Bulldogs turn over title shot

A slip of the foot and a dribbling miscue led to a pair of late turnovers that foiled the Notre Dame girls basketball team's second-half comeback Monday.

That's just what Farmington needed to seal a 47-45 win and a trip to the HealthSouth Holiday Classic final.

Farmington will play Jackson in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. today at the Show Me Center, while Notre Dame will play for third against Sparta (Ill.) at 6 p.m.

Notre Dame (5-3) appeared shell-shocked early against the top-seeded Knightettes. Farmington dominated the glass, creating second and even third chances that led to a 7-0 lead. Farmington stretched its lead to 20-9 at the end of the first quarter.

"If we played the first half the way we played in the second half, we would have won," said Notre Dame senior Sommer McCauley, who had 16 points. "We just didn't come ready to play."

Down 13 at halftime, the Bulldogs stepped up their pressure defense in the second half and got three straight steals to cut the lead to 34-29.

Natalie Bess ended Notre Dame's 8-0 run with a strong drive, but McCauley scored the quarter's last four points to get Notre Dame within three for the first time.

"In the second half we went to the zone trap," Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim said, "and we were able to relax and see the ball better."

With the lead down to its smallest margin at three points, Bess responded for Farmington. Off the opening possession Bess hit her first three-pointer to give Farmington a 39-33 lead. Farmington got a steal on the next possession, and Bess' layup brought the lead back to eight points.

Notre Dame cut the lead to 45-43 and turned the ball over on its next possession. Farmington ran the clock down to 52 seconds, but gave Notre Dame another opportunity when it turned the ball over on a five-second call.

Sierra Ellis took the ball for the Bulldogs and was prepared to hoist a potential game-tying shot when her foot slipped, causing a traveling violation. McCauley stole the ball on Farmington's next possession but was was called for a double dribble.

Katelyn Peterson hit two free throws to clinch the game.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

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