NOTRE DAME GIRLS ADVANCE PAST TWIN RIVERS 42-31

Most teams would collapse if a freshman had to play point guard.

Most teams wouldn't want a ninth grader at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter of a tight game, a state playoff game.

But most teams aren't Notre Dame and most teams don't have Ashley Millham.

Millham stepped up huge for Notre Dame Wednesday night as the Lady Bulldogs advanced to the 2A quarterfinals for the second straight year with a 42-31 win over Twin Rivers at Tiger Field House.

Notre Dame (22-5) will face John Burroughs (18-9) in Saturday's quarterfinal game at Mineral Area College in Park Hills. Notre Dame already owns a victory this season over the Lady Bombers, who advanced with a 47-42 victory over Valley of Caledonia Wednesday night.

With starting point guard Courtney Vickery in foul trouble, Millham directed the Lady Bulldogs through crucial stretches throughout the game and ended up scoring five of her team's final 12 points.

"Ashley had to do a lot of the ball handling," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim. "For a freshman, she did an outstanding job."

Ashley and her sophomore sister, Lisa, combined for 10 of Notre Dame's 13 fourth-quarter points. They each ended up with just seven points but they were some of the biggest baskets in the game.

"We know whose hands to get the ball in, that's for sure," said Grim.

As for Ashley Millham, she didn't seem phased by taking center stage in front of the largest crowd of the season.

Although she said she was a bit nervous, "I just wanted to protect the ball."

And protect the ball Notre Dame did.

The Lady Bulldogs turned the ball over just three times in the second half and had no turnovers after Twin Rivers cut the lead to 31-26 with 5:41 to go.

At that point, Lisa Millham was inserted into the game and she immediately hit a three from the right wing to up Notre Dame's lead to 31-24.

Notre Dame was in command throughout most of the game, though Twin Rivers cut the lead to 28-24 on its first possession of the fourth quarter.

"In the second half on offense and defense, we did what we wanted to do," said Twin Rivers coach Jeff Walk. "Notre Dame is a good bunch of kids. We wanted to slow the game down and get some fouls on them. We needed to get it in the paint and we didn't."

Deana McCormick led Notre Dame with 11 points and eight rebounds. She set the tone early with nine first-half points.

"McCormick is a hoss," said Walk. "She's the best post player we've faced all year. She can play and has a bright future."

Defense was the story in the first half.

Notre Dame held Twin Rivers without a field goal until the 5:36 mark of the second quarter. For the half, the Lady Royals made just two of 13 shots from the field.

"We're playing as well as we have all year defensively," said Grim. "I thought our big people did a good job. Twin Rivers was very physical."

Notre Dame wasn't burning the nets either, hitting just eight of its 24 shots. The Lady Bulldogs did, however, take an 18-9 lead into the locker room thanks to an offensive putback by Michelle Hency with two seconds left.

Twin Rivers could have made the game much closer going into halftime but it missed five of its six free throws in the second quarter. The Lady Royals made just four of their 10 foul shots in the first half.

"Nervousness was the big key," said Walk.

Notre Dame took its first double-figure lead of the game at the 6:45 mark of the third quarter when Courtney Vickery hit a layup to make the score 20-9. Twin Rivers cut the lead to 28-22, though, going into the fourth quarter.