AN 11-DAY LAYOFF HELPS REJUVENATE BULLDOGS (PREP NOTES)

Notre Dame coach Chris Neff said his team's 11-day layoff (its game at Portageville last Friday was postponed) allowed for some much-needed rest.

"We finally got healthy," said Neff after the Bulldogs' 69-50 over Woodland Friday night. "We had so much sickness. We got in six or seven good practices and it (the layoff) got us away from some bad things. We got back together a little bit."

One noticeable difference for Notre Dame (11-8) on Friday was Neff's use of the bench. The first few games of the year, Neff emptied his bench often. Then he shortened his bench some time around the University High Christmas Tournament.

On Friday, 10 players scored and the Bulldogs got some production from players who haven't been seeing much playing time.

"We stayed fresh," Neff said. "We've got about 10 good players."

Notre Dame's win over Woodland made the Bulldogs a virtual lock for the district's No. 2 seed.

Girls and grit

The showdown between Cape Central's and Notre Dame's girls wasn't as close as many thought it would be as the Lady Tigers won 58-49 in a game that was never in doubt.

Neither team was at full strength, however.

Notre Dame's leading scorer Lisa Millham who was held scoreless until the fourth quarter was playing on a sprained ankle and Katie Dougherty, Central's leading scorer, was playing with a sore shoulder.

Michelle Hency, a Notre Dame guard who has not played since the first few games of the year, has been cleared to practice but did not dress out for Thursday night's game.

Notre Dame is 15-4 and is ranked fifth in Class 2A. Central, which picked up a win Saturday, is now 15-3 and ranked ninth in 4A.

All four of Notre Dame's losses have come to state-ranked 4A teams two to Central and two to Poplar Bluff.

Sweet success, sweet revenge for Jackson

Jackson's boys basketball team tasted success and revenge this past week.

First, the Indians (11-10) got back at Charleston for a loss in the third-place game of the University High Christmas Tournament with a thrilling 62-61 road win on Tuesday.

Then, on Friday, Jackson avenged another tournament loss, upending Farmington.

The Knights defeated the Indians earlier this season in the championship game of the Farmington Tournament. Jackson knocked off the Knights 87-62 thanks to a season-high 27 points from Tory Meyr. It was Meyr's free throw with six seconds left that gave Jackson a win at Charleston.

Dexter gets best of Advance again

For the second time in a month's span, the second-ranked boys team in 1A, Advance, lost to Dexter.

The second one came in the form of an 86-61 loss on Friday night. The Hornets suffered a similar fate on Jan. 21 in an 87-66 loss in the championship game of the Stoddard County Tournament.

All of Advance's three losses have come to the state's No. 1 team. Scott City, No. 1 in 2A, also has a win over the Hornets.

No team has yet to solve Advance's Garrett Broshuis. The senior is averaging 23 points per game and has been held to less than 20 points just once in his last seven games.

Dexter improved to 20-0 and remains the only undefeated team in the state.

Johnson falls to below 30

For the first time since before the University High Christmas Tournament, Jreece Johnson's scoring average has dipped to less than 30 points. Johnson has gone a stretch of five games without scoring 30, his longest such streak this season.

Still, the Scott County Central star averages almost six more points than any other player in the area.

R.W. is short for 19 points

If your initials are R.W. and you play on Scott City's basketball team, chances are you're averaging 19 points per game.

Scott City's one-two punch of Ronald Watson and Ryan Weatherspoon both stand at precisely 19.0 points per contest.

The Ram duo is the second-most potent scoring pair in the region, behind Scott Central's Johnson and Todd Blissett who combine for 45.3 points per game.

Leading scorers in the Southeast Missourian coverage area

Boys

Games Points Avg.

1. Jreece Johnson, Scott Co. Central 20 573 28.7

2. Garrett Broshuis, Advance 18 414 23.0

3. Ronald Watson, Scott City 19 361 19.0

3. (tie) Ryan Weatherspoon, Scott City 19 361 19.0

5. Travis Friga, Oran 9 166 18.4

6. Jamie Essner, Kelly 16 289 18.0

7. Tory Meyr, Jackson 19 333 17.5

8. Todd Blissett, Scott Co. Central 19 315 16.6

9. Jason Greer, Woodland 16 262 16.4

10. Ryan Wichern, Perryville 18 278 15.4

Highest Game: Johnson, 49 vs. Kelly

Girls

1. Vontrice Blackmon, Scott Central 13 285 21.9

2. Jennifer Vandeven, Chaffee 16 278 17.4

3. Andrea Koeper, Jackson 16 266 16.6

4. Jessica Lakenan, St. Vincent 17 281 16.5

5. Marissa Essner, Kelly 15 240 16.0

6. Rebecca Below, Delta 15 239 15.9

7. Lisa Millham, Notre Dame 18 259 14.4

8. Deana McCormick, Notre Dame 18 250 13.9

9. Danielle Sutterer, St. Vincent 17 231 13.6

10. Sara Heisserer, Oran 13 176 13.5

Highest Game: Essner 38 vs. Scott Central

ATTENTION COACHES: If you have a player who deserves to be on this list, please contact the Southeast Missourian at 1-800-879-1210, ext. 127.

Note: Results based on box scores called in by coaches through Friday night's games