NOTRE DAME HANGS TOUGH, BUT FALLS TO PORTAGEVILLE 57-44

PORTAGEVILLE -- Notre Dame High's boys basketball team suffered its fifth straight loss Friday night, but coach Chris Janet came away extremely encouraged by the Bulldogs' performance.

The Bulldogs battled state-ranked Portageville to a 36-36 tie after three quarters before suffering a 57-44 road setback.

Notre Dame is now 5-10 while Portageville, the state's second-ranked Class 2A team, improved to 15-1.

"I am encouraged," said Janet. "For three quarters we played very well, very hard. I was really proud of them. We just need to get better and learn to play four quarters."

Portageville scored the first nine points of the final period and cruised from there, leading by 16 points in the closing seconds.

"In the fourth quarter they turned it up a couple of notches on us and we kind of panicked," Janet said. "We didn't handle it (the press) real well. They turned up the intensity and we kind of got back on our heels and made some mistakes.

"If we attack that press early (in the fourth quarter), then that game is anybody's ballgame."

Jason Rubel scored 16 points to lead Notre Dame. Portageville got 14 points from both Brad Smith and Richie Garmon.

Notre Dame will be off until next Friday night when the Bulldogs entertain Woodland.

Kelly 77, Advance 50

BENTON -- Kelly continued its tremendous season by rolling past visiting Advance Friday night.

The Hawks improved to 18-2 with a homecoming victory. Advance fell to 8-10.

Ben Klipfel paced a balanced Kelly attack with 13 points. Denver Stuckey had 11 and Jim Hulshof 10 as eight players scored at least seven points.

Advance got 17 points from Gary Ahern and 16 from Tommy Tucker.

"It was a good ballgame for us," said Kelly coach Kent Mangels. "We got a lot of guys in and the kids off the bench did a real good job."

Kelly led 36-17 at halftime as the Hawks were never seriously threatened.

The Hawks' JV improved to 13-5 with a 68-45 romp.

Woodland 71, Oran 58

WOODLAND -- Woodland trailed by a point at halftime, but picked up the pace in the second half for a 13-point victory over visiting Oran Friday night.

Oran clung to a 30-29 halftime lead, but the Cardinals outscored the Eagles 21-11 in the third quarter for a 50-41 advantage.

"We just started running our offense better and getting more patient," said Woodland coach Jennings Wilkinson.

Corey Yount scored a game-high 23 points for Woodland (12-6) while Greg Lincoln had 18 points and Jason Banderman added 14.

Travis Friga led Oran (10-7) with 16 points, Chris Nichols had 15 and Dustin Dannenmueller added 10.

Scott Central 96, Chaffee 56

MORLEY -- John Fort tallied 25 points as Scott County Central steadily poured it on visiting Chaffee Friday night.

J'reece Johnson added 19 points as Scott Central improved to 8-9.

Jamie Dumey paced Chaffee (1-14) with 13 points while Wayne McAllister scored 12 and Jeremy Vandeven notched 10.

Scott Central scored at least 20 points in each quarter. The Braves led just 20-16 after the first quarter, but stretched their advantage to 41-24 by halftime. They took a 66-37 lead into the final period.

Bloomfield 57, Bell City 44

BELL CITY -- Bell City suffered its first Stoddard County Conference loss of the season Friday night when the Cubs fell at home.

The Cubs are now 11-7 overall and 4-1 in league play. Bloomfield improved to 12-8 and 2-1 in the conference.

Matt Knoderer scored 11 points while Jacob Jenkins had 10 to pace the Cubs while Bloomfield's Nick Hutchison had a game-high 21.

Charleston 66, Kennett 50

CHARLESTON -- Charleston won its 15th game of the season Friday night as the Blue Jays pulled away at home.

The Blue Jays (15-5, 2-1 SEMO Conference) trailed 16-15 after one quarter but they rallied for a 39-31 halftime lead.

Larico Coleman scored 19 points to lead Charleston while Howard Biles and Jeff Ewing both had 10 and Moses Rowe added 10.