GRIM REAPS CLASS 2A COACH OF YEAR HONOR

Notre Dame High girls basketball coach Jerry Grim has never been one for self-praise or gloating.

He simply goes about his job as best he can and allows his players to receive the credit.

But today, Grim is receiving plenty of credit himself. That's because he has been named the Class 2A Girls Coach of the Year by the Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

The award comes on the heels of the Lady Bulldogs' second-place finish in the state tournament. Notre Dame was not ranked in the statewide poll all season long but made it all the way to the championship game before losing to an extremely talented Skyline squad 61-45.

When told of the award, the mild-mannered Grim was somewhat taken aback and -- as is his personality -- unwilling to accept too much praise.

"I'm really surprised because we didn't win the state tournament. Usually the coach that wins state gets it," said Grim. "But it's an honor, for me and the team.

"It's definitely a team honor, because I wouldn't be there without the team. Those kids worked their rear ends off to get there."

The Lady Bulldogs finished with a 22-10 record, their championship-game loss to Skyline being the only defeat to a squad smaller than Class 3A all season.

Notre Dame annually spends much of the regular season butting heads with the likes of perennial powerhouses Jackson, Poplar Bluff, Cape Central, Perryville and other 4A and 3A squads.

That schedule might lead to more losses than most Final Four contenders, but it certainly gets the Lady Bulldogs ready for post-season play.

"No question about it," said Grim. "We played some teams during the season that were as good and better than what we met at state. There are some great teams in this area and they help us get ready for the playoffs."

Entering the season, Grim thought the Lady Bulldogs would be good. He just didn't know how good.

"I thought we had a good team," he said. "We were lucky and we had some talent."

Grim, who also directed the Lady Bulldogs to a second-place state finish in 1995, has a 238-140 record in 15 seasons as Notre Dame's coach.

With only two seniors graduating from this year's squad, Grim figures to keep building on that record -- and perhaps even make it back to the Final Four -- next season.

And if that happens, you can count on one thing: he'll be deflecting credit all the way.