TYLERTOWN – Dexter and Enterprise met for the second time in twodays Tuesday night in the Tylertown High School gymnasium. Thistime, it was the boys’ edition in the first round of the SouthMississippi Class 1A playoffs.

Dexter, the defending Class 1A state champion, began its marchto the Big House with a narrow 75-71 victory over the EnterpriseYellow Jackets. On Monday night, Dexter had eliminated theEnterprise girls 77-58.

The Big House, also known as the Mississippi Coliseum inJackson, is where the annual state tournaments are played.

Dexter travels to McAdams to participate the South 1A semifinalsFriday. The Bulldogs meet Durant at 8 p.m. Union meets Puckett, a70-69 Tuesday night winner over Bogue Chitto, at 6:30. The twowinners will meet for the championship, Saturday at 3:30. Theconsolation game will be played at 2. The top 3 teams will advanceto the state tournament in Jackson, which begins next Monday.

The Jackets (15-6) were a thorn in the Bulldogs’ sideall night long. There were 7 ties and 14 lead changes throughoutthe 32-minute affair. Missed opportunities were Enterprise’sdownfall in the end.

“We had some opportunities during the game,” said Jackethead coach Billy Vaughn.

Enterprise trailed 15-13 at the end of the firstquarter. The Jackets were able to match the Walthall CountyBulldogs basket-for-basket and played exceptionaldefense.

Dexter (20-7), coached by Steve Fortenberry, saw hisballclub take a 2-point lead, 38-36 into the halftime locker room.Bulldog guard Tory Crumedy nailed a 3-point basket with under 10seconds remaining in the half for a 38-33 Bulldoglead.

Jacket guard Kary Brown sacked a trey of his own at thehalftime buzzer, that gave his teammates the momentum going intohalftime. Brown tossed in 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5assists.

Enterprise tied the game at 38-38 on a short jumper inthe paint, to open the second half. The Jackets caught the tail endof a 10-2 Bulldog run, trailing 48-40 midway through the thirdperiod.

Vaughn’s ballclub clawed their way back to cut thedeficit to 1 point, 56-55 entering the fourth quarter. ShermaineVaughn finished the game with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 3assists.

Each time Dexter tried to pull away from Enterprise inthe final frame, the Jackets fought back. Enterprise’s PierreHarthorne canned a basket to bring the Jackets within 2 points,73-71, with under 30 seconds left on the clock.

The Bulldogs scored on their next possession and wereable to run out the clock. Crumedy, a 5-foot-9 junior, tossed in 12of his game high 36 points in the period. He was a perfect 8-for-8from the charity stripe;. also providing 2 blocked shots, 2 stealsand 3 assists on the night.

“Tory (Crumedy) carried us on his back tonight,” saidDexter head coach Steve Fortenberry following the game. “This wasprobably his career-high.”

Also providing support for Dexter was Robin Gamble with12 points 10 rebounds and 7 blocked shots. Derrick McGowan had 4steals and 3 assists.

“I am really proud of our guys,” added Vaughn. “Theyfought hard and they never gave up.”