& BIG DREAMS: NOTRE DAME GIRLS APPEAR POISED FOR STRONG RUN IN 2A

To say Notre Dame's girls are considered a favorite to win the Class 2A District 2 Tournament at Bloomfield is an understatement.

Considering the eighth-ranked Lady Bulldogs (17-5) are seeded first and have already posted a 55-29 win over the second seed, Notre Dame would be considered as close to a lock to win a district title as one could find in this part of the state.

But Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim isn't taking anything for granted.

"I'm sure Kelly will give us a better game if we both get that far," said Grim. "It would take a great game by another team (to pull off an upset of either team) but it could happen. I hope we don't go into the game looking past them. We can't do that. This is a whole new season. What you did the rest of the season doesn't mean anything."

Grim likes the way his team is playing heading into the postseason.

"I think we're playing real well," said Grim. "When one person has a bad night, someone else will pick it up. Our defense is tougher now than it has been all year long. And I think right now we're able to go deeper than we have all year. Some of the kids who are not starters are stepping up pretty well."

Kelly (21-4) has the best record of any team in the eight-squad field.

Scott City (8-13) enters the tournament as the third seed, Greenville is fourth, Chaffee (8-15) is fifth followed by Woodland, East Prairie and Puxico.

Tournament action gets underway today. Notre Dame and Puxico get things started at noon followed by Greenville and Chaffee at 1:30, Kelly and East Prairie at 3 and Scott City and Woodland at 4:30.

Semifinal games will be at 6:30 p.m. and 8 on Tuesday with the title game to be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

CLASS 2A, DISTRICT 1

Twin Rivers, the only Class 2A team to come close to beating Notre Dame this year, is the top seed at the District 1 Tournament in Portageville.

Twin Rivers will play the winner of No. 8 and No. 9 Caruthersville at 5 p.m. Monday.

The rest of the first-round games will be today, beginning with the play-in game at 1 p.m.

Fourth-seeded South Pemiscot will take on Senath at 2:30, followed by No. 3 Portageville vs. No. 6 East Carter at 4 and No. 2 Malden vs. No. 7 Campbell at 5:30.

CLASS 1A, DISTRICT 2

Scott County Central will play in the district finals.

Guaranteed.

That's because the Bravettes received a first-round bye in a three-team district.

Third-seeded Delta and second seeded Oran will play at 1 p.m. today. The winner will take on Scott Central at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

CLASS 1A, DISTRICT 3

Viburnum earned a No. 1 seed by taking a 14-8 record into the seeding meeting.

St. Vincent, with the same record, got the No. 2 seed and will play No. 3 Valle of Ste. Genevieve at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Viburnum will take on the winner of No. 4 South Iron and No. 5 Kingston at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The play-in game will take place at 5 p.m. Monday.