Bulldogs improving despite pair of early losses

After opening the season with a pair of wins in the Farmington Tournament, the Notre Dame Bulldogs have been slowed by strong competition but remain optimistic.

"We've played hard, and I think we've gotten better," Notre Dame coach Darrin Scott said. "I still think we have a lot of room for improvement. I think come January and February we're going to be a lot better."

The Bulldogs opened with victories over Farmington and Eureka to reach the championship game of the Farmington Tournament, where they lost to top-seeded Poplar Bluff, the top-ranked team in Southeast Missouri.

Notre Dame has since lost a close game to Dexter on Dec. 10 but has played just one more game in the two-plus weeks leading up to the tournament.

"Any time you play good teams like Poplar Bluff and Dexter, you find out a lot about your own team," Scott said. "Any flaws you have stick out, and you know what you need to work on."

The Mules and Bearcats made turnovers a priority on the Bulldogs' list of things to improve. Notre Dame also has struggled with shooting the ball.

"I think those go hand in hand," Scott said. "We're just not together yet on offense."

A trio of seniors -- center Cory Beussink and guards Travis Siebert and Wayne Essner -- have led the Bulldogs so far. Beussink averages 12 points a game and is the team's top rebounder, having pulled down as many as 17 in a game.

Siebert averages around 12 points and Essner around 10.

The team's experience drops off after that in junior forward Matt Wulfers and sophomore Bryce Willen, who led the JV in scoring last season. Wulfers has proved clutch, hitting a pair of free throws in the final minute of the loss to Dexter that boosted the Bulldogs into their final lead. Freshman point guard Frankie Ellis, coming off the bench, has provided a boost with his quickness.

Missing from the equation has been senior Tyler Cuba, who sustained a muscle pull during soccer and just recently began practicing. Cuba, a starter as a junior, is the Bulldogs' most athletic player and will be a boost in all areas, especially on defense.

"He's not going to come in and play great right off, but he's going to help us with his athletic ability," Scott said.

Cuba, a guard, could help alleviate some of the problems with turnovers and take some of the load off the underclassmen.

"We're young, especially at guard," Scott said. "I think that's where Tyler is really going to give us a calming effect. He has lot of experience and knows what's going on."

Junior Jonathan Market, who did not play as a sophomore, has been slowed by illness in the early going, and Scott looks for him to become more of a factor as the season progresses.

Notre Dame, the second seed, opens the seMissourian Christmas Tournament against 15th-seeded Oak Ridge.

"The tournament will be a good barometer and tell us how we're playing," Scott said. "Our main goal is to be playing our basketball at the end of the year."

jbreer@semissourian.com

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