N. DAME, BLUFF STAY HEALTHY, ADVANCE TO CLASSIC TITLE GAME

Last week in a lackluster loss to Cape Central, Notre Dame High coach Jerry Grim endured the worst of games. His Lady Bulldogs looked nothing like the team that finished second in Class 2A last season.

On Wednesday Grim enjoyed the best of games -- a victory over Jackson, the No. 4-ranked Class 4A team. And the Lady Bulldogs looked like a team that could play with any in the state -- regardless of classification.

In a semifinal game in the HealthSouth Holiday Classic, third-seeded Notre Dame upset second-seeded Jackson 52-51 in a game that wasn't close until the end.

In the other semifinal game Wednesday, No. 1 Poplar Bluff beat No. 4 Cape Girardeau Central 44-38. Poplar Bluff will face Notre Dame at 8:30 on Friday in the championship game and Central will meet Jackson at 7 for third.

In consolation semifinal games, No. 8 Kelly upset No. 5 Perryville 46-38 and No. 7 Scott City handled No. 6 Scott County Central 59-52. Kelly will play Scott City at 5:30 on Friday for fifth place and Perryville will face Scott County Central at 4 for seventh.

In the first semifinal game, Notre Dame led by 12 points, 50-38 with 2 minutes 15 seconds left in the game before a furious comeback by Jackson fell short when Randi Senciboy hit two free throws with 11 seconds left to put the Lady Bulldogs up by four points.

"The girls tonight showed a lot of heart," said Grim, whose team shot 57 percent from the field for the game (20 of 35). "Jackson's beat us for about the last six, seven years, and we've played them close a few times, but we've never been able to get over the hump."

Jackson (5-1) led 7-0 early as Notre Dame missed its first five shots and was held scoreless until the 4:13 mark.

Then over a 17-minute span from the middle of the first quarter to the middle of the third quarter, Notre Dame was spectacular; the Lady Bulldogs made 17 of 23 attempts from the floor (74 percent). Notre Dame led 15-11 after one quarter, pushed the lead to 14 in the second quarter and led 31-23 at halftime.

Five-foot-eight senior guard Jennifer Glueck sparked Notre Dame, hitting two 3-pointers and scoring all 11 of her points in the first half.

"We've got a team that is capable of scoring," Grim said. "From any place on the floor we've got somebody that can hit the basket. And I thought tonight our girls played very good defense inside."

Notre Dame (9-1) remained hot in the third quarter. The Lady Bulldogs' lead ranged from eight to 12 points as Rachael Schlosser scored five of her game-high 12 points and Senciboy scored five of her nine points.

Down 43-32 entering the fourth quarter, Jackson applied a ferocious full-court press and caused Notre Dame to commit nine turnovers in the quarter.

After a jumper by Senciboy gave Notre Dame a 50-38 lead with 3:09 remaining, Jackson scored the next 10 points. A 3-pointer by Chrissi Glastetter brought the Lady Indians within two points, 50-48, with 15 seconds left.

But Senciboy hit the two key free throws with 11 seconds left after she caught the ensuing inbounds pass and was fouled. Down 52-48, Glastetter hit another 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Christa Millham, Glastetter and Dana Eakins each scored 11 points for Jackson.

"We didn't show much respect in the first half," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "I don't think that we got after it like we did in the fourth quarter. If you don't put four hard quarters together, you're going to get beat. We just came up one point short, and that's what happens when you don't hustle."

Poplar Bluff 44, Cape Central 38

Poplar Bluff (7-0) outscored Central in each of the first three quarters. The Lady Mules held an 11-7 first-quarter lead and led 23-17 at halftime and 36-26 entering the fourth quarter.

Central (5-2) came within five points, 36-31 early in the fourth quarter and trailed 38-33 with 3:05 remaining.

Poplar Bluff's Emily Wyatt scored a game-high 14 points. Holly Teague added 12 and Amy Hendricks 10.

Kim Aslinger led Central with 12 points and Amy Harris added nine.

Scott City 59, Scott Central 52

Amy O'Brien scored 16 points to lead four Lady Rams in double figures.

Becca Gowin added 14 points, Alaina Smith scored 13 and Jessica Dees added 10 as Scott City improved to 6-2.

Vontrice Blackmon and Ashley Whitson both notched 16 points for Scott Central (4-4).

Scott City led thoughout most of a tight game. The Lady Rams led 16-10 after one period, 27-13 at halftime and 47-42 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Kelly 46, Perryville 38

Kelly took a slim 37-35 lead into the fourth quarter and held Perryville to just three points over the final eight minutes.

Ashley Dirnberger paced Kelly with 11 points.

Laura Ernst netted a game-high 12 points for Perryville (5-3).

Kelly (7-2) grabbed an 11-7 lead in the first quarter and was outscored 28-26 over the next two periods. However, the Lady Hawks held off Perryville down the stretch.

HealthSouth Classic

Wednesday's games

(Championship semifinals)

Notre Dame 52, Jackson 51

Poplar Bluff 44, Cape Central 38

(Consolation semifinals)

Scott City 59, Scott County 52

Kelly 46, Perryville 38

Friday's games

(Championship)

Notre Dame vs. Poplar Bluff, 8:30 p.m.

(Third place)

Jackson vs. Cape Central, 7 p.m.

(Fifth place)

Scott City vs. Kelly, 5:30 p.m.

(Seventh place)

Scott County vs. Perryville, 4 p.m.