NOTRE DAME TOWERS OVER SCOTT CENTRAL

Jreece Johnson, the Scott County Central High guard who rolled up a game-high 26 points Tuesday night, is unquestionably an accomplished basketball player.

But at 5 feet 11, Johnson could do little to inhibit the mission of Notre Dame center Anthony Ressel, he of the 6-7 frame and 7 feet, 3-inch wingspan.

With Zach Miller filling in more than ably at point guard for the ill John O'Rourke, Ressel poured in a season-high 19 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots as Notre Dame outraced the Braves 89-78.

Miller guided Notre Dame, which won its fourth in succession and improved to 8-11, over, around and past Scott Central's full-court defensive pressure almost at will. Miller narrowly missed garnering a triple-double; the 6-0 senior finished with eight points, nine rebounds and 15 assists -- with just three turnovers.

"Boy, that's just a phenomenal game for Zach," Notre Dame coach Chris Janet said. "He had to step in and handle the ball for us with the absence of John O'Rourke. I'm just really pleased with his effort."

Ressel was the beneficiary of a number of Miller's assists, along with four other Bulldogs who scored in double figures. At times, Johnson was Scott Central's tallest player on the floor, while Notre Dame wields 11 players 6-0 and taller.

"Anthony Ressel has had some bouts with sickness and he hasn't really played that well of late," Janet said, "but I told him ... you've got to dominate, and he really did tonight. He really had a monster game."

Said Ressel: "We haven't really been pushing it inside that much this year and coach was really emphasizing to push it into the post this game because of our height advantage. We finally did, and we were moving the ball really well tonight."

Two Notre Dame sophomores came up with fruitful outings: Mark Rubel had 16 points and Jonathan Ressel added 14. In addition, junior Adam Obermiller tallied 14 points and seven rebounds, and senior Michael Wehner had 11 points.

With Ressel anchoring Notre Dame's towering defense, Scott Central had to resort to firing 15-foot jump shots. The Braves made 29 of 80 (36 percent) of their attempts from the floor.

Those jumpers largely fell in the first quarter as Scott Central (14-6) carried a 20-15 edge into the second period. The Braves led 31-23 with 2 minutes 40 seconds remaining in the first half before a Notre Dame burst, sparked by Wehner and Anthony Ressel, gave the Bulldogs a 33-31 halftime advantage.

With Notre Dame leading 60-50 entering the fourth quarter, Scott Central cut the deficit to six, 77-71, with 2:43 left, but clawed no closer.

Jon Fort had 16 points for the Braves and Todd Blissett added 15.