Bulldogs celebrate state title

The magic bus returned to Cape Girardeau on Sunday.

It departed town on Thursday for Columbia, Mo., with the Notre Dame girls' basketball team aboard. It returned Sunday with its passengers transformed into the 2002 Missouri Class 2A state champions.

After a long night of celebration at the Holiday Inn after Saturday night's 63-57 victory over Elsberry in the state championship game, Notre Dame arrived back in town Sunday to a warm reception.

The school greeted its first girls' state championship team -- in any sport -- with a ceremony in the gymnasium, which was followed by a mass.

It capped a weekend which saw Notre Dame defeat two teams with a combined 60-1 record.

Notre Dame was one of two Southeast Missouri schools to win state championships as the Bell City boys completed a dominating run by winning its first Class 1A title, defeating Santa Fe 88-68 in the final.

"It's a lot better feeling this time than the other three times, I guarantee you," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim, who saw his team lose in the championship game in its previous three trips to state.

It was also the second state title his family had won in a week.

The previous weekend Grim's brother-in-law, Don Maurer, the former boys' coach at Notre Dame, won the Class 3A boys' championship. A first-year coach at Mary Institute/Country Day, Maurer saw his team upset two-time defending state champion New Madrid County Central in the final.

"I told the girls if they didn't win this state championship, my brother-in-law who won the 3A last week was not going to let me live it down," Grim said. "They did their best to do the job."

The championship win came barely 24 hours after the Bulldogs had avenged last year's state championship loss to Stockton, 41-39, on a basket by Deana McCormick with two seconds left.

Grim called the two wins his biggest in his 20 years at Notre Dame. It was a fitting finish for the careers of four seniors -- McCormick, Lisa Millham, Courtney Vickery and Toni Horrell. The first three combined for 11 years of starting experience at the varsity level.

"You know you only have them for a limited time," Grim said. "These kids worked hard and paid the price to win this championship. There's no better way to end a high school basketball career than to go out a winner. And these girls were definitely winners. I'm just happy they took me along for the ride."

The team finished with a school-record 29 wins and the graduating seniors will leave with many of the school's individual records.

"I hate to lose this group," Grim said, "but I'm looking forward to the future."

The Bulldogs will return two starters in juniors Ashley Millham and Ali Tyson, along with bench players who made key contributions.

"We might not be as powerful a team as this year," Grim said, "but we'll be competitive."

The final bell

While Bell City coach David Heeb didn't have to wait long to win his first state title as a coach, accomplishing the feat in just his second season at the school at the age of 23, one of his players accomplished the feat even quicker.

C.J. Hadley, a transfer from Beaumont High School in St. Louis, won an elusive state championship in just his first year of organized basketball. The center, a lifelong friend of the Cubs' all-state guard Eric Henry, transferred to Bell City for his senior year.

He averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds during the regular season and stepped up his game even more in the playoffs.

"I wish I could have played more," said Hadley of his brief high school basketball career. "It's a sad and happy time. I'll have something to tell my grandkids."

There was little doubt Bell City has embraced the 6-foot-4 player, who scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the championship game. Heeb and fans will likely agree with Hadley's take on his time in Bell City after Saturday's victory.

"I don't think I'm down here by accident," said Hadley. "I think the Lord put me here for a reason."

He added, "I'll never forget Bell City. I'll always have a spot in my heart for Bell City. I'm pretty sure they have a heart for me, too."