Where are they now?

Jim Bland teams of the 60's

David Mathis teams of the 70's

Earl Wheeler teams of the 80's

All great teams, but schedule beefed and regular appearance and advancing throughout playoffs, plus balanced attack and large number of All Staters before everyone and their cousin earned the honor would place Wheeler and Co. on top.

I would have to go with the mid 80s as well. Very good running game, great receivers, and the best high school quarterback I have ever seen.

I'll jump on the bandwagon. Wheeler and the boys were AWESOME. Refer to this story and although Blackwell is talking baseball, notice the only guy he refers to during his high school career:

http://semoball.com/story/1439910.html

Not sure what he is up to though...

Got to see Wheeler play both football and baseball. The shotgun Blackwell refers to threw baseballs as well as footballs. Honestly, no comparisons when you talk best athletes at DHS. Wheeler also would take the court after an extra long FB season, practice a day or two and literally be in midseason form on the hardwood.

Neat hearing Blackwell bring that up and also give credit to the late Roger Patillo, one of the greatest baseball minds to ever live in this area.

I moved to Dexter in the early '80's, but the football team during Fall, 2002, when Matt Burnett broke records seemed outstanding to me. Many of those boys grew up together and I thought they played really well as a team. At least one has gone on to become a Head Football Coach. Go Dexter!!!

If you moved to Dexter in the early 80's, surely you would have more Bearcat memories than this......Mayfield triple OT loss, any Hillsboro game, Wheeler throwing for 500+ yards at Hillsboro and ending up on Scholastics Sports America with Chris Fowler, undefeated '88 season, GREAT playoff games vs. Afton, Sumner, Marshall......must be that 2002 was so recent.

I was at a Christmas tournament game in Bloomfield one night when I overheard two guys behind me saying how this Matt Burnett kid was the best athlete that Dexter has ever had. No disrespect to Matt Burnett, but I was laughing inside. Wheeler is by far the best athlete DHS has had, period. I would say definitely the best football and baseball player, and way above average basketball player. You don't play two sports at a big time D-1 school for being an average athlete.

I thought we were just discussing what we considered to be good Dexter teams. I didn't realize that this would turn into a spitting contest. Regarding my memories of Dexter sports: my first child was born in '84 at Dexter Hospital, so, no I don't have an abundance of memories prior to my children starting school. This is the first time I've blogged and so far it's pretty disappointing.

ct, hang in there. It only gets better from here. Nothing wrong with a good, lively debate thrown in every now and then. Hell, you might even hear a good lyric or two. Keep blogging green horn, it's all in fun.

I second that CT......keep the faith and as King Kobra once sang....Never Say Die. If you can't take the heat, move away from the far....but if you enjoy some debate, some humor, some opinions, some classic R n R reference...you got to stick around.

Bon, agree and would not disrespect a Matt Burnett, who was a dedicated athlete and over achiever. But my man, Air Wheeler was on a different level. BTW, he is near St. Louis now and doesn't come around much. I got hit by a pitch of his when in Little League and thought I had died. But what did I do? Cried Tough!

hoon, did you ever get hit in fistball by Wheeler. I heard he would draw blood. I bet if layne staley got hit, he would probably cry and have a concussion.

CT, it's always a spitting contest with hoon's bunch.....but it's never dull. They are equal opportunity insulters. They even insult each other.

Hey Bon - you know I only cry happy tears, but you got to cry out, out on the streets, to make your dreams happen. Brett Michaels said so and he should know.

CT - Flava Flav says Don't Believe the Hype!

That's right, Rock of Love and Flava of Love in the same comment people.

Didn't Wheeler have a pretty good point guard on his teams in the late 80's. If memory serves me right, he wasn't real tall but very scrappy. They also had some big dude they called Dunkin Danials I think.

CT - I close my eyes and wait to hear the sound of someone screaming here.... anyone??

Goat....Don't go away mad, just go away.

CT......Don't forget to Hang Tough...like Tesla, not the New Kids

Wheeler's PG was Nate Stevens...he liked to dribble up the sidelines and shoot the rock....tough D though. Dunkin' Daniels led the Cats to a Christmas tournament win over South Pem....he liked to pick his butt a bit.

Darrell...open your eyes and see the Land of Sunshine.

I don't think that is the PG I was thinking of. I think he was the PG when Wheeler was a senior and he wore #10. Not for sure though.

