CARDINAL RITTER JUMPS ON ND EARLY

NEW MADRID -- Cardinal Ritter jumped out to a 19-point lead on Notre Dame and held off several Bulldog runs for a 78-62 victory Saturday in the New Madrid Riverbend Classic.

The game was the season opener for both squads.

Ritter's Gerald Weatherspoon, bound for Townsen St., proved a handful for the Bulldogs, scoring 35 points.

Weatherspoon and teammate Patrick Harmon, 15 points, combined for 22 of Ritter's 27 first-quarter points.

The period ended with the Lions holding a 27-12 lead. Notre Dame recovered to cut the deficit to 40-31 by halftime.

"We weren't ready to play defense the way we should of early on," said Notre Dame coach Chris Janet. "Defensively, we had to play much better in the early going."

The Bulldogs crept to within eight points in the third quarter, but saw the Lions take a 61-50 lead into the final period. Cardinal Ritter added five points to its lead in the final eight minutes.

"We did not quit and that was a very positive thing," said Janet. "We really battled after the first quarter."

Junior Adam Obermiller led Notre Dame with 20 points while Anthony Ressel added 12.

"They're a very good 2A team," said Janet about Cardinal Ritter. "Their top three or four guys are as athletic as we'll see all year."

Notre Dame returns to action Tuesday when Cape Central visits.

Scott City 61, Meridian (Ill.) 57

NEW MADRID -- Scott City recovered from a slow start and ultimately overtook Meridian in the fourth quarter for a season-opening victory in the New Madrid Riverbend Classic.

Ronald Watson led the Rams with 17 points while Jon Beck netted 16 and Ryan Weatherspoon had 14.

Lance Amick paced Scott City with 14 rebounds while Weatherspoon pulled down 12.

"They were a quick team and we didn't shoot the ball well," said Scott City coach Derek McCord.

Meridian led 20-12 after one quarter, but Scott City came back to knot the score 30-30 by halftime. Meridian took a 40-39 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Rams held a 22-18 scoring edge over the final eight minutes for the win.

In other games in the Riverbend Classic: Vashon defeated Charleston 74-47; West Memphis (Ark.) beat New Madrid 53-41; and Memphis East stopped Alton (Mo.) 74-68.