Notre Dame boys basketball team rides big finish past Scott County Central

~ Notre Dame emerged with a 57-47 road victory

MORLEY, Mo. -- It wasn't as lopsided as their previous meeting, but the Scott County Central Braves once again walked off the court looking up at the Notre Dame Bulldogs.

A cold-shooting fourth quarter put the Braves in a bind as the Bulldogs abused the charity stripe and pulled away for a 57-47 win.

"We knew we didn't play our best game against them last time," Scott County Central coach Kenyon Wright said. "They came ready to play defensively, which was the biggest difference from the last time.

"We gave up a couple of offensive rebounds that beat us. Just a couple offensive rebounds that beat us."

On a night where Scott County Central legend Marcus Timmons was in attendance, the Braves failed to pull off the upset due to poor shooting in the final eight minutes.

"What we did to them at the [Southeast Missourian Christmas] tournament, I guarantee you, sparked them a little bit and they wanted to beat us," Notre Dame coach Kevin Roberts said. "It was going to come down to execution and rebounding because that's where we were really good the last time."

Although Dominique Porter, who finished with a team-high 21 points, gave the home crowd a jolt after burying a 50-foot heave to give the Braves a 39-37 advantage at the conclusion of the third quarter, Scott County Central couldn't buy a bucket.

The Braves (10-7) missed their first five shots while Notre Dame took control. Nathan Meystedt tied the game at 39-39 and then gave the Bulldogs a lead they would not relinquish again by nailing his second 3-pointer of the night.

Notre Dame senior Cody Heisserer knocked down two free throws to give the Bulldogs a 44-39 lead.

Dominique Porter finally broke Scott County Central's scoring drought by hitting a 3-pointer, cutting the Bulldogs' lead to two. Notre Dame, however, rattled off an 11-4 run during the last two and a half minutes to close it out.

Meystedt put the finishing touches on the Braves in the fourth, scoring 13 of his game-high 24 in the final frame. He went 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the fourth as well.

Notre Dame (13-5) converted on 18 of 20 free throws in the second half.

Scott County Central starter Jaylen Porter, who was one of six players to see time on the floor for the Braves, fouled out in the third quarter.

The Braves held a 14-13 lead after the first quarter and a 28-26 advantage at the half.

Notre Dame held the shooting advantage in the first half with a 52 percent average (12 of 23) while the Braves went 12 of 26 (46 percent).

Scott County Central held Notre Dame to just two field goals in the third quarter but the Bulldogs went a cool 7 of 8 from the free throw line to stay afloat.

A basket by Ryan Hale put Notre Dame up 37-36 with 38 seconds left in the third, but that was erased by Dominique Porter's desperation heave at the buzzer.

Notre Dame 57, Scott County Central 47

Notre Dame 13 13 11 20 -- 57

Scott County 14 14 11 8 -- 47

NOTRE DAME (57) -- Demonte Farmer 2, Jonathan Lynch 5, Jordan Reddin 4, Nathan Meystedt 24, Joe Siebert 7, Cody Heisserer 9, Ryan Hale 6. FG 18, FT 19-23, F 12. (3-pointers: Meystedt 2. Fouled out: Siebert)

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL (47) -- Larandis Banks 5, Jaylen Porter 7, Antonio Johnson 6, Dominique Porter 21, LaMarcus Steward 8. FG 20, FT 4-6, F 20. (3-pointers: D. Porter 3. Fouled out: J. Porter)

JV -- Notre Dame won 83-42