Bulldogs press their way to unexpectedly fast start

Coming off a state final four appearance, the successful start for the Notre Dame boys basketball team shouldn't be too surprising.

But few would have predicted the Bulldogs to jump out of the gates at 14-1.

"We've surprised people, but I don't think we've surprised ourselves," Bulldogs senior Kirk Boeller said. "We knew we could do it if we played as hard as can."

Notre Dame ended an 18-year drought at the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament by claiming the championship. It did so by upsetting Central, Charleston and Jackson along the way. The Bulldogs turned around and beat Charleston, the Class 3 runner-up last year, a second time at Notre Dame on Jan. 3.

"Beating Charleston and Jackson, two of the best teams in Southeast Missouri, makes playing basketball a lot of fun," senior guard Frankie Ellis said. "But one thing we don't want to do is get a big head."

The Bulldogs will get another test Friday when they host Jackson in a rematch of the Christmas Tournament championship game. The junior varsity will start at 6 p.m. with the varsity game to follow.

Notre Dame had four starters in double figures in its 74-65 victory against the Indians in the championship game. Alex Ressel led the Bulldogs with 22 points, as Notre Dame led nearly the entire game.

"We're going to have to come out with the same intensity," senior guard Xavier Delph said.

Thanks to a 98-73 win over Ste. Genevieve on Tuesday, the Bulldogs picked up win No. 14 this season. Those 14 wins matched Notre Dame's win total from last year, which resulted in a fourth-place finish in Class 4.

Notre Dame coach Paul Hale said so far the team has exceeded even his expectations, though he felt it was capable of playing as well as it has.

"As long as kids play hard good things happen," he said. "I've always preached that. I've always believed that. This is a good case."

The Bulldogs used a late-season surge, which coincided with the return of injured star Bryce Willen, to win the Class 4 District 1 tournament last year and earn its first trip to the state final four since back-to-back titles in 1985 and 1986 last season. Notre Dame was in each game at the final four despite settling for fourth.

"After we went to the final four [last year], we knew how that felt and we knew we wanted that feeling again," Delph said.

The catalyst for the Bulldogs' success this season has been the team's suffocating press. Speedy senior guards Ellis and Delph make the press go by creating turnovers off the press and converting those turnovers into easy points.

Hale said he has run a variation of the press as long as he has coached.

"You're not going to steal the ball every time, but if you can keep from getting beat with easy baskets you can keep pressing," he said.

Delph -- known simply as "X" -- has been a key addition for the Bulldogs. After transferring from Central after his sophomore year, Delph had to play at the junior varsity level last year due to transfer rules.

"Last year, we weren't as quick as we are this year," Ellis said. "I feel with 'X' here, he's really quick in the backcourt so we can put a lot of pressure on the ball. It causes teams to turn the ball over."

With as much energy as Ellis and Delph expend working the press, the Bulldogs have had to rely on steady play from their bench to keep everyone fresh. Abe Dirnberger, a junior, and sophomore Ty Williams are typically the first guards off the bench to replace Ellis and Delph.

"Ty and Abe come off the bench, and when they're in for Xavier and Frankie, they may not be as quick but they work as hard and get turnovers and points on the board," Boeller said. "We've all stepped up. Everyone fills their role. When everyone can do what they're supposed to, you're going to win."

Down low the Bulldogs have benefited from the steady play of senior Ressel, along with the emergence of sophomore Ryan Willen. Ressel, a 6-foot-3 forward, leads the team in scoring.

"He's got plenty of moves," Hale said of Ressel. "He's kind of an undersized post player, but he has a bit of beef on him."

Willen, 6-6, gives the Bulldogs another presence in the paint.

"We've held our own on the boards," Hale said. "Ryan's helped us there. We have Alex, and he's a stud in there, and Ryan's come on and played really well."