Notre Dame boys basketball team falls at final four

The Notre Dame boys basketball team couldn't overcome a double-figure deficit in the final minutes of its Class 4 state semifinal against Hillcrest on Thursday afternoon at Mizzou Arena.

The Bulldogs (26-5) trailed by 10 with 2 minutes, 43 seconds remaining and the Hornets (19-12) held on for a 60-57 victory.

Notre Dame held a 12-5 advantage after the first quarter, but after senior Quinn Poythress scored 10 seconds into the second quarter Hillcrest used a 12-0 run over the next 4:55 to take a three-point lead.

The Hornets led 19-18 at halftime and never relinquished their lead in the second half. They extended it to as many as 13 with 1:33 left in the third quarter.

Notre Dame trailed 53-43 with 2:43 left and got it to within four twice but never any closer until senior Tanner Shively scored on a putback just before the final buzzer.

The Bulldogs will face Bolivar in the third-place game at 11 a.m. Friday at Mizzou Arena while Hillcrest will play St. Charles the state title at 3 p.m. Saturday. St. Charles defeated Boliver 73-49 on Thursday in the other semifinal.

Check back later for complete coverage from the game.

Hillcrest 5 14 18 23 -- 60

Notre Dame 12 6 9 30 -- 57

HILLCREST (60) -- Brady Petry 21, Shahn Clark 12, Cole Pryor 11, Lavell Hale 9, Jevazz Podurgiel 5, Tim Washington 2. FG 15, FT 25-38, F 17. (3-pointers: Pryor 3, Clark 1, Petry 1. Fouled out: none.)

NOTRE DAME (57) -- Quinn Poythress 13, Tanner Shively 12, Dean Crippen 12, Thomas Himmelberg 10, Ross Essner 4, Blake Bauwens 2, Trenton Schumer 2, Nick Bradshaw 2. FG 23, FT 9-14, F 30. (3-pointers: Poythress 2. Fouled out: Schumer, Crippen.)