#10 was Chris Hall I think. He dished it out pretty good, NOTHING like Doudy did in the early 90's though.

Didn't Hall do his best Ray Guy imitation and punt a ball into the stands at the Bloomfield Christmas tournament one year.

I think Doudy had three or four assist for dunks one year. Bad thing was, it was all to the opposing team. I believe Hall was already gone Wheeler's senior year. I'll keep trying to think of that guys name. I think he ended up having a great senior season and was all-state. I'm terrible with names.

I think it was Ronnie Patterson. He was the best player in his grade from what I remember. I remember Hall punted a ball at Bloomfield. I don't remember Doudy ever turning it over. The guy could flat out play and now can flat out coach. He may be the All Stater you are failing to remember, but I think Doudy wore #00.

Doudy may be it, but I didn't think he was that old. Maybe I got #10 confused with #00. I heard Patterson left Dexter and went to Richland because he didn't get to play varsity his freshman or sophmore seasons and some other kid did. I seem to remember he was a really good player though.

Great player....still dominates any open gym in the area.

Including the Dexter Men's basketball league? I heard that had some serious teams with serious talent.

Man you guys don't remember stuff very well. #10 was Ray Silliman and he could handle the rock, especially the 1 game with nobody guarding him. And Patterson did go to Richland. He was a great shooter, but not as good as the Cliff kid. Doudy was also good I remember, but there was a kid a year younger than him named McCord that would show him up on the court...had his number.

Hope this helps.

Staley.....you must be smoking it tonight.....Silliman? They all went to Bernie. Cliff? They all went to Puxico. McCord? He is the legendary coach from Scott City. Wrote the book on sportsmanship and class. No help. None.....N O N E

I'm on the Night Train...bottoms up.

It seems like you guys know a thing or too about ball. I have been out of the states for a while now and this gives me a chance to reconnect with some of the people "back where I come from". Folks, I need your help....Who was the kid in the mid nineties who dominated down on the low postal for the Cats? He had a nice little jump hoop and I heard from Reeeeeeeeee-huh that he made that All Century Team(most prestigous award I have seen in southeast missouri in a long, long time). The last time I saw him he was up at Bent Creek(not the subdivision) giving golf lessons. At one time, I think he was left handed but that day he was drinking a wine cooler in his right. If you could help me out, I would appreciate it.

Tone, you have to be talking about Madam Slambert. Man could he ball. I don't know about the golf lesson thing, last time I saw him play golf he was killing worms with every shot. But he could drink some wine coolers.

You guys must be talking about Jamie Sifford. He could play...very athletic and a real pit bull in the paint. He lives in Dudley now and raises dogs.

How about the Wright kid. He used to BRING THE THUNDER! He had a dunk called "Your Momma" and it was for anyone who got in the way of his dunking. You had babies crying, cats crying...oh wait a minute...that was Darryl Dawkins.

staley, I believe that is "babies crying, cats dieing, chocolate thunders taking ya down under." The original rim shaker, Double D.

Weak.......The original rim shaker was had a PHD........Dr. J.

And I don't mean J Daniels.

Your right hoon, the doctor was doing it way before chocolate thunder. I think the "Hawk" Connie Hawkins was the true innovator of the dunk.

I stand by my statement...the cats were crying.

Layne, did you ever dunk a basketball in a game. Wait, did you even play basketball may be a better question?

I believe staley played in the 5 foot and under league. It was called peewee ball.

It seems to me that you guys have a very biased opinions. Were you not involved with Dexter athletics from 01-03. Football was down until Pixley's boys helped to turn it around. The question was who was the best teams. Granted the teams from the 60's 70's and 80's were good, but what about the advancements in strength and conditioning, as well as the advancements in size. Matt Burnett was a running back and Wheeler was a quarterback its like comparing apples to oranges. Burnett did break every scoring and yardage record for a running back. He wasn't too far from breaking the all time yardage mark as well. As far as teams go the 02 football team produced three athletes that played college football, one of which recieved all american honors. The team had at least five other players that could have. Burnett was offered to play at Arkansas State, but declined after the knee injury. The two regular season games that the team lost were 23-21 nail biter to Poplar Bluff, and 21-7 game to a state finalist Gosnell team. After that they beat a state ranked sikeston team 29-3. Until Burnett got hurt they beat every other team by a vary sizible margin. They won district and conference, placed 8 players on All conference, and held 11 positions on the all region team had one all state and three on the all state coaches poll. Most outstanding lineman, Burnett took home the Carr trophy. I am not saying that they were the best team ever, but they do deserve to be in the argument.

