Mitchell soars toward the basket to complete a layup. [Order this photo]

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Two words remained inked on the board in Kennett's locker room following its 49-48 win against the Dexter Bearcats in its championship semifinal contest at the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament Wednesday evening.

Physical Play

Staff Photo by Dustin Ward
Kennett's Antonio Primer completes a one-handed shot over Dexter's Jacob Lee.

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The play Vaughan speak of is the steal by Kennett 6'1 senior Jajuan Wallace with just under 20 seconds remaining in regulation.

Dexter had pushed the ball to its end of the floor with less than 30 seconds remaining and maintained a 48-47 lead. Dexter was looking to attack the basket in the closing seconds of regulation if the opportunity presented itself according to Bearcats' coach Rob Nichols.

"We were up one," Nichols said. "When we turned it over there was about 18 seconds left. We had called to get in our delayed game, but the way Kennett was scrambling and running two guys all over the court I thought that I wasn't going to call a timeout. We might get a lay-up and then it's not a free throw shooting contest. At that point we were seven out of 19 from the line."

Kennett knocked the ball lose with just under 20 seconds remaining as Dexter attempted to move the ball around the perimeter. Wallace scrambled to pick up the lose ball and fired a pass to a sprinting Kevonte Mitchell who had headed toward Kennett's basket.

"It was a tipped pass and I was in good position," Wallace said of the steal. "I grabbed the ball and was tough with it like my coach always tells me to be. I saw Kevonte immediately and threw the ball past the defense."

Mitchell recorded a contested lay-up with just under 16 seconds remaining to put Kennett on top for good at 49-48.

"I was just like 'Jujuan go with it.'" Mitchell said of the game-winning play. "I seen Jujuan throw the ball. I ran as hard as I could, got it and layed it in. It felt fabulous."

Dexter pushed the ball to half court following Mitchell's field goal. The Bearcats' Cody Nelson drove to the lane with eight second remaining, but missed a contested shot.

Following the miss Wallace was fouled and sent to the line to shoot a one-and-one with less than three seconds remaining. Wallace missed the free-throw and Dexter's Tyler Miller managed to release a shot beyond half court before time expired.

The shot did not fall and Kennett players stormed from the bench to celebrate the Indians' third straight trip to the championship of the 16-team tourney.

"It's a group accomplishment," Wallace said of advancing to the championship. "We are one step closer to what we want for a third year in a row."

Staff Photo by Dustin Ward
Kennett's Jajuan Wallace attacks the basket.

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The teams traded the lead four times in the first period. Dexter's largest lead was 11-6 and Kennett led by one twice.

Kennett scored the first six points of the second quarter to take a 20-14 lead and force a Dexter timeout with 6:35 remaining in the first half. Dexter scored the next six points to tie the contest at 20 and force a Kennett timeout with 5:23 remaining in the first half.

Kennett's Antonio Primer recorded Kennett's only field goal the remainder of the first half with 1:35 left in the second quarter.

Dexter drained three of its five 3-pointers in the first half after recording six 3-pointers in an upset-win against Holcomb in its quarterfinal contest Tuesday.

"We were getting lost on some screen exchanges," Vaughan said of the second quarter. "We lost some communication and Dexter made some plays. I still think we get beat off the dribble more than we need to get beat. Credit Dexter right there. They attacked through that stretch."

Kennett erased the deficit in the third period, outscoring Dexter 15-8 after being outscored 15-8 in the second period. Dexter did not scored in the final four minutes of the third quarter.

"We had a seven point lead at the end of the third quarter and then had three straight turnovers at half court that led to lay-ups off basically unforced stuff," Nichols said. "That ate up our lead."

The largest lead of the final quarter was three when Kennett led 43-40 with 3:55 remaining. The game as tied at 45 and 47 in the final three minutes of regulation. Dexter took a 48-47 lead when Neldon drained one of two free throws when he as fouled driving to the basket with 56 seconds remaining.

Dexter regained possession of the ball following a Kennett turnover, but gave the ball back to Kennett before it could pad its lead.

"I thought we did everything we had to do to win except we knew if we could guard them and not turn the basketball over that they might have trouble scoring," Nichols said.

Kennett continued its success in the rebounding department in the tournament. Adam Grantham finished the contest with 12 rebounds.

"He's an enigma to try to block out because he is athletic and quick," Vaughan said of Grantham. "Antonio also used his body well to trigger down some offensive rebounds."

Mitchell recorded 20 of Kennett's 49 points. Wallace scored nine and Primer added eight.

Dexter was led by Miller who calculated 17. Jake Lee added 13 points for Dexter.

Kennett will play Portageville in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament championship Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Third-seeded Portageville defeated second-seeded Doniphan 65-62 in overtime in its semifinal match Wednesday. Portageville enters the contest with an 8-0 record and collected a 70-57 win against Kennett on Dec. 16.

"We know what we are getting with Portageville," Vaughan said. "We've faced them already and they are a conference team. We've got to match speed and athleticism. We've got to stop the dribble. We've got to find a way to keep Tevin Walker toned down a little, but when you focus on one they will have other players step up.

"Our kids are going to be geared up," he continued. "It's exciting for them because even though we were voted the No. 1 seed by the coaches there are people that said 'we don't belong in this game.' Our kids just proved we belong in this game. The last thing I told them is 'congratulations to you.'"

No. 1 Kennett 49, No. 5 Dexter 48

DHS 14 15 8 11 - 48

KHS 14 8 15 12 - 49

DEXTER (48) - Chase Young 3, Tyler Miller 17, Jordan Fitts 2, D.J Dowdy 5, Jake Lee 13, Cody Neldon 8. FG 18, F/T 7/19, F 11. (3-pointers: Young 1, Miller 3, Dowdy 1. Fouled out: none)

KENNETT (49) - Antavies Drake 6, Cameron Harper 2, Daniel Lockhert 2, Kevonte Mitchell 20, Adam Grantham 2, Antonio Primer 8, Jajuan Wallace 9. FG 23, F/T 2/5, F 14. (3-pointers: Wallace 1. Fouled out: none)

Thursday's Schedule

Championship: No. 1 Kennett vs. No 3 Porageville, 7:30 p.m.

Third-place game: No. 2 Doniphan vs. No. 5 Dexter, 6

Fifth-place game: No. 6 Bernie vs. No. 4 Holcomb, 4:30

Consolation final: No. 13 Malden vs. No. 7 Bloomfield, 3