Foul problems plague Bell City as Notre Dame advances

The Notre Dame Bulldogs took advantage of foul problems to Bell City all-state guard Dominitrix Johnson to reach the championship game of the seMissourian Christmas Tournament with a 76-63 victory Saturday night at the Show Me Center.

Second-seeded Notre Dame improved to 6-2 in reaching their first Christmas tournament final since winning it in 1986. The Bulldogs will face top-seeded and defending champion Charleston (9-2) in Monday night's 7:30 championship game.

Sixth-seeded Bell City, the reigning Class 1 state champion, fell to 8-2.

Four Notre Dame players finished in double figures, led by 19 points by junior forward Matt Wulfers. Cory Beussink added 14 points, Wayne Essner netted 13 and Travis Bruenderman had 11.

"This is my third year here and my first time to make it to the finals," Notre Dame coach Darrin Scott said. "I thought our kids came out ready to play, and Bell City was ready to play. But we withstood that first shock, and after that we really competed."

After defeating third-seeded Jackson in overtime on Friday, Bell City looked poised for its second straight upset. The Cubs uncorked three 3-point baskets on their first three shots, opening a 9-2 lead less than a minute into the game.

Wulfers settled the Bulldogs with the first of his four three pointers to cut the lead to 9-5 and Notre Dame closed to 16-14 by the end of the quarter.

Bell City led 18-14 at the 5:22 mark of the second quarter when Johnson, who came into the tournament averaging 23 points and six assists, picked up his third foul and went to the bench for the remainder of the half.

In Johnson's absence Notre Dame scored 15 unanswered points, part of a 22-2 run.

Wulfers hit his second 3-point basket at the 2:28 mark of the quarter to cap the 15-0 spurt for a 29-18 lead. After Randy Conn hit a pair of free throws, Notre Dame reeled off seven more points, which included another Wulfers 3-pointer. When Wulfers hit Bruenderman down low for an uncontested basket, Notre Dame held its biggest lead at 36-20.

Notre Dame took a 38-23 lead into the intermission.

The Cubs hit on just one of 13 shots in the second quarter and committed nine turnovers.

Bell City, which averaged nearly 95 points in its first two tournament wins, was never able to get untracked with Johnson out of the game. After hitting its first three 3-pointers, the Cubs missed 12 of their next 13 attempts.

Johnson returned to start the second half but quickly returned to the bench with his fourth foul less than four minutes into the third quarter.

"That was one of the big things, if they came out man we were going to try to isolate him and look to attack," Scott said. "We thought two things -- one he would foul, or two, he would allow us to score. We knew if he got his fourth foul, the game wouldn't be over, but it would be a lot of momentum."

Johnson picked up the foul on a baseline drive by Bulldog guard Travis Siebert.

"We reversed it one time and Travis Siebert got it on the wing and he saw Dominitrix was guarding him and he looked to attack him," Scott said. "The time before that we got it in the post and he did a good job of not fouling. And then that time we were fortunate and got the foul call."

The Cubs trailed 47-34 when Johnson departed the second time. They still trailed 53-40 entering the fourth quarter.

Johnson returned with 5:06 left in the game after Eric Henry hit a pair of free throws to close the gap to 59-49, but Notre Dame pulled away with a 12-0 run for a 71-49 lead with 3:04 left.

Wulfers finished the run with his final 3-pointer of the night.

Henry, who scored 31 and 35 points, respectively, in his first two tournament games, was held to a team-high 23 points. Kenyon Wright sank four 3-pointers and finished with 17 points while Johnson had 10.

Notre Dame shot 57 percent from the field, connecting on 29 of 51 shots from the field. Bell City shot 37 percent, hitting on 23 of 62 shots.

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124