NOTRE DAME GIRLS FLATTEN KELLY FOR TITLE

BLOOMFIELD -- When it comes to Class 2A girls basketball in this part of the state, the Lady Bulldogs are the queens of the hill.

Period.

Notre Dame, the top seed and the eighth-ranked team in the state, knocked off second-seeded Kelly Friday night 62-64 to claim the Class 2A, District 2 title.

And it wasn't that Notre Dame's foe was a bad basketball team.

Kelly brought a 23-4 record into the game, but Notre Dame clearly played at another level.

"I didn't expect this," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim, whose team improved to 21-5. "I knew they would come out fired up. We tried a different press and I don't know if that was what confused them or what."

"You look at the teams we've played and we feel we've played some dog-gone good teams. You know the schedule has something to do with it."

The Lady Bulldogs will face Twin Rivers in Wednesday's 2A sectional game at Cape Central High School.

Notre Dame exploded from the gates and took an imposing 22-2 lead into the second quarter.

Kelly, meanwhile, turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter.

The two teams played to a 13-all tie in the second quarter, but Kelly couldn't keep up that pace in the second half as Notre Dame led 55-19 going into the fourth quarter. The final eight minutes were played with a continuous clock.

Everyone contributed for Notre Dame as nine players scored.

But Deana McCormick, a 5-foot-11 sophomore center, was especially impressive. McCormick scored 20 points and hit all three of her 3-point attempts. McCormick also grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked five shots.

"She had a couple of off games last week," said Grim. "But she's really practiced well the past couple of weeks."

Courtney Vickery added 10 points for Notre Dame.

The Lady Bulldogs were on fire from the field the entire game, hitting 22 of their 43 shots, including six of 12 from 3-point range.

As for Kelly, Marissa Essner and Audrey Burford each scored seven points. Only four Lady Hawks found the scoring column.

Kelly coach Curtis Finley had nothing but praise for both teams.

"It would have been disappointing if we lost to a team that wasn't the caliber of Notre Dame," Finley said. "They are a talented team and we wish them luck in the playoffs."

"I told the girls I was proud of their effort. I told the seniors that it was a joy coaching them and I challenged our younger players. It will take tremendous work in the offseason (to challenge Notre Dame)."