NOTRE DAME COOLS OFF AFTER HOT START, HOPES SANTA LEAVES AN INSIDE GAME

First-year Notre Dame coach Chris Neff had a good read on his team coming into the season.

And the chapter about not having a strong inside presence seems to be jumping off the pages six games into the season.

Although the Bulldogs have met with some early season success, including a win over rival Cape Central and a surprising upset of top-seeded Sikeston in the Sikeston Tournament, Neff laments the absence of an inside presence.

"We're really missing that big kid," said Neff.

The Bulldogs, who were 2-4 entering a game last Tuesday against Fredericktown, will be hoping to come up big in the U-High Tournament where they enter as the fourth seed. Notre Dame opens tournament play against No. 13 seed Delta at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Neff is hoping his Bulldogs will become a little more bullish on the inside. Notre Dame has been outrebounded in four of its six games.

Not only have the Bulldogs been outrebounded, but they're not looking to score inside and have been launching 3-pointers at an alarming rate.

"Two games we put up over 30 3-pointers," said Neff. " That's a little ridiculous no matter how you shoot them. And If they're not falling, that's a whole bunch."

Part of the Bulldogs' inside problems has been due to the competition. The 2A school has yet to face a school its size with losses to the likes of Sikeston, Dexter, Kennett and Blytheville (Ark.).

Inside help may be on the way in 6-foot-6 sophomore Doug Schaefer who has been terrorizing JV teams with 20 points a game and 13 to 14 rebounds a contest. But Neff is in no hurry to throw Schaefer into the varsity fray and will promote him later in the season.

Currently the Bulldogs' inside game consists of Jonathan Ressell, who averages 10 points per game and a team-high 8.5 rebounds, and Don Franklin, who pulled down 12 rebounds and scored 13 points in an upset of Sikeston.

Forward Mark Rubel (6 ppg) has found himself a marked man in the early going but has helped pull defenders away from his teammates.

Guard Michael Gosche leads the team in scoring at 13 ppg but has been sidelined with a broken thumb. He's expected to return by the second round of the tournament.

Josh Eftink, John O'Rourke and Chris Dirnberger have also been seeing considerable time at guard.

"I think in the tournament you'll see us using Chris Dirnberger more," said Neff. "He's coming on. He brings a lot to the table."

Thus far, the Bulldogs have been using 11 players.

"In our six games we've had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at us, so we should be prepared for what comes the rest of the season," said Neff.

If the Bulldogs make it to the U-High championship game, they might be able to include the kitchen sink.

Their possible route to the championship game could feature unbeaten Advance in the second round and top-seeded Charleston in the semifinals.

" I like who we're going to play, and not necessarily cause I think we'll win," said Neff. "I think it puts us up against formidable opponents and people who aren't on our regular schedule."