LADY BULLDOGS AIM FOR 2A TITLE GAME

Notre Dame has shown all year that it can contain high scorers.

If the Lady Bulldogs can do it one more time, they'll likely end up playing for the Class 2A state championship.

Notre Dame (27-3) will take on Elsberry (27-3) at 7:55 tonight in the 2A semifinals at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo.

The Lady Bulldogs' top priority is to contain stellar 5-foot-8 guard Kari Koch, who is averaging an astounding 26 points per contest, more than twice the amount of any of her teammates.

Koch also averages seven rebounds and five assists per contest.

"There's no doubt she's an excellent player," Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim said. "But we're not going to let one person beat us, if we can help it anyway."

Notre Dame's defense last week held all-stater Amy Argetsinger to 14 points, 6 points below her season average.

But Koch may be the best player Notre Dame has played against this year.

"She does pretty much everything," Elsberry coach Todd Davis. "She rebounds well, she brings the ball up the floor, she can post up, shoot and penetrate. I've still yet to see a girl better than her this year."

Davis said teams have tried every possible defense against her, including guarding her with two defenders.

But Elsberry doesn't play near the competition that Notre Dame has. Two of the Lady Indians' losses came to Class 1A school Silex, which is also in the Final Four. Elsberry's other loss came to Jefferson City Helias.

Davis said his team has had about seven or eight close games this year.

"Unfortunately, the competition is down around here this year," Davis said.

Notre Dame had its share of close games, but not against 1A or 2A schools. No 1A or 2A school has yet to come within 16 points of the Lady Bulldogs. They haven't played a game closer than 20 since the postseason began.

Elsberry is making its first trip to Columbia. The Lady Indians hadn't won a district title in 13 years. They've been in the same districts as Palmyra or Monroe City, two traditionally strong programs.

Elsberry has two other scoring threats aside from Koch. Shanna Lonsberry, a 3-point specialist, averages 12 points a game and Sara Byrne scores 10 per contest.

Davis said his Lady Indians are more than a one-lady band.

"Unfortunately, people say that and it gets the other girls upset," he said. "We've got a lot of nice players. Some aren't interested in scoring. Winning is important to us. Some concentrate on playing good defense and rebounding. We don't want five people who want to score all the time."

That sounds like something written from Notre Dame's book.

The Lady Bulldogs feature a balanced attack. Deana McCormick and Lisa Millham both average 15 points per game, but do so in vastly different ways. McCormick, a 6-foot center dominates the paint with a variety of moves and Millham is an adept 3-point shooter. Lisa's sister Ashley averages 10 points per game, most of which come as a result of dribble penetration. Courtney Vickery gets the offense going from the point-guard position and Ali Tyson is arguably the team's best defender. Notre Dame has had five different players lead the team in scoring this year, including Erin Pfau, who is the first person off the bench.

"I know the sisters are strong and I know they've got the nice post girl," said Davis. "In order for us to win, we'll have to shut some of that down. (McCormick) is real strong inside and that poses some problems for us because we're short."

The Notre Dame-Elsberry winner will take on the winner of East Newton (26-4) and Stockton (23-6) at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.