ND boys turn out light on Knights

The Notre Dame boys basketball never trailed as it marched into the Class 4 quarterfinals Tuesday night with a 72-60 sectional victory over the Farmington Knights at Mineral Area College in Park Hills.

The Bulldogs improved to 25-5 and will try to book their second trip in three years to the final four when they face St. Clair on Saturday night at the Farmington Civic Center.

Sophomore Austin Greer led the way way with 20 points, while junior Ryan Willen added 16 points.

Notre Dame scored the first six points of the game as the Bulldogs quickly gave coach Paul Hale the upperhand in the first showdown with his son, Brett, who guided the Knights to a 19-10 season.

The Bulldogs took a 15-11 lead into the second quarter and opened a 20-13 advantage on a three-point play by Willen around the six-minute mark. Farmington used a 6-0 spurt, capped by a pair of free throws by Parks Peterson, to pull within 20-19 midway through the period, but the Knights never could overtake the Bulldogs.

After Abe Dirnberger's basket, Farmington closed to 22-21 on Cragon McBride's basket, which prompted a Notre Dame timeout.

The Bulldogs emerged with a 6-0 run for a 28-21 advantage. Greer, who had 10 points in the first half, scored just before halftime for a 35-27 lead at the break.

Junior Ty Williams gave Notre Dame its first double-figure lead, 38-27, with a 3-pointer on the Bulldogs' first possession of the second half.

Farmington cut the deficit to five points on Collin Berry's putback off a rebound, but it marked the closest the Knights came.

Ahead 49-40 with about two minutes left in the third quarter, Notre Dame delivered the knockout blow with a 9-0 run, capped by Williams' 3-pointer. The Bulldogs took a 58-42 lead into the fourth quarter and were never threatened.

ND girls eliminated

The Notre Dame girls had a 3-point shot blockd at the buzzer as their season closed with a 56-53 loss to Farmington.

Meredith Medlin scored a team-high 19 points for the Bulldogs, who finished 18-9. Kristain Burger added 17 points.

Sydney Winslow netted a game-high 24 points for Farmington (25-3), ranked No. 5 in Class 4. Holly Russell added 15 points.

Farmington led 30-23 at halftime and took a 39-36 lead into the fourth quarter.