Notre Dame's balance lends to defeat of Visitation

Notre Dame's girls basketball team used an all-around team effort to hold off the one-woman wrecking crew of Visitation star Kate Dierdorf to win 55-35 in the finale of the third annual Notre Dame Girl's Basketball Shootout on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (8-7) got strong scoring performances from Ashley Millham and Sommer McCauley. Millham led the Bulldogs with 21 points and McCauley added 11.

Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim said his team does a good job of not relying on one player to carry the team.

"Ashley doesn't have to score all of our points," he said.

While the Bulldogs spread around their scoring, Visitation's offense began and ended with Dierdorf. Dierdorf scored 27 of the Vivettes' 35 points, including 14 of their 16 second-half points.

"We knew Dierdorf was going to get her points," Grim said.

Sierra Ellis, who scored eight points for Notre Dame, said she was proud of the way her teammates fought against the bigger Dierdorf.

"I think the people that guarded her did a good job," she said.

The Bulldogs started slowly and fell behind 4-0. Notre Dame recovered quickly and took its first lead on an Ellis jumper to make the score 8-6. The Bulldogs used the Ellis jumper to spark a 14-0 run, capped by a sweet touch pass from Ellis to Millham followed by an Ellis 3-pointer.

"We try not to be too selfish at times," Ellis said. "We like to get our assists. Working the ball was a key factor in the game."

After finishing the first quarter up 22-10, the Bulldogs quickly pushed their lead to 28-12 at the beginning of the second. With the Bulldogs stepping up the pressure, the Vivetttes were able to score a couple of easy baskets off inbounds passes to cut the lead to 11.

"When you press you're going to get beat sometimes," Grim said.

Notre Dame maintained a 32-19 lead at halftime and pushed it to 34-19 to start the third before Dierdorf went to work. Dierdorf scored six straight points to bring the lead to single digits for the first time since midway through the first quarter.

Notre Dame didn't panic, and with good ball movement the Bulldogs freed up Millham and Ellis, who each hit 3-pointers. Despite Dierdorf putting up all 12 points for Visitation (8-8)in the quarter, Notre Dame pushed its lead to 47-31.

Grim said he was really pleased with his team's passing.

"That's what makes the game fun," he said. "We want to try to push the ball whenever we have the opportunity."

The Vivettes opened the fourth quarter with a basket to cut the lead to 14, but the Bulldogs scored six straight to push the lead to 20, where it stayed.

Grim said his team has really pressed on after a slow start to the season.

"We were 2-6 at Christmas time," he said. "We're starting to come together."

Central 56, St. Charles 52 (2OT)

In what was likely the most entertaining game of the day, the Central Tigers used a last-second 3-pointer by Alex Wieser to force overtime and prevailed in double overtime for their first win at the Shootout.

The teams entered the fourth quarter -- after five lead changes -- with St. Charles up 37-36. The teams traded baskets to start the fourth before Tigers guard Anna Brisso stole the ball and scored to tie it at 42. The Tigers (10-5) got the ball back with 1:25 left in the game and worked the ball from sideline to sideline trying to work for the last shot.

Central coach Sheila Midgett said the Tigers usually don't play keep-away like that, but they weren't doing a good job against the Pirates' zone defense.

"We couldn't seem to get anything going offensively against their 1-2-2," she said.

After milking nearly a minute off the clock, the Pirates (9-7)forced the Tigers into a turnover and regained possession with 28 seconds left. After using a timeout with 16 seconds left, Pirates guard Caty Schaberg took the inbounds pass and drove to the hoop. Schabergs' shot was blocked, but Amber Dickens picked up the loose ball, scored and was fouled.

Dickens hit her free throw, setting the stage for Wieser's game-tying basket. Out of the timeout Wieser missed a 3-pointer from the corner, but Central forced the Pirates to cough up the ball, and out of the timeout with 1.8 seconds remaining Wieser made no mistake of her second 3-point attempt as time expired.

"I hadn't hit a three all game, so I was about due for one," Wieser said.

The first overtime was an offensive stalemate. The Pirates had a chance to take the lead with 10 seconds left, but Dickens missed her second free throw.

The play picked up in the second overtime with Brisso hitting a big 3-pointer with 2:55 left to give the Tigers a three-point lead. The Pirates cut the lead to one, but Central once again played keep-away and was able to get to the line. Wieser's three late free throws iced the game for the Tigers.

Midgett said a game like Saturday's is a good test for when the playoffs come.

"I think it's good for us to play right now under pressure," she said.

Alex Wieser led the Tigers with 26 points. Vicki Wilson added 14 and Brisso had 10. Dickens led the Pirates with 22.

Incarnate Word 51, Jackson 32

St. Louis powerhouse Incarnate Word (11-4)rolled past Southeast Missouri's top squad.

Jackson trailed 13-11 after the first quarter but only scored four points in the second quarter and fell behind 25-15 at halftime. The Red Knights extended their lead to 40-26 after three quarters. Red Knights guard Andrea Hoffman led all scorers with 18. Whitney Werner led the Indians with eight.

Poplar Bluff 52, Nerinx Hall 49

The Mules (12-4)got 14 points from Frances Kalich and 10 apiece from Omega Key and Maggie Welchhance to overcome a first-half deficit.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 171