NOTRE DAME GIRLS SEEK TRIP TO 2A FINAL FOUR

With their "ugliest" performance behind them, the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs feel they have something every team needs this time of year ... luck.

The Lady Bulldogs advanced to the 2A quarterfinals tonight at Park Hills High School with a last-minute comeback over East Carter County at the Cape Central Fieldhouse Wednesday night.

Despite playing their "ugliest game" of the season, according to Coach Jerry Grim, Notre Dame (20-9) advances to face Lutheran North (18-11) tonight at 6:30 p.m.

"The girls feel extremely lucky to play as bad as we did and still come out with a win," Grim said. "It takes a lot of skill and a heck of a lot of luck to advance and that's what we had (Wednesday) ... luck."

Lutheran North coach Dave McCollister also feels fortunate to have made it this far. The Lady Crusaders battled through several key injuries throughout the regular season and have just now gotten their full squad back.

"Everybody's back, we have a full team now and we seem to be doing well," McCollister said, mentioning a broken nose, collarbone and detached retina as a few of the major injuries members of his team suffered through.

Lutheran North battled through its district as the fourth seed, upsetting top-seed Wellston and then No. 2 seed John Burroughs for the title. Wednesday, in their sectional at Mineral Area College, the Lady Crusaders survived a frantic comeback by Valley of Caladonia in the final quarter to advance with a 56-54 win.

Lutheran North's fortunes will rely heavily on the performance of Jana Tillman. Only a sophomore, the six-foot Tillman figures to be the most talented player on the floor.

Tillman averages 21 points and 10 rebounds inside for the Lady Crusaders, leading her team in practically every offensive and defensive category. On defense, Tillman is a force in the paint with over 100 steals and 100 blocks.

"She can do just about all of it," Grim said of Tillman. "She can shoot outside, she can post up. She gives her team quite a bit."

McCollister said he prefers Tillman do most of her damage on the inside. But when needed, she can take her game to the perimeter.

"Once in a while she'll come outside," said McCollister. "But most of the time we have her stay in the paint."

Because Tillman scores nearly half of Lutheran North's average of 51 points per game, Grim hopes to stop Tillman by keeping her out of the lane.

"We're going to try to keep her from getting the ball in the paint for sure," he said. "If they're going to beat us we want them to beat us from the outside; not the inside.

If Notre Dame can keep Tillman quiet, its chances for success look awfully good considering the Lady Crusaders next highest scorer, Jazale Greer, averages 7.0 points a game.

Said Grim, "If we can deny (Tillman) the ball inside it will be to our advantage."

Grim is hoping the balance of his team will be enough to offset any outstanding individual numbers Tillman may produce.

With Notre Dame's offensive production coming from any of the five Lady Bulldogs on the court, Lutheran North won't be able to focus on just one player to stop. A new hero seems to emerge every game.

"One night one player will step up and then on another night a different player will," said Grim. "Normally when somebody has a bad game, we always have someone there to step up and that's been true all season long."

The Lady Bulldogs seem to be lucky that way.