FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME: WITH ARMSTRONG GRADUATING, ND RATES AS 2002 FAVORITE

I don't know if she did that kind of thing every game, but Stockton senior Jenna Armstrong had the best single-game performance I've ever seen by a girls high school player Saturday night.

She ended up with 30 points in Stockton's 61-42 win over Notre Dame in the Class 2A state championship game at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo.

Sure, many players have scored more than 30 points, but she wasn't going against just any team.

Next to Poplar Bluff, Notre Dame probably plays the best defense of any team in Southeast Missouri.

And I thought for the most part, the Lady Bulldogs defended Armstrong well. But the soon-to-be Iowa Hawkeye had a quick release and hit shots with Notre Dame girls draped all over her. Courtney Vickery and Ali Tyson chased Armstrong around the court all night, but Stockton set some amazing picks and Armstrong knew how to use them.

It's hard to tell by just one game, but she was much more impressive to me than Elsberry's highly touted Kari Koch (26 ppg), Parkway West's Dionnah Jackson (headed to Oklahoma) or anyone in Southeast Missouri. And anybody who follows girls basketball knows there are a lot of very fine players in Southeast Missouri.

But guess what?

Armstrong won't be back next year.

That should leave the door open for Notre Dame as the favorite to win next year's title.

Notre Dame simply didn't play well Saturday night and I have a feeling that Armstrong had the night of her life (She scored her team's first 17 points and 22 of her team's 28 first-half points).

Barring a fluke, I can't see Notre Dame not making it to the Final Four again next year. The Lady Bulldogs rolled to Columbia this season and they get all five of their starters back and their first player off the bench.

And knowing how Notre Dame's girls work, they'll be even better next year.

One thing that might have hurt Notre Dame this year was its late-season schedule.

The Lady Bulldogs have to play one of the most brutal 2A schedules in the state, but they played all the tough teams early.

They didn't have a close game in the entire month of February.

One player to watch out for next year is Ashley Millham.

Ashley is probably the most well-rounded and athletic player on Notre Dame's team, yet she was the third-leading scorer. All year, Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim raved about Ashley's talent, but the sophomore was content to flourish in an important role as the third offensive weapon behind Lisa Millham and Deana McCormick.

Ashley was outstanding in the state tournament, scoring 36 points in the two games. She definitely opened some eyes at the Hearnes Center and might have earned a spot on the all-state team. Lisa Millham and McCormick should be locks as all-state picks.

* Speaking of all-staters, Blair Oaks' Paul Miller was the most dominant player on the boys' side. The strong 6-foot-10 center was impressive in both games as his team won the 2A title. In the state semifinal, he hit two free throws with seven seconds left to give Blair Oaks a win over Cardinal Ritter.

Miller is headed to Wichita State, where he'll play both basketball and baseball. As a pitcher, I've been told he throws in the low-90s.

* I don't understand why the Missouri State High School Activities Association schedules state championship games to start at 9:30 p.m.

I feel that if it's necessary to have a game that late, it should be a consolation game. But I don't think a game should start that late, period. We can't forget that these are high school kids who are probably in bed on most nights at 11 p.m. Why should we expect them to start the fourth quarter of a state championship game at that time?

I doubt the MSHSAA would consider it, but I would suggest having one or two games each day at either Hickman or Rock Bridge high schools so the games don't run so late. That would mean there would be a handful of teams that wouldn't get to play at Hearnes if they lost their first game, though. All I know is that there has to be a way to keep games from going on until midnight, which is what happened to Jackson's girls in their third-place game last weekend.

* One more thought. Wouldn't it be great if the Show Me Center hosted some state playoff basketball?