LADY BULLDOGS SEE STATE HOPES RUN AFOUL

PARK HILLS -- The turning point in Saturday night's Class 2A quarterfinal basketball game between Notre Dame and John Burroughs wasn't a 3-pointer. It wasn't an open-court steal or a fast-break layup. It wasn't a charge. It was a bloody lip.

In a game that was decided as much by the officials as it was by the players, John Burroughs advanced to the 2A Final Four with a 63-56 win at Park Hills Central High School.

Seven players fouled out, 53 fouls were called and 76 free throws were shot. But it was one particular foul on Notre Dame freshman Courtney Vickery that seemed to turn the momentum in John Burroughs' favor.

Vickery was called for an intentional foul with 5:15 left in the third quarter. Vickery elbowed John Burroughs' Christine Edwards in the mouth, sending her to the floor screaming in pain and covering her busted lip.

"She felt really bad about that," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim of Vickery.

Before the foul, Notre Dame had a 30-25 lead and looked poised to make its second trip to the final four in the past three years.

With Edwards forced out of the game because of the injury, John Burroughs' Aileen McGill, a 5-foot-6 freshman, made both free throws to cut the lead to 30-27.

On John Burroughs' ensuing possession, Notre Dame was called for a foul on the perimeter. The questionable call sent the Lady Bulldogs' fans and bench into an outrage and a technical foul was called on the Notre Dame bench.

McGill made both shots on the technical foul to pull the Lady Bombers to within 30-29.

John Burroughs would later take a 35-34 lead with less than two minutes left in the third and the Lady Bombers never trailed thereafter.

After the intentional foul was called, John Burroughs outscored Notre Dame 33-21.

"That was about an eight-point swing there and it made a big difference," Grim said.

Said John Burroughs coach Dennis Moore, "It did seem like the momentum swung there. Then they got the technical and it turned the game around. It was a big point in the game."

Added Grim, "It seemed like any time we got near them it was a foul. We still had a chance to win it, but any time we touched them at all, it was a foul."

The player that Notre Dame was touching the most was sophomore guard Amy Argetsinger. She scored 18 of her 21 points from the foul line. She shot 29 free throws in all and made nine of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Lisa Millham, a freshman guard, led Notre Dame with 18 points. Another freshman, Deana McCormick, added 15. Senior Randi Senciboy had 12.

Notre Dame finished its season with a 17-13 record while John Burroughs improved to 20-9 and will make its second straight trip to the final four.

Despite owning a 26-20 lead at halftime, the Lady Bulldogs found themselves trailing 40-36 going into the fourth quarter.

Senciboy kept the Lady Bulldogs within striking distance when she swished a 3-pointer with 23 seconds left that made it 57-56.

But three consecutive turnovers by Notre Dame and six straight free throws by Argetsinger doomed the Lady Bulldogs' final four hopes.

It was difficult for Notre Dame to run efficiently in the waning seconds because four Lady Bulldogs -- Senciboy, Jill Huber, Courtney Vickery and Erin Vickery -- fouled out.

Notre Dame accomplished its goal of getting John Burroughs in foul trouble in the first half. Three Lady Bomber starters -- Argetsinger, Megan McGill and Carrie Morris -- each had three fouls at halftime.

Argetsinger played the final 1 1/2 quarters with four fouls before finally fouling out with 11 seconds to go.

"At halftime, we just talked about not trying to steal everything and not trying to block everything," said Moore. "If you're going to get a foul, make it a rebounding foul where you're fighting for the ball."

Notre Dame led 12-9 after the first quarter. The Lady Bulldogs' relentless defense stumped John Burroughs, limiting it to no field goals for the first 5 1/2 minutes.

Though disappointed with the loss, Grim was proud of the effort.

"At the beginning of the season, nobody expected these kids to be here," he said. "They worked their butts off on defense and that is what got us here. They just played their hearts out here tonight and I've got all the respect in the world for them."

Portageville 69, L. North 64

In Saturday's boys quarterfinal game, Portageville downed Lutheran North 69-64 to earn a repeat trip to the final four.

The Bulldogs, who had knocked off Kelly in the sectional game, were paced by Quinten Sykes with 16 points. Matt Whitson added 15.

Mike Sutherland, a 6-foot-6 guard who has signed to play for Southeast Missouri State next season, led Lutheran North with 23 points.