lj5711, I have not been around the Dexter area for years, but do try to keep up with the football and basketball teams a little bit. Yes, I read about the teams you have mentioned and they had a few descent players. But unless you had seen or read about those teams from 85-87, you really don't understand how good they were. They lost 2 regular season games in three years. The one in '85 was to Sikeston, 6-0. The other one was to Mayfield in overtime, 35-31, in '87. They advanced to the state semi-finals twice and was also in the state playoffs the other year. I'm not trying to convince you that they were the best, but in my opinion, I think they were. And if not for anything else, they were definitely the most exciting offensive team.

Sounds good to me. I just wanted to hear an actual argument for them being the best teams ever, not a case for who was the best athlete. Those are satisfying statistics, but the other mentioned years deserved some talk as well. If you could pick like an all time Dexter team kinda of like an all state team then who would you pick? Like a first and second team for positions.

I'm back!!! Thanks for all the encouragement and I think I may enjoy blogging after all! And lj5711, you have my heart. If you all haven't figured it out yet, my son was on the '02 team and did go on to play college football. He's made his momma proud! I'll always have a special place in my heart for those boys. Ok, you Big Dogs, I may still be on the porch, but for the time being I think I'll keep on blogging!!

Does playing football at a school for smart kids really count as playing college football? Dont think so. Just my opinion....

I might be in agreement here CB. I am curious to we these former '02 Cats played their college ball. I don't want to take anything away from them, because playing at the collegiate level is a privilege, but I don't think any of them played in the Big 8(Big XII).

Wheeler QB.....6'2", 195 as a Senior

Good argument Bon....add in 2 more OT's at Mayfield.

Honestly.....this is NO comparison. This is like saying the '88 Dexter Basketball team needs mentioned in the same sentence as any during the Brett Hale/Shannon Wright/Scott Mattingly years.....they don't although they won the county and Christmas tourney and lost by 5 to eventual State Champ NMCC.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the '00 to '03 years were nothing more than rebuilding years. Overachievers, maybe....but GREAT Bearcat teams, not close. Don't care how many played NAIA ball or were offered this or that. Sikeston hasn't been a typical Sikeston team since '01, and even then weren't a power. I have some great memories of HS and was on some above average teams, but can't say my group was special like the '85-'88 bunch.

hoon, I thought it was triple overtime but wasn't for sure. I can still picture Wheeler throwing that 50 yard pass across his body, and across the field. Unbelievable. Going 80 yards with no timeouts against New Madrid and scoring with no time left. Awesome. Making up plays in the huddle against Malden to win that game. Remarkable. But the best was saved for one freezing night in Hillsboro, MO. Those who witnessed that was seeing almost perfection. I was one of the lucky ones. What a game, what a season, what a player, and what a team. It's fun to reminisce sometimes.

This has nothing to do w/ the topic...but I researched Dexter the other night. I was trying to compare costs of living between Dexter, and Knoxville, TN. I came across a page that had some pretty interesting statistics...but the one that caught me off guard said something along the lines of Brett Hale playing basketball on the Cats, and that was the only player the whole site mentioned. I graduated from Dexter in 99...and Hale was an awesome player...just as his dad is an awesome coach (I think Notre Dame's state title this year can prove that), but it blew my mind that it had that on there about him and no one else. I'll try to find that page again, and let ya'll see it.

http://www.city-data.com/city/Dexter-Missouri.html

That's it...there's a lot of stuff to get past before you get to it, but it's there. I'd say about half way down the page.

You guys are forgetting some pretty fantastic dexter players. I get tired of this bandwagon crap - everyone jumped on board with Hale... seats were all full - hate to tell you guys but while he was still hanging with captain mule down in blue-town there were still good Dexter teams and still great Dexter Basketball players. Kind of makes me throw up in my mouth a little to hear you guys stroking those 00-03 teams. You all are so keen on that era, but forget that as soon as the talent left so did the coach and he laughed all the way to ND. Personally, like the guy think he is nice but just get a little sick of the hype.

