A big third quarter by Sikeston High's boys basketball team was just enough to offset a furious fourth-quarter rally by host Notre Dame Friday night.
In a battle of Bulldogs, the visitors outscored Notre Dame 17-5 in the third quarter and then had to withstand a major rally by the host squad down the stretch to claim a 66-60 victory.
Notre Dame fell to 2-1 on the young season while Sikeston improved to 1-1.
"We learned two lessons tonight," said Notre Dame coach Chris Janet. "One, you can't come out in the third quarter and not be ready to play.
"And two, don't ever quit. We played our hearts out in the fourth quarter. We had an opportunity to win the game."
Falling behind 49-39 after three quarters and then 57-43 early in the final period, Notre Dame climbed back to within 59-58 in the final minutes. But Janet's squad never could regain the lead.
"It's good to win, but we're just not in shape yet," said Sikeston coach Fred Johnson. "It's going to take us a while."
Shawn Barnett paced four Sikeston players in double figures with 15 points. Brian Ellitt and Matt Millbach both scored 13 while Brandon Barnes added 10.
Notre Dame had three players in double figures, led by Michael Wehner with 11 points. Josh Eftink and Jason Rubel both added 10.
Sikeston led 4-2 early, but Notre Dame went ahead 16-8 late in the first quarter before settling for a 16-12 lead after one.
Notre Dame's biggest second-quarter lead was six points. Sikeston managed to go ahead 32-30 late in the first half but Notre Dame carried a 34-32 lead into halftime.
The third quarter is when things began to unravel for Notre Dame, which went nearly seven minutes without a point.
During that time, Sikeston was ringing up 13 straight points to take control. Barnes' basket inside pulled Sikeston into a 34-34 tie and Wade Lawrence got his only bucket of the game on a fast-break layup to put Sikeston ahead 36-34. The visitors would not trail again.
By the time Barnes scored on a follow shot, Sikeston had a commanding 45-34 lead late in the quarter. It was 49-39 entering the final period.
"We handled their press better (in the third quarter) and we pressed them," Johnson said. "We also got on the boards."
Said Janet of the third period, "We weren't aggressive and we let them get on the boards. They broke our press because we weren't aggressive with it. And we didn't get it done offensively. We had a lot of open 3-pointers but we just couldn't hit."
When Sikeston opened up a 57-43 lead early in the fourth quarter it looked like lights out for Notre Dame.
But Janet's team roared back with a 12-0 run, Eftink's 3-pointer with 1:55 left making it 57-55.
When Eftink drilled another trey at the 1:24 mark, Notre Dame was behind by just one at 59-58.
But Ellitt hit two free throws with 1:07 left and Barnett got a layup with 38 seconds remaining to make it 63-58.
Wehner's layup with 30 seconds left pulled Notre Dame within 63-60, but Ellitt's basket and free throw 11 seconds later sealed the outcome.
"I'm disappointed we lost tonight, but overall, to be 2-1 right now with such a young team (Notre Dame has only one senior that plays a lot), I'm pleased," Janet said. "We can't hang our heads about being 2-1."
Notre Dame will return to action at 7:30 p.m. Monday when the Bulldogs face Charleston in the first round of the Sikeston Tournament.
"It sure doesn't get any easier," said Janet.
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