NOTRE DAME TACKLES PHS IN LAST HOME GAME 66-46

Notre Dame's gymnasium was no place for wimps Tuesday night.

In a game that featured a possible broken cheek bone, flying bodies everywhere, an intentional foul and 67 free throws, the Bulldogs won the foulfest over Perryville 66-46 at senior night at Notre Dame Regional High School.

In all, 45 fouls were called and each team committed more fouls than it scored field goals.

"The last four or five games we've played physical," said Notre Dame coach Chris Neff. "But this late in the season, we've got to cut down on our fouls."

Said Perryville coach Jeff Steffens, whose team made 25 of 42 free-throw attempts: "They were physical and we got frustrated and tried to play their game and got away from our game. We let their pressure get to us. We stressed that in practice. We missed 17 free throws and we're a better shooting team than that. It comes down to that our kids weren't ready to play."

The physical play almost got out of hand in the second half when Notre Dame built up a double-digit lead.

On one occasion, Notre Dame's John O'Rourke was elbowed and was knocked to the floor, where he stayed for a short period of time. Neff said after the game that it was believed that he broke a cheek bone. Later, an intentional foul was called on Perryville's Thomas Barber when he pretty much tackled Derrick Schlosser after Schlosser stole a ball near midcourt.

Perryville (6-16) lingered within striking distance throughout the first half as it trailed 29-21 at intermission. However, there was a sense that Notre Dame was in control for the entire game.

The third quarter was the turning point as the Bulldogs outscored the Pirates 14-8 and owned a 43-29 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Schlosser's alley-oop layup from Mark Rubel at the fourth-quarter buzzer matched Notre Dame's largest lead of the game.

Though the game was rough, Notre Dame didn't win the game at the foul line.

Perryville couldn't stop the penetration of Bulldog Josh Eftink, who scored a game-high 18 points. Eftink got many of his baskets in the paint on leaners or short jump shots.

Eftink's penetration also opened up opportunities for others.

"Josh Eftink did a tremendous job," said Neff. "He did what Chris (Dirnberger) usually does and that was nice to see. I think Chris and Josh will flourish in districts. If you can penetrate and if you can stop your opponent from penetrating, you're going to win."

Another key factor in Notre Dame's win was its pressure on Perryville's shots.

The Pirates made just 10 shots from the floor and made just one of their 13 3-point attempts.

"They pressured every shot," said Steffens. "What's more disappointing (than the 3-point percentage) was missing easy shots in the paint. But our kids need to handle the pressure better."

"With us contesting shots, it makes it hard to score because we're good at giving help," Neff said.

Eftink was the only player in double figures for the Bulldogs. But Schlosser, Curtis Dannenmueller and John Hamm each had nine. Eleven players found the scoring column.