Make a list of some old schoolers that were good - that is the sign of a "true cat" someone who didn't just jump on the scene when the teams were good - they are the guys who you have seen at every game since they graduated or returned to Dexter or who read about every detail in the paper and cheer no matter who is coaching, who is playing, or what their record is that year. I used to get physically ill going to those Hale era games and watching these pretty boys walk in with their sissy seat cushions, more interested in being seen and heard than watching ballgames. Where are they now? Not going to the bearcat basketball games, probably going to watch girls play now. That is not a slam on girls, just making the point that they ride the tide and do whatever is "in" at the moment... Probably aren't really from here - possibly from another county school and just implanted yourself here or more likely from another place and wish real badly that you were from here...

twenty twent twenty four hours to go, I wanna be sedated. I can't control my fingers can't control my toes (that's for you cliff) I wanna be sedated...

What about that Haug QB? Didnt he break an all time completion record? Great talent. Think he through all of those but two. What a year!!!!

Haug would have been a great backup for Wheeler. Most of his 223 attempts per game went to that one Nea guy....cooks at Rob's on the weekend and made the school board. That guy made All American receiver I think. He also threw to a short guy that always got hurt.

Darrell.....Don't dis the glory days like that. That is what happens at ANY school when you win. That is what coaches, players, and communities want to happen. For example, the last few years at Puxico, that Doudy kid has been changing the climate there. You were getting every Tom, Harry, and Dick at their games and supporting them with runs into the playoffs. Now, Doudy has taken his list of accomplishments and is coach at Advance. You watch, the bandwagon will be FULL in a year or so of Black Bear fans!

What is Dexter doing now, and what have they done besides the one trip to the final four in basketball. 00-03 had a tremendous amount of talent. Granted the three players that went on to play college ball played NAIA or DIII, but they played. Those teams had many more players that were offered to play, but opted to not. What about the science. Strength and conditioning has improved greatly since the eighties. That can affect this whole debate. If Burnett played in the eighties then all of you eighties fans would be chanting his name like you do wheelers. Basketball,00-03 was great in Dexter. Those teams were loaded with talent. Hale, Wright, Mattingly, Carr, Burnett, Dooley, Hyten, Guethle. They were fun to watch too. They should have gone farther into the playoffs, but look whats happened since then. I agree people should support their town no matter who is coaching or playing. So who is on your guys all time dexter football and basketball teams.

5711...give it up. IF Burnett would have played in the 80's, he would have backed up Nate Stevens at tailback or possibly shared time with his head coach at fullback. And shut the hell up about science. The bench press, squat, power clean, dips, curls, upright row, and sweat were not invented this century. You must be a Burnett cousin or groupie, or else you surely would not include his name in the basketball leaders as well.....NON factor on the court. Sorry.

Another thing....

Earl Wheeler...OSU, baseball, football

Aaron Pixley....Kemper

Nate Stevens...Kemper

Arlen Pixley...UTEP

Darren Hillis...MU, then SEMO

Gavin Miller....Evangel

Rafe Parsons....MU

Jim Elledge....William Jewell

Others offered, as you say, and declined.

I was placing objective statements on here about my beliefs, and there has been many advancements in exercise and nutrition since the 1980s. You have a biased opinion about Dexter athletics, and connot control your comments when people state simple well known facts. Look at your list it is obserd to think that ALL of the great Dexter athletes came from about the same era.

Bon Scott really laid it down, bringing back great memories. I saw all of those games live and they were amazing. I don't see Wheeler in the stands, though. That's b/c HE MOVED ON like WHAT THE REST OF YOU NEED TO DO!

Next topic Greer!

The only two players worth a nickel on those 00'-03' were Hale and Wright. Those other guys, overrated, products of the system.

Ease up staley, just because you served the water, you don't have to get all *****.

Did 5711 serve not ONLY water but HGH and steroids. The boys of the 80's did just fine producing win after win through preparation, hard work, and Bud Light.

NO one here is saying ALL great athletes came from the same era, just a bunch of kick *** footballers came from that late 80's bunch. 5711 must have been a star on the green team and needs some fondling.

Bon....more players than Hale/Wright. Mattingly was sound in the post and Gueeeeeeeeetleeeeeeee could shoot it a bit. They were surrounded by others who enjoyed playing and working. Tough group.....NMCC stood in the way of a legit State run.....

I fed you the rock Bon and made you the All-State player that you were. Back then you were TNT...dynamite.

You are right layne, until one fateful ankle injury ended your basketball career. You did it for all the little guys that dribbled the big ball.

