Notre Dame boys basketball team beats Jackson in SEMO Conference tourney

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Rivals Notre Dame and Jackson have waged some fierce battles in recent years. Rarely has one team blown out the other.

The exception came Monday night during the opening round of the SEMO Conference boys basketball tournament at the Sikeston Field House.

Fourth-seeded Notre Dame pulled away late in the second quarter and crushed fifth-seeded Jackson 67-40.

"I thought we'd have a tough fight," Notre Dame senior forward Cody Heisserer said. "But we played good. We just executed."

Notre Dame advances to play top-seeded Sikeston, the three-time defending tournament champion, in Thursday's 7 p.m. semifinal.

Notre Dame's Nathan Meystedt attempts a shot against Jackson's John Meyer during the second quarter at the SEMO Conference tournament Monday in Sikeston, Mo. (Fred Lynch)

Jackson will face eighth-seeded Dexter today in a 7:30 p.m. consolation semifinal.

The Bulldogs (1-1) overwhelmed Jackson (1-1) from the start with their pressure defense, forcing 12 first-quarter turnovers and 19 turnovers in the opening half.

"We knew we could get up and press them," Notre Dame senior guard Nathan Meystedt said. "We have some good guards. That's kind of our thing, putting pressure on the ball."

Notre Dame coach Kevin Roberts believes he has enough quality guards and depth to pressure opponents from beginning to end.

"I know how well we can guard people. I was really pleased with the way we guarded," Roberts said. "A lot of times we have four guards out there. They just get after it and play so hard.

"Thirty-two minutes of non-stop pressure. We rely on wearing people down. That's our goal. I couldn't be happier with the effort."

Meystedt, Notre Dame's top returning scorer coming off a strong junior season, pumped in 24 points.

Meystedt, who had 11 points at halftime and 17 through three quarters, scored on fast-break layups, drives to the basket and jumpers.

"He's unbelievable," Roberts said. "He's worked so hard, and it shows."

Heisserer, another of Notre Dame's three returning starters, added 13 points.

Senior guard Jonathan Lynch, who also saw considerable action for the Bulldogs a year ago, contributed 10 points.

Jackson, which returned just two players who saw significant varsity action last season, was led by sophomore guard Josh Daume with 11 points.

John Meyer, a 6-foot-9 senior center who is among two returning starters for the Indians, was held to two points in the first half. He finished with nine points, the same as junior forward Luke Stevens.

"They did a really good job denying John the ball in the first half," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "I think he only touched the ball twice."

Jackson led just once all night, at 5-4. The Indians failed to score for nearly six minutes to end the first quarter as Notre Dame built a 16-5 lead.

The Indians pulled within 16-11 early in the second period and later trailed 21-15. Scott thought Jackson wasn't in bad shape.

"It was 16-11. I thought if we could just start playing," Scott said. "Notre Dame made some big shots when they needed to after we had it to five."

Notre Dame ended the half on a 15-1 run, scoring 11 points over the final two minutes to break open things at 36-16.

Jackson got no closer than 18 points in the second half. Notre Dame's biggest advantage was 30 points.

"Our defense was there," Heisserer said. "The first quarter, our offense wasn't there that much, but we started to hit our shots.

"We go hard from the start. We don't give up."

Scott acknowledged that Notre Dame's relentless pressure rattled his inexperienced squad.

"I just thought we played so scared. It wasn't our kids not knowing what was coming," Scott said. "We play four sophomores. Only two kids played any varsity last year.

"I just know we can play a lot better. I know we'll be better tomorrow."

While Jackson tries to stay alive in the consolation bracket today, Notre Dame will gear up for Thursday's semifinal against defending Class 4 state champion Sikeston.

"They're a great team. It's going to be a tough one in a great atmosphere," Meystedt said. "We're looking forward to it."

Tournament host Sikeston, coming off a 30-0 season, already is 4-0 this year after Monday's 80-34 rout of Dexter. Sikeston has won 50 consecutive home games, its last home loss coming in 2007.

"We're mirror images of each other. We play the same way," Roberts said. "It's going to be a track meet, a lot of fun."

Monday's other first-round contest saw second-seeded Charleston rip seventh-seeded New Madrid County Central 64-27.

The opening round concludes at 6 p.m. today with third-seeded Central playing sixth-seeded Poplar Bluff.

Jackson 5 11 12 12 -- 40

Notre Dame 16 20 13 18 -- 67

JACKSON (40) -- Josh Daume 11, Caleb Newcomer 7, Karson King 2, John Meyer 9, Josiah McGuire 2, Luke Stevens 9. FG 13, FT 13-19, F 23. (3-pointers: Daume 1. Fouled out: Newcomer, Stevens)

NOTRE DAME (67) -- Demonte Farmer 2, Jonathan Lynch 10, Jordan Reddin 6, Nathan Meystedt 24, Joe Siebert 8, Cody Heisserer 13, Ryan Hale 3, Kyle Delph 1. FG 25, FT 14-19, F 23. (3-pointers: Lynch 1, Heisserer 1, Hale 1. Fouled out: none)