HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: CAPE CENTRAL REFUSES TO FOLD VS. NOTRE DAME

The Cape Central Lady Tigers took a bite out of the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs with a 55-43 win at Notre Dame on Wednesday night.

Central improved to 4-1 while Notre Dame suffered its first loss to go 6-1.

Playing inspired defense and forcing turnovers early, the Lady Tigers held the Lady Bulldogs without a field goal until the 7:50 mark of the second quarter. As a result Cape Central led 10-2 after the opening stanza.

"Defense is all about heart," said Lady Tiger coach Mark Ruark, "and that's what my kids played with tonight."

The Lady Tigers stretched their lead to 21-6, midway through the second quarter, before Notre Dame mounted a charge to close the gap to 25-18 at the half.

Heather Jenkins, Central's 5-foot-11 center, had a big first half with 12 points and held the Lady Tigers together as their offense stalled late in the second quarter. Jenkins scored Central's last six points before the intermission.

The beginning of the third quarter saw Notre Dame pick up where it left off, outscoring Central 7-2 early to close to 27-25.

The third three-pointer of the period by Notre Dame's Lisa Millham gave the Lady Bulldogs their first lead of the night at 31-28 and seemed to swing the momentum to the side of the home team.

But the Lady Tigers were not ready to wilt.

"We dug ourselves out of the hole alright," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim. "They just outplayed us the rest of the way."

This time it was Cape Central senior Katie Dougherty who stepped up with a big three-point play which proved to be a momentum breaker. Dougherty scored nine of her team's 14 third-quarter points. The 6-foot-1 forward took on the role of point guard, bringing the ball upcourt against the Lady Bulldog press.

"Katie Dougherty is a very special player," said Ruark. "She's 6-1, she has good quickness and she can handle the ball like a guard. She's a great weapon to have. She stepped up like a senior should in the second half and really led us."

The Lady Bulldogs were not about to back off as they made one last run to tighten the score at 44-43 at the 3:35 mark of the fourth quarter. But a basket by Alex Wieser and a putback by Jenkins off a missed free throw with 2 minutes to go gave the Lady Tigers a little breathing room at 48-43.

The Lady Tigers closed out the win on a field goal by Ashley Voerg and free throws, as the Lady Bulldogs were forced to foul late.

Central had three players in double figures with Jenkins (15), Dougherty (13) and Voerg (13).

Lisa Millham led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points, while Deana McCormick chipped in with 14.

"This was a real big win for us," said Ruark. "I really believe Notre Dame's got a great basketball team and they're certainly one of the best teams in Southeast Missouri. Our girls worked very hard and played very well. I'm real proud of them."

Notre Dame's Grim, trying to take something positive out of the defeat, said, "Sometimes a loss is not bad, sometimes a loss can work for you and hopefully this will help us."

The Notre Dame junior varsity won 40-28, led by the 12 points of freshman Sierra Ellis.