Bulldogs put on defensive display, beat Parkway South

~ Saxony Lutheran also wins, but Jackson falls.

The Notre Dame defense has been torched at times this season, allowing 65 or more points six times.

Of the nine boys basketball teams Notre Dame had held below 65 points, five were Class 3 or lower. The Class 4 Bulldogs had allowed 83 points in two of their previous three games, both losses.

Facing Class 5 Parkway South on Saturday in the Tiger Shootout, the Bulldogs put together what coach Paul Hale termed their "best" defensive effort in a 76-44 rout at Central.

"That was probably the best game we've played defensively and offensively the whole year," Hale said. "We won by a pretty wide margin, but they're a good team."

Parkway South (7-6) had won three of its past four games, including a 77-74 double overtime win at Northwest on Friday. Notre Dame held the Patriots' leading scorer, Ben Hoener, to just four points. Julian Gilliam, Parkway South's second-leading scorer, managed just seven.

Hoener and Gilliam had scored 23 points apiece in Friday's win, and entered the game averaging 27 points combined.

"They had a double overtime game last night and we didn't play, so that probably took a lot out of them," Hale said.

Notre Dame (13-3) took control of the game thanks to a 17-0 run in the second quarter. The Patriots trailed just 18-17 after one quarter, and Phil Atkins closed the gap to 20-19 with a basket in the opening minute of the second.

The Bulldogs held Parkway South scoreless for nearly 5 minutes as they made their run. Notre Dame spread the ball around during the run, but 6-foot-7 junior Ryan Willen was once again the catalyst on offense.

Willen had 15 points at the break as Notre Dame led 42-26.

Overall, Willen finished with a game-high 23 points, including an emphatic two-handed dunk midway through the fourth quarter.

Parkway South was limited to outside shots throughout the game. Freshman Scott Pohle led Parkway South with 15 points on five 3-pointers. The Patriots had 16 field goals, seven from 3-point range.

"I thought we did a good job against their penetration, and Ryan [Willen] had another monster game," Hale said.

Ty Williams added 19 points for Notre Dame, Abe Dirnberger had 12 and John Unterreiner had 11.

In other action at the Shootout, Jackson appeared listless in its first game following a championship loss to Bell City at the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament with a 57-49 loss to Jennings.

The 49 points represented a season-low for the Indians, who fell to 9-5. Jackson will go to Woodland on Tuesday before facing Notre Dame for the third time this season on Friday.

"Jennings did a good job guarding us," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "They're athletic and have some size. We just were not ready to play, so I've got to find out how I get my guys ready to play."

Jackson had just four points in the first 6 minutes of the game and trailed 13-9 after one period.

The Indians led briefly 20-19 in the second quarter, but trailed the rest of the way.

Junior forward Antonio Garritano was the lone bright spot for the Indians with 18 points.

In the opener of the Shootout, Saxony Lutheran routed Greenville 58-29.

Saxony Lutheran (10-1) led 32-13 at halftime and outscored Greenville 21-7 in the third quarter. Zach Bohnert led a balanced attack with 11 points and Alex Jauch had 10.

Notre Dame 76, Parkway South 44

Parkway South 17 9 11 7 -- 44

Notre Dame 18 24 16 18 -- 76

PARKWAY SOUTH (44) -- Scott Pohle 15, Phil Atkins 9, Julian Gilliam 7, David Shelton 5, Antonio Bryant 4, Ben Hoener 3, Mark Wright 2. FG 16, FT 5-8, F 14 (3-pointers: Pohle 5, Gilliam 1, Shelton 1. Fouled out: none)

NOTRE DAME (76) -- Ryan Willen 23, Ty Williams 19, John Unterreiner 11, Abe Dirnberger 12, Austin Greer 8, Blake Gaddis 2, Joseph Tolbert 1. FG 28, FT 15-20, F 15 (3-pointers: Williams 3, Willen 1, Unterreiner 1. Fouled out: Greer)

Jennings 57, Jackson 49

Jennings 13 12 11 21 -- 57

Jackson 9 14 8 18 -- 49

JENNINGS (57) -- Markis Thompson 18, Brandon Hunter 10, Darryl Grady 9, Brian McGee 9, DeShaun Cooper 6, Al Carlisle 3, Tony Polk 2. FG 21, FT 13-20, F 12 (3-pointers: Hunter 1, Cooper 1. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (49) -- Hunter Grantham 7, Antonio Garritano 18, Jake Leet 8, Spencer Goodman 2, Matt Lang 6, Steven Spradlin 2, Caleb Guilliams 3, Marcus Harris 3. FG 19, FT 9-14, F 19 (3-pointers: Guilliams 1, Harris 1. Fouled out: none)

Saxony Lutheran 58, Greenville 29

Greenville 6 7 7 9 -- 29

Saxony Lutheran 18 14 21 5 -- 58

GREENVILLE (29) -- Derrick Allen 2, Eric Meyer 6, Levi Birmingham 6, Kyle Randolph 6, John Becker 9. FG 11, FT 7-12, F 18 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

SAXONY LUTHERAN (58) -- Garrett Ruppel 6, Zach Bohnert 11, Bret Steffens 5, Max Wieser 8, Alex Jauch 10, Ben Courtois 7, Clay Obergoenner 4, Austin Kwikkel 7. FG 18, FT 17-29, F 11 (3-pointers: Ruppel 2, Bohnert 1, Wieser 1, Courtois 1. Fouled out: none)