ND rallies to repeat as Holiday Classic champions

Notre Dame repeated as Show Me Center Holiday Classic champion by ending Meadow Heights' storybook run.

But not before the Panthers gave Notre Dame a major run for its money.

Fifth-seeded Meadow Heights led most of the way before third-seeded Notre Dame rallied in the closing moments for a thrilling 63-61 victory Wednesday night.

Junior guard Madison Huckstep hit a runner in the lane with nine seconds left to account for the winning basket.

"I've never hit a shot like that," Huckstep said. "Everybody was kind of saying go, go, so I went.

Notre Dame's Nicole Blattel (33), Summer Burger (13) and Savanna Ayers watch watch from the bench Wednesday during the championship game of the Show Me Center Holiday Classic. Notre Dame defeated Meadow Heights 63-61. (Laura Simon)

"I put it up. My first thought was, 'Why did I just do that?' Then I was really excited."

Huckstep is not among Notre Dame's leading scorers but coach Renee Peters had confidence in her -- not that the play was designed that way.

"Mad dog. That's her nickname," Peters said with a smile.

The Bulldogs (5-3) wiped out a 60-55 deficit in the final two minutes. They took a 61-60 lead on a layup by junior guard Summer Burger with 45 seconds left. Burger scored after taking a pass from senior point guard Allyson Bradshaw, who came up with a steal.

Meadow Heights (7-2) tied the contest with 21 seconds left when junior forward Erin Bollmann made 1 of 2 free throws.

Meadow Heights' Erin Bollman drives against Notre Dame's Nicole Blattel during the championship game of the Show Me Center Holiday Classic.

Huckstep then delivered, after which Notre Dame deflected a pass and then tied up a Meadow Heights player.

The Panthers retained possession with less than a second left but a 3-point shot bounced off the rim.

Bradshaw led Notre Dame with 24 points as she eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in her career. She had 63 tournament points.

Nicole Blattel had 14 points, Brooke Bohnert 13 and Huckstep 10.

Gina Cureton paced Meadow Heights with 15 points. Heather Dietiker had 14, Bollman 13 and Whitney Welker 12.

Meadow Heights, which knocked off top-seeded Farmington on Tuesday, led most of the way, including 18-10 after one quarter and 20-10 early in the second period for the night's biggest advantage.

It was 32-29 at halftime and 44-39 after three quarters. The Panthers remained in front most of the way until the Bulldogs rallied late.

"Meadow Heights is such a good team. We knew that. They really knocked us on our heels," Peters said. "But we hung around. I'm so proud of these girls."

Meadow Heights Mitch Nanney felt the same way.

"They did a great job. A few plays here and there," Nanney said.

All-tournament team

Bradshaw and Bohnert, along with Welker, Bollman and Cureton, made the all-tournament team.

Other all-tournament selections were Jackson's Brooke Sanders and Makenzie Quade; Farmington's Morgan Ankrum; Central's Chelsea Vinson; and Scott City's Katie Hogan.

Notre Dame 10 19 10 24 -- 63

Meadow Heights 18 14 12 17 -- 61

NOTRE DAME (63) -- Miranda Fowler 7, Summer Burger 5, Allyson Bradshaw 24, Madison Huckstep 10, Brooke Bohnert 13, Nicole Blattel 4. FG 25, FT 8-8, F 20. (3-pointers: Fowler 1, Bradshaw 4. Fouled out: Blattel, Kaelin Hale)

MEADOW HEIGHTS (61) -- Mica Morse 2, Hattie Cook 3, Gina Cureton 15, Erin Bollmann 13, Heather Dietiker 14, Whitney Welker 12, Jillian Mills 2. FG 22, FT 14-26, F 16. (3-pointers: Cook 1, Dietiker 2. Fouled out: Cureton)