NOTRE DAME STOPS JACKSON FOR THIRD

If success is anything like fine wine, it tastes better with age.

Since Notre Dame's 58-54 upset victory over Jackson in the third-place game of the HealthSouth Holiday Classsic was two years in the making, it must have tasted delicious.

Notre Dame had not defeated Jackson since the HealthSouth Holiday Classic in 1997.

"It's really nice to beat them, since it hasn't happened in so long," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim.

The second-seeded Lady Indians employed the full-court press against fifth-seeded Notre Dame relentlessly throughout the contest. Poplar Bluff had used the press successfully in its win over the Lady Bulldogs in the semifinal game on Tuesday.

Notre Dame (8-2) was able to break the press in this matchup, however, and score fairly easily.

"Poplar Bluff has had more experience with the press than we have," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "We'll have to work on it over the holidays. I don't know if I'll use it again; we'll have to go back to the drawing board."

Neither team started off shooting well from the field.

Notre Dame converted on four of 12 shots in the first quarter while Jackson (3-3) could only score on four of 13 shots. The quarter ended with the score tied 11-11.

The Lady Bulldogs' play improved on both ends in the second quarter as Notre Dame outscored Jackson 13-7. The Lady Indians netted just one of 13 field goals in the period.

Deana McCormick scored halfway through the second quarter to put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 17-16, a lead they never relinquished.

Notre Dame outscored Jackson 13-7 in the second quarter and took a 24-18 lead into halftime.

"Notre Dame's going to win a lot of games this year," said Cook. "They may make it to the final four in Class 2A."

McCormick was Notre Dame's most dominant player, grabbing 10 rebounds and tossing in 18 points.

Following closely behind in scoring were Lisa Millham, who netted 14 points, and Jessica Seratti, who added 13.

The Lady Indians began to come back to life in the second half, outscoring Notre Dame 15-13 in the third quarter. Jackson opened up with two 3-pointers in the first minute of the quarter to cut the Notre Dame lead to 28-24, but got no closer in the period, which ended with the Lady Bulldogs leading 37-33.

Jackson's Andrea Koeper led the Lady Indians in scoring, notching 18 points.

Cherish Tillman added 15 points, while Jenna Leet sank four 3-pointers en route to 13 points.