Doniphan, Notre Dame to meet in C4D1 title game

After an intense battle on Jan. 31 that saw Doniphan down Notre Dame 55-53, the two clubs will meet again on Friday night in the Class 4 District 1 championship game.

After Doniphan (25-0) defeated Dexter 58-38 in the first semifinal, the Notre Dame Bulldogs (19-7) defeated Kennett 71-54 to set up the anticipated rematch.

“They’re really good,” Notre Dame coach Kirk Boeller said. “It’s going to be a fun game but we have to put together four really good quarters.”

That Jan. 31 loss is something that Boeller and the Bulldogs have relived multiple times as they closed out the regular season.

“We’ve watched that tape over and over again,” Boeller said. “We wanted to see some of the things we could have done better and then hopefully implement some of those things on Friday.”

Doniphan coach Adam Epps said the biggest challenge his group will face is dealing with the size of the Bulldogs.

“They are so long and they are so athletic,” Epps said. “We’re going to have to take care of the ball way better than we did the last time we played them. That’s really going to dictate everything.”

Epps said it will be key for his group to avoid dribbling toward the sidelines.

“It’s easier said than done when you have two six-footers coming out there,” Epps said. “They played a really tough schedule so they’re battle-tested and I’m sure they’ll be ready to get us back.”

Epps isn’t the only coach in the contest hoping to see his team take care of the ball.

“We have to take care of the basketball,” Boeller said.

While the Donettes won’t rely on their regular season win, Epps hopes it can take out some of the feeling out process.

“It’ll help us with just knowing our opponent,” Epps said. “Just knowing what they do, what are their strengths and then knowing what we have to do to have a chance to win the game.”

Wednesday’s contest against Dexter was the first time the Donettes had played on Notre Dame’s court, something Epps hopes benefits them come Friday night.

“I think it helps us tonight to get a game under our belts,” Epps said.

The rematch between Doniphan and Notre Dame is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, March 1, at Notre Dame Regional High School.