NOTRE DAME GIRLS HAND JUST SECOND LOSS TO PIGGOTT

Notre Dame center Deana McCormick scored 18 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as the Lady Bulldogs picked up an impressive 59-38 win over Piggott, Ark., on Saturday

Piggott (21-2) defeated Notre Dame last year.

"I was worried about this game," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim. "We went down there last year and they beat us and I think the kids remembered that trip."

Lisa Millham scored 13 points and Ashley Millham scored 11 as the third-ranked Lady Bulldogs improved to 16-3 and won their fourth straight.

"This was a big team so we did a good job on the boards," said Grim. "They started players 6-foot-1, 6-foot and 5-11. We tried to push the ball and we did a good job and hit some tough shots. We were patient and passed the ball real well."

Notre Dame built an 18-8 lead in the first quarter and took a 28-20 lead into halftime. The Lady Bulldogs held a 17-7 scoring advantage in the third quarter to open up a comfortable 45-27 lead.

Cape Central 50Rosati Cain 34

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Playing with no true point guard, the Cape Central Lady Tigers struggled with a new offense but managed knock off Rosati Cain to improve to 12-8.

With starting point guard Megan McDonald out with a high ankle sprain, "We had to change our offense a bit and we struggled," Central coach Mark Ruark said. "But defensively we played well and we finally got some kids to take some open shots."

Katie Dougherty and Sarah Hyslop each provided 14 points, with all of Hyslop's coming in the second half.

Ruark said he was pleased with the play he got from Anna Brisso and Vicky Wilson off the bench.

Cape Central took an 18-14 lead into the second half and outscored Rosati Cain 18-7 in the third quarter to take a commanding 36-21 lead into the final eight minutes.

Central's junior varsity won 45-40 in overtime with Wilson scoring 15 points in two quarters of play.

Parkway West 64Jackson 36

ST. LOUIS -- Playing its third ranked team of the week and without its star player Andrea Koeper, Jackson suffered a lopsided loss to Parkway West.

Koeper, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, missed the game due to a bout with the flu.

"We had a tough time playing without her," said Jackson coach Ron Cook.

Jenna Leet stepped forward with 18 points -- half of Jackson's output -- before fouling out.

Parkway West, which has just one loss on the season, pulled steadily away from the Lady Indians.

Parkway led 13-6 after one quarter, 27-14 at halftime and 45-26 at the start of the fourth quarter. Emily Jeskewick scored a game-high 19 points for Parkway.

Jackson (13-5) concluded the tough stretch at 1-2, having opened the week with an upset victory of Poplar Bluff, the No. 1 ranked team in Class 4A.

"We were hoping to at least get two of the three," said Cook.

Eagle Ridge 50, Trinity 12

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Amber Karnes scored 19 points as Eagle Ridge improved to 11-3 on the season.

Carrie Margrabe and Rachel Carbaugh each added 10 points.

Eagle Ridge held a comfortable 36-11 lead at halftime and held Trinity to just one second-half point.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Trinity 58, Eagle Ridge 48

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Trinity's Nathan Cherry poured in 30 points as Eagle Ridge encountered a road loss.

Mike Probst led Eagle Ridge (6-9) with 14 points and Toby Shreve had 12.

Eagle Ridge found themselves behind 36-26 at halftime but were only able to play Trinity to a 22-22 stalemate in the second half.