'Dogs, Indians hope to relive past success

~ Notre Dame looks for its first Class 4 sectional win since 2003; Jackson tries to make another final four in Class 5.

Notre Dame girls basketball coach Jerry Grim had the school's basketball court named after him as the coached was honored for his 25 years as head coach earlier this year.

Grim, who has helped lead the Bulldogs to five state final four appearances, including three straight from the 2000-2001 season to the 2002-2003 season, has his team back in the state playoffs for the first time in three years. Notre Dame will face Farmington in a Class 4 sectional today at 7:45 p.m. at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo.

"It's just been amazing this year," Grim said. "I would never have thought they'd have named the court after me. Then the girls win the district, that's icing on the cake. That's just so much sweeter."

The Bulldogs (18-8) routed state-ranked Fredericktown 52-35 in the district finals Friday in Sikeston. Farmington had an equally easy time with Festus in its district and owns a 2-1 record against the Bulldogs this season. The games were in the first half of the season: Farmington beat Notre Dame in the season-opener at the Farmington Invitational; Notre Dame won at the Saint Francis Holiday Classic; and Farmington triumphed in the regular season meeting in early January.

Farmington is led by 6-foot-1 senior Sydney Winslow, an athletic post player who won a high jump state title last year. At more than 18 points a game, Winslow is the only Knightette averaging in double figures. Senior guard Briley Milfeld is Farmington's second-leading scorer. The Knightettes also have two more 6-foot seniors in Danielle Littrell and Sarah Ward.

"Farmington's got a lot of weapons and a lot of size," Grim said. "They have some good guards, and they can shoot."

This has been a banner year for Farmington, which won the school's first district title after making the move down from Class 5. The Knightettes (24-3) are ranked fifth in Class 4.

While the Knightettes are making their first appearance in the state playoffs, this is Notre Dame's 11th district crown. Notre Dame, 20-9 in state playoff games, reached the quarterfinals in its last playoff appearance in 2004. Senior forward Kristain Burger was the lone current player on that team, though.

"They want to restart the tradition here," Grim said. "I think Kristain was on the team that went to the quarterfinals, and I think she was the only one. I know they [the rest of the team] went up and watched us. That fires up a kid. Hopefully that will help us this time."

Burger is Notre Dame's leading scorer at nearly 19 points a game. Senior guard Meridith Medlin has also been a consistent scorer for the Bulldogs. Fellow seniors Claudia Brauss and Brooke Beussink also came up big against Fredericktown.

In the district tournament, Notre Dame allowed less than 40 points a game against a pair of 20-win teams. Notre Dame's defense has been a big part of its recent success.

"We're really pleased with our defense lately," Grim said. "I think the kids are starting to understand the need to help and hedge, and all the things that make a good defensive team."

Jackson vs. Mehlville

Another area team trying to rediscover its former playoff success is Class 5 Jackson. The Indians have seven state final four trips in program history, including five in the 1990s, but they have not made the final four since 2003.

Jackson (18-7) will face Mehlville (17-10) in a sectional at 7:45 p.m. at the Farmington Civic Center.

"You've got to have some breaks, things have to go your way and you have to play well," Jackson coach Sam Sides said. "The more times you knock on the door, the more chances you have of breaking through eventually."

Last year, the Indians fell behind 23-3 after one quarter in a loss to St. Joseph's Academy. Jackson was only outscored by seven points over the final three quarters.

Mehlville has won four straight district titles but has moved past the sectional round just once in that time. The Panthers won their sectional game last year, then suffered a two-point loss in the quarterfinals.

"You have to be ready to play, and relax and play," Sides said. "You can't have fear in you. You have to realize you're bound to get excited, but you have to play through that."

Mehlville is led by 6-foot sisters Alyse and Kayla Gordon. Alyse Gordon leads the team in scoring at 16.2 points a game, and Kayla Gordon averages 12.4 a game.

"They've got three or four girls that can shoot it," Sides said. "We have to guard them, and we have to control the backboard. We can't let them kill us [on the boards]."

Jackson, as has been the case in recent years, features a balanced attack. The Indians do not have a double digit scorer in the lineup.

"I've had people ask who's our go-to girl, and we really don't have one," Sides said. "If you were trying to guard us, I don't know who you'd try to guard. We have several players that can score, and that gives us an advantage."

Added Sides: "We're just average size-wise and have average speed. We may not have the best five players, but we have the best 10 players most of the time. We have more depth usually."