Notre Dame failed to reach state's final four for fourth straig

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- The Notre Dame girls basketball team had its fourth straight trip to Columbia and the state final four in its sight. But the opportunity slipped away in a 58-55 overtime loss to St. James in a Class 4 state quarterfinal matchup Saturday at the Farmington Civic Center.

The Bulldogs finished their season at 20-9. St. James improved to 25-3 and will play Duchesne on Friday in the state semifinals.

"It was a great season," Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim said. "It was a season no one expected us to have after we lost those seniors."

Fans from both sides got their money's worth in a matchup of two state-ranked teams. Neither team led by more than six points, and from the fourth quarter on no more than four points separated the two teams.

Notre Dame had the momentum on its side in the four-minute overtime period, scoring two quick baskets to take a 55-51 lead. But even as everything looked like it was going Notre Dame's way, the game started slipping away.

St. James got on the board in overtime with a Sarah Duckworth free throw off a Bulldogs turnover. Jennifer Bowen brought the Tigers within one at 55-54 with a basket of her own, and St. James culminated its overtime comeback with a Duckworth lay-in off another Notre Dame turnover. Beth Bullock iced the game with two free throws with 11 seconds remaining.

"I told the girls if we got behind a basket or two to just stay focused and keep your composure," St. James coach Brad Conway said. "The girls did a good job of keeping their composure and got some key steals and key rebounds."

Notre Dame had a chance after Duckworth's basket to take the lead, but Sommer McCauley was called for a charge with 21 seconds left. McCauley's charge was one of many calls that did not go Notre Dame's way. Three players fouled out, including McCauley on the charge.

Both teams had to rely on the referees to send the game into overtime. Only one field goal was scored over the final four minutes of regulation, with the teams combining for 11 free throw attempts down the stretch.

After falling behind 50-47 on a pair of free throws from Bullock with 1:06 left in regulation, Notre Dame hit four free throws late to take the lead with 16 seconds left. Amanda Dirnberger hit the second two with Notre Dame trailing 50-49.

Duckworth had a chance to win the game from the line with 4.3 seconds left in regulation, but only hit one of two.

"We've got some good shooters, but when we get to the free-throw line we freeze up some times," Conway said.

The first three quarters saw much of the same tight play. There were eight lead changes in the first two quarters. Notre Dame maintained the lead throughout the third quarter, but St. James went ahead on Bowen's three-point play with 5:50 left in regulation.

"Rebounding killed us," Grim said. "Their second shots killed us."

McCauley led all scorers with 20 points. Amber Karnes added 11 points off the bench. Notre Dame point guard Sierra Ellis scored seven points, but was forced to leave the game after knocking heads with fellow teammate diving for a loose ball with 5:06 left in regulation.

"I'm very proud of these kids," Grim said. "They got us here, they got as far as they could. Maybe we just ran out of gas."

Duckworth led St. James with 15 points, and Bowen had 14.

St. James 58, Notre Dame 55 OT

St. James 13 12 14 12 7 -- 58

Notre Dame 14 14 14 9 4 -- 55

ST. JAMES (58) -- Sarah Duckworth 15, Jennifer Bowen 14, Kellie Busby 5, Nellie Stevens 8, Brittany Jones 7, Beth Bullock 5, Whitney Meurer 2. FG 21, FT 14-28, F 15 (3-pointers: Busby 1, Jones 1. Fouled out: none)

NOTRE DAME (55) -- Sommer McCauley 20, Amber Karnes 11, Sierra Ellis 7, Laura Weissmueller 7, Katie Palmer 2, Amanda Essner 2, Alana Weissmueller 4, Amanda Dirnberger 2. FG 20, FT 12-13, F 22 (3-pointers: L. Weissmueller 1, McCauley 1, Ellis 1. Fouled out: McCauley, A. Weissmueller, Karnes)