Notre Dame, Saxony boys to meet with newfound Crusader streak on the line

Notre Dame and Saxony Lutheran’s annual boys basketball battle hasn’t always been this exciting – but that might be the best part.

The Bulldogs and Crusaders have done battle annually for a while now, but Cape Girardeau County’s two biggest parochials haven’t gone blow-for-blow on the hardwood until Notre Dame’s recent slump.

Maybe more importantly, these two teams are both strong contenders for the loaded Class 3 District 2 tournament later this season along with Charleston, Kelly, Scott City, Valle Catholic and Woodland.

With a chance to make a big statement within their district, both teams will look to snag a big victory at Saxony Lutheran High School on Friday night.

All the while, Saxony Lutheran has risen to new heights with the presence of talents such as Luke Eggemeyer and John Hartmann have pushed the Crusader offense to an outstanding season so far.

Saxony’s 10-5 record implies a strong sense of competitiveness, and it’s shown on the schedule too. Some big wins against Poplar Bluff, Valle Catholic and Fox have guided the Crusaders to an impressive start to the year.

All the while, the Crusaders have performed impressively against the talented Park Hills Central Rebels and Scott City Rams, both teams that have had no issue racking up wins this season.

Though Crusaders took losses against these teams, the close nature of the games implies that they can hang with almost any team their size in the region.

Notre Dame's Logan Landewee defends the 3-point line during the December 30, 2023 Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament third-place game between the Charleston Blue Jays and the Notre Dame Bulldogs at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Notre Dame defeated Charleston, 50-37.Cole Lee ~ clee@semoball.com

Holding a double-digit streak entering 2022, the Bulldogs have lost back-to-back contests with the Crusaders and are facing a third consecutive defeat lest the new-look Dawgs can change momentum.

Luckily for Notre Dame, that’s been the case this season. Despite holding a 6-8 record with a roster of losses to competitive teams, there’s been reason for hope this season for the previously dominant program.

With Logan Landewee running the offense at point guard and maintaining scoring talents in Brett Dohogne and Kolton Johnson on the wings, Notre Dame’s come up with the ability to stay in many tight games.

Adding in talented freshman post Hudson Dennis has only made this easier for the Bulldogs, who upset Charleston in the third-place title game of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

While neither of these teams have been anywhere near perfect this season, they both have the talent to make big pushes in the postseason.

We’ll get a good taste of the Class 3 District 2 field on Friday night, and perhaps get an idea of who might come out on top of that pairing six weeks from now.