Hoon, this is one of the rare times I disagree with ya. Not to say Mattingly and Guethle weren't descent players, but the system they played in helped them tremendously. Mattingly had very slow feet in the post and Guethle was no more than a spot up, set shooter. Both of those guys struggled to create their own shot. And as for defense, well, you can figure that one out.

Hey Cliff Burton, what's wrong with being smart AND good at athletics? I don't get your comment at all. Also, shannonhoon, what's your problem? Can't you accept someone else's opinion other than your own? Did you guys play ball or is the only thing you know how to do is run your mouths? I don't hear 5711 attacking your comments, just simply expressing their own viewpoint. Maybe some of you Big Dogs need to go back to school and learn the definitions of assertive, tolerance, and respect. This blog is getting repetitive and boring. Time to move on!

Bon....just saying, I wouldn't have enjoyed playing this team or coaching against this team. If I were a coach, and I am not, I wouldn't want to not only have to focus and Hale, who could NOT be stopped, or on Wright, who could be stopped by at the expense of allowing others to go off, along with Mattingly and Geuthle.

Mattingly would go down on a list of top 3 post players to play at Dexter. Self made.....ran the floor well for being less than nimble, could go right or left, great up and under move, solid rebounder even though never taught how. Geuthle, could sure get hot.....you are right on a being a spot up shooter, but he was a good one.

ct:

When I was just a baby mamma sat me on her knee

She told me boy you listen there's alot you oughta see.

Alot of pretty women gonna try and tie you down

You don't know what you're missing if you never look around.

MOVE ON, that's what she told me.

Ok Hoon, sounds like we're in agreement since Move On are the exact same words I used. See ya next time around!

Move on, keep on Movin'

Move on, Whooooooaaaa Whooooooooooaaaaa!

Move on, I moving on my way.

The time is at hand, the day is upon us

There's no need to say good bye.

You don't understand, but ct I don't want you to cry.

Move On.......(insert guitar solo here).

Move on, keep on Movin'

Move on, Whooooooaaaa Whooooooooooaaaaa!

Move on, I moving on my way.

The time is at hand, the day is upon us

There's no need to say good bye.

You don't understand, but ct I don't want you to cry.

Move On.......(insert guitar solo here).

That song is worth double posting.......

Yep, Wheeler was the best athlete I've ever seen. But, could anyone ride a wheelie or ride Hart's Gully as good as me. Didn't think so.

I heard Barry Scroggins was good. He could bunny hop the civic league fence. And Derek Hux got clotheslined by a tree limb on the suicide at Hart's Gully.

Two words for ya.....JEFF DUDLEY

Jeff Dudley jumped Suicide 1, Jim. I'm gonna have to say he was the best. Your wheelies were tight, though.

Tough move Rick...

This is a PIECE! a PIECE!

Dudley jumped suicide 2 staley, get it right. I'm surprised that let you and your predator in the gully.

I broke my Freshour bike frame in half out there. Got it welded back together and ran headfirst into Hux and cracked my double-gooseneck. Charles Cole stuck his sprocket in the tree at the top of the gulley...the bike hung there for a bit. Otis Hicks could barely get up the other side. He'd sit and watch for an hour until he finally had to go to Ben Franklin to get some candy. Not even KISS could get in the way of that.

Greg Garner was the best out there, though...RIP.

No mention of Jimmy Paul and his PowerLite? That dude got serious air and he did it for all the little guys. He was AWESOME!

What happened to Hart's Gulley? Is it still there and just grown up or do the youth of today and leaders of tomorrow's DS blogs still wear it out? I loved that place, and then my Scorpion with mag wheels and a double goose neck got stolen at the Arcade.

here I am....Rock you like a Hurricane. lajfaoujaljflanfl;ajflajf;lajaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! Figure that lyric out Goat and Flipper.

I heard the "Gully" is one big subdivision now. What a shame. These greedy landowners and developers take everything away from the kids. I thought this country was going "green". No wonder they sit inside and play Playstation & X-Box.

Two boys on a playground

Tried to push each other down

See the crowd gather round

Nothing attracks a crowd

Like a crowd.

Anyone go see Motley Crue Sunday night at Riverport? I was there. It was about 100 degrees...(should've brought a jacket). Good show. Buckcherry rocked. Sixx AM was better than their CD. Papa Roach sucked just like their CD.

Cause I'm hot, young, running free

A little bit better than I use to be...