If the West Lincoln boys basketball team has designs on theDivision 7-1A title, patience will play a major role in their questfor the championship. On Friday night, the Bears exhibited patiencefor 32 minutes and handed the Dexter Bulldogs a 50-44 division lossin Jack Case Gymnasium.

In the varsity girls game, West Lincoln’s Lady Bears were handeda heart-breaking 39-37 loss by the Dexter Lady Bulldogs.

Dexter defeated West Lincoln in the preliminary JV boysgame.

West Lincoln 50, Dexter 44

West Lincoln (13-4, 6-0) was at a severe heightdisadvantage. The Bulldogs boasted 3 starters who were 6-foot-5 ortaller, and a fourth player who stood 6-foot-4.

The Bulldogs were down 17-13 after the opening 8minutes, and fought to gain a 26-26 deadlock at the intermission.Nick Mack, a 6-foot-7 center, and Omar Magee combined for 14 pointsin the half.

Mack led Dexter with 13 points.

The Bears, coached by Jason Case, tried to pull away inthe third, holding a 6-point, 32-26 lead on a long trey by LukeLofton.

Dexter would answer the call as Magee drained a 3-pointbasket to tie the game at 32-32. The Bulldogs would trail 38-35entering the fourth quarter.

Case saw his team open the final period with an 8-0 run,with Adam Rushing sacking a jumper for a 43-35 lead. Jamie Sisconailed 2 free throws with 1:27 left on the clock to extend theBears’ lead to 10, 49-39.

Six-foot-five forward James Carter drilled a trey with29 seconds remaining in the game, to cut the Bulldog deficit to 5,49-44.

One-of-two free throws by Sisco and several missedopportunities by Dexter were all the Bears needed to realize their6-point margin of victory.

“We rebounded very well tonight,” said Case followingthe game. “We rebounded very good.”

Sisco held game-high honors with 20 points, 6 assistsand 2 steals. Sisco was 11-for-15 from the charity stripe. Loftonfollowed with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Carlos Johnson pulled down7 rebounds. Rushing dished out 5 assists.

Dexter 39, West Lincoln 37

For 3 quarters, the Lady Bears were not able to get intotheir offense.

“We did not play well in the first half,” saidCase.

Dexter led 7-5 after one period of play, and 15-12 goinginto the halftime locker room. The Lady Bulldogs increased theirlead to 24-15 heading into the final stanza.

The Lady Bears didn’t give up as they overcame a 9-pointdeficit to cut Dexter’s lead to a field goal, 39-37.

The Lady Bulldogs went to the charity stripe for 2 shotswith 5 seconds remaining on the clock. The first shot was waved offdue to a lane violation and the second one was nogood.

West Lincoln had one last attempt to pull off the win. A3-point try from the left wing by Dana King fell short as timeexpired.

King led the Lady Bears with 12 points, including 2treys. Hannah Payne pulled down 7 rebounds. Hanna Roberts had 5rebounds and dished out 3 assists.

Yshenkia Haynes led Dexter with 18 points.

In the JV boys game, Juraj Drahos led West Lincoln with11 points. Derrick McGowan pumped in 12 points forDexter.

GIRLS

Dexter 39, West Lincoln 37

West Lincoln (37) Dana King 12, Franklin 9, Payne 7,Richardson 4, Roberts 3, Bass 2.

Dexter (39) Yshenkia Haynes 18, T. Gamble 9, C. Gamble5, Mark 3, Mingo 2, Warren 2.

Total Fouls: West Lincoln 14, Dexter 19. Fouled Out:None. Technicals: None.

Free Throws M-A: West Lincoln 8-26, Dexter7-11.

3-point goals: King 2, Franklin, Roberts,Haynes.

DEXTER 7 8 9 15 – 39

WEST LINCOLN 5 7 4 21 – 37

BOYS

West Lincoln 50, Dexter 44

West Lincoln (50) Jamie Sisco 20, Lofton 11, CodyMitchell 8, Fells 6, Rushing 4, Johnson 1.

Dexter (44) Nick Mack 13, Crumedy 8, Magee 8, Carter 7,Haynes 7, Gamble 1.

Total Fouls: West Lincoln 7, Dexter 19. Fouled Out:Crumedy. Technicals: None.

Free Throws M-A: West Lincoln 14-23, Dexter3-7.

3-point goals: Mitchell 2, Magee 2, Lofton, Sisco,Carter.

DEXTER 13 13 9 9 – 44

WEST LINCOLN 17 9 12 12 – 50

JV BOYS

Dexter 36, West Lincoln 33

West Lincoln (33) Juraj Drahos 11, Adair 8, Smith 7,Brown 3, Stewart 2, Wallace 2.

Dexter (36) Derrick McGowan 12, Fortenberry 10, Ratcliff7, L. Pittman 3, R. Pittman 2, Weary 2.