Dexter Boys Fall to Pioneer on Hardcourt

It’s never easy coming back from an early deficit. It’s even harder when you’re trailing on the road in a hostile environment and playing an opponent whose four losses on the season have come against the state’s Class A No. 1-ranked team in Ann Arbor Huron, the top-ranked Class B team in Detroit Country Day, Class A state-ranked Ypsilanti and crosstown rival Ann Arbor Skyline.

That was the predicament facing Dexter’s boys varsity basketball team Tuesday night as it squared off against Southeastern Conference foe Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. Though falling behind in the first half, the Dreadnaughts (6-11, 5-8) fought back in the final two quarters, but they still came out on the losing end, 51-46.

“I thought we didn’t play with any intensity, passion or enthusiasm,” Dexter head coach Randy Swoverland said. “We were totally outplayed in the first half. There’s nothing really positive to say. I knew at some point we would come out flat for a game, but I didn’t think it would be this one.”

Pioneer head coach Rex Stanczak said his squad’s defensive pressure helped turn the tide during the game.

“Our press really helped us,” he said. “The run we had late in the third quarter and early in the fourth was key. Dexter is a heck of a basketball team. They’ve been snake-bit all year. It was a good team effort tonight.”

In the first quarter, senior guard Anthony Hugan paced the Pioneer attack, scoring seven points to lead the Pioneers (13-4, 10-3) to a 17-15 lead. Dreadnaught senior guard Matt Muchmore paced Dexter in the opening frame with 10 points, including two three-pointers.

In the second quarter, Pioneer’s pressure defense began taking its toll as the Dreadnaughts turned the ball over multiple times. Junior guard Jimmy Holman’s drive and basket upped Pioneer’s lead to 31-23 with 1:23 remaining in the second quarter. A late Dexter bucket closed the gap to 31-25 at halftime.

With 2:55 left in the the third quarter, senior center James Kelley stole the ball at midcourt and dribbled the rest of the way for a slam dunk and a 38-31 Pioneer advantage. Holman followed with a jumper to give Pioneer a 40-31 lead and force a Dreadnaught timeout.

Dexter battled back after the stoppage in play, outscoring the Pioneers 4-1 to close out the third quarter trailing 41-35.

In the fourth quarter, the Dreadnaughts refused to wilt, as 230-pound senior center Dave LaMore began asserting himself. LaMore converted an old-fashioned three-point play, scoring a basket down low while getting fouled and making the free throw. He followed that scoring surge with another three-point play in the paint, drawing the Dreadnaughts to within 46-38 with 4:23 left in the game.

Dexter junior guard Jay Lewis drilled a three-pointer from beyond the arc, making the tally 46-42 and ending a Dreadnaught 8-0 run with 2:46 remaining on the clock.

After a free throw by Hugan, Muchmore scored on a drive to the basket, trimming Pioneer’s lead to 47-44 with 52 seconds left. Pioneer senior guard Jeremiah Strode hit three of four free throws and Kelley drained one of two as Dexter was forced to foul. Muchmore made two free throws with 18 seconds remaining for the night’s final margin.

Muchmore led the Dreadnaughts offensively, finishing with 17 points. LaMore added 13 points, 11 coming in the second half.

Junior guard Haden Quinn had five points, with one three-pointer, while senior forward Taylor Dunham had four points. Lewis had three points, and junior center Steve Miller and junior forward Mike Mioduszewski each netted two points for Dexter.

Hugan paced Pioneer with 13 points, while Holman had 11 and Kelley scored 10. Strode chipped in five points, while senior guard Grant Grimard had four points and junior forward Jakorey Davis and senior forward Mike Kielczewski each recorded three points for Pioneer.