Dreadnaughts Take Early Lead and Never Look Back Against Saline

It didn’t take long for the Dexter Dreadnaughts to put the Saline Hornets on their heels during Tuesday's Southeastern Conference varsity girls basketball game.

The Dreadnaughts (12-4 overall, 8-3 in the Southeast Conference) capitalized on their offensive rebounding prowess and turnovers to jump to an early 5-0 lead, and they never looked back, defeating the Hornets (4-13 overall, 4-9 in the SEC) 47-38.

Dexter was led by 6-foot-2 junior center Olivia Cares, who scored 12 points. Emma Kill, a 6-foot-1 sophomore center, added 11 points. Saline was led by senior Emily Everett, who scored 13 points. Junior Katie Crysler added 6 points.

Dexter senior Serena Bidwell started the game off with a layup. The Dreadnaughts' press caused a turnover, and Cares made her shot for a 4-0 lead. A second later, Dexter forced another turnover. Saline took a foul to prevent a basket, and Bidwell made one of two shots for a 5-0 lead.

It was the start the Dreadnaughts wanted, and it was the worst way to open for the Hornets.

“We’ve got a tough week with three big games," Dexter head coach Mike Bavineau said. "We just wanted to come in here and play well and get the ‘W.’ I was really happy with our start.”

Saline Hornets head coach Jason Pickett said his team just wasn’t ready for Dexter.

“We knew they had a good team, and we wanted to come out ready. But they caught us and put us back on our heels a little bit,” Pickett said.

The Hornets climbed back in with a free throw from junior Jill Borowski and two free throws from Crysler. Dexter senior Zaryn Jennings scored back-to-back buckets for a 9-3 score in the first quarter. Saline sophomore Caitlin Ellis and Dexter’s Bidwell traded baskets to end the quarter with Dexter leading 11-5.

In the second quarter, Dexter struck first, with senior Sarah Moir scoring on a jump shot. After a free throw by Saline’s Ellis, Dexter answered with a basket by senior center Nyki Caldwell.

Junior guard Alison Rentschler gave Saline life with a 3-pointer to bring the game to 15-9, but Dexter came right back with 2 points by Caldwell. Saline junior Amanda Price kept the Hornets within striking distance with a shot on goal for 2 points.

But midway through the second period, the Dreadnaughts started pulling away.

Cares made a layup and then scored another basket on a put-back for a 21-11 lead. Saline got a bucket from Everett, but Cares kept coming. She was fouled and made one of two free throws with 1:13 left to play in the half. Seconds later, Cares scored on a layup for a 24-13 lead.

Jennings sank two free throws with 1.7 seconds left in the half to take a 26-13 lead. Somehow, the Hornets got the ball up the court, and Britten Clark made a buzzer-beating field goal for Saline, which trailed 26-15.

In the third quarter and with a solid lead, Dexter was content to slow down the pace of the game. In the first four minutes, Cares scored for Dexter, and Crysler made two baskets for the Hornets. Dexter led 32-20 after three quarters.

The Dreadnaughts put away the game early in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Olivia Vollmers struck for 2 points and a short time later made a free throw for a 15-point lead. After a layup by Saline’s Rentschler, Dexter junior Polly Washabaugh made a layup and finished the 3-point play with a free throw. Midway through the fourth quarter, Caldwell put back a rebound for a 40-22 lead.

Everett scored 11 points in the final 4:20 to tighten up the score.

In the junior varsity game, Saline won 37-34. Melissa Needham led the Hornets with 16 points. Makenzie Svihra scored 10 points for Dexter.