ND GIRLS RETURN TALENT FROM 2A RUNNERUP

Notre Dame girls basketball coach Jerry Grim says he can't wait to get the season started -- and who can blame him?

The Lady Bulldogs have plenty of talent back from last year's team that went 22-10 and advanced all the way to the Class 2A state championship game before losing. It was Notre Dame's second state runnerup finish in the past three years.

"I'm excited. I'm ready to go," said Grim. "We're optimistic. The girls want to get back where they were last year."

But Grim realizes that is easier said than done, especially with the level of competition in Southeast Missouri.

"Realistically, we have to go up against a lot of good teams," he said. "To make it to state, you always have to have talent and luck. Last year we had both."

Notre Dame lost two key players off last year's state runnerup team in Tracy Blattel and leading rebounder Amanda Lange, who both started every game last season -- "We're going to miss them a lot," said Grim -- but the Bulldogs return four players who started much of the season and some other experienced performers.

"To make it as far as we did last year with only two seniors is something," Grim said. "Last year was one of those great seasons and we went into it not knowing really what to expect. We just really played great together."

The Lady Bulldogs return three senior starters who also played in the state championship game in 1995, giving them all kinds of basketball experience.

Melissa Maurer, a 5-foot-6 guard, earned second-team all-state honors last year when she averaged nine points per game for an extremely balanced squad.

"She's probably the scrappiest little player we've got," said an admiring Grim. "Last year she picked up the nickname Stormy. She's always getting knocked to the floor, but when she gets up she storms right after the person who knocked her down."

Rachael Schlosser, a 5-8 forward, averaged nine points a contest last season and was the team's second-leading rebounder with five per game.

"She plays a lot bigger than she is," Grim said. "She'll solidify our inside."

The third returning senior regular is 5-9 point guard Jennifer Glueck, who averaged nearly seven points per game and led last year's team in assists.

"She was injured some last year, but I'm looking for good things from her," said Grim.

Randi Senciboy, a 5-8 junior forward, is the fourth returning starter who led the Lady Bulldogs in scoring last season with about 11 points a contest.

"She did well last season and she's gotten a lot more active this year," said Grim.

A fourth returning senior is 5-11 center Olivia Beel, who started quite a few games and also saw plenty of action off the bench last year.

"We've got four seniors who all started quite a bit last year and we'll be counting on their leadership," Grim said. "That's a welcome thing going into the season."

Adding plenty of depth will be eight other players, including 5-10 junior Jill Huber, who started a few games last year but mainly came off the bench.

Three other juniors -- 5-7 Erin Vickery, 5-6 Suzanne Schwartz and 5-6 Sara Westrich -- played mainly JV ball last year but were on the varsity for the 2A Final Four.

Grim will also be counting on two transfers, 5-6 senior Raelen Miller and 5-5 junior Julie Martin.

Two sophomores, 5-9 Jennifer Bucher and 5-3 Michelle Hency, will split time between the JV and varsity.

"Last year we played with eight all year so we've got more depth this year," said Grim. "I like our team. We'll be able to put the ball in the hole, inside or outside, and we'll get after it on defense."

Notre Dame opened the season Monday in the Perryville Thanksgiving Tournament.