Notre Dame's dominating days have ended in Class 4

After years of dominance, Notre Dame's girls basketball team is in danger of having to watch the state playoffs from the stands.

Notre Dame has won eight straight district titles and 10 district titles in 12 years, including three straight trips to the state finals from 2001 to 2003. The Bulldogs enter the Class 4 District tournament at the Perry Park Center as the No. 4 seed, in a season in which Notre Dame finished the regular season at 8-16.

"We're definitely the underdogs for the first time in a while," Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim said. "I wouldn't say the district is locked up by anyone at this point."

Sophomores Meridith Medlin and Kristain Burger have been Notre Dame's top players much of the year. The Bulldogs also have plenty of size, with 5-foot-10 Burger, along with seniors Amanda Essner (6-1) and Rachael Weidenbenner (6-0) patrolling the post.

Notre Dame will face No. 5 Sikeston at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the opening round of the tournament. A win Tuesday would pit Notre Dame against top seed Dexter, the team Notre Dame defeated in the district finals last season. Dexter has defeated Notre Dame twice this season.

Grim said the great thing about the playoffs is anything can happen.

"At this time of the year's usually when magic can happen," he said.

On the other side of the bracket, Perryville will attempt to win its first district title since 1995. The No. 3 Pirates will meet Ste. Genevieve in the opening round, with a possible matchup with No. 2 Fredericktown in the semifinals. Perryville is led by juniors Krista Miesner and Amber Hacker. Miesner and Hacker are both capable of putting up big numbers, demonstrated in a recent narrow loss to Fredericktown last week. Miesner scored 36 and Hacker had 18 in a 75-69 loss to Fredericktown.

Bulldogs, Pirates play underdog roles

Notre Dame's boys basketball team enters the district tournament seeded third, looking to find a way back to the district finals. Last year the Bulldogs opened the district tournament with a win, only to be routed by Dexter in the semifinals.

The Bulldogs are 0-2 versus the top two seeds, but only lost by a combined 11 points to Dexter and Sikeston. Notre Dame would play Sikeston in the semifinals if it can win tonight.

"I told the kids the last couple of days of practice we have just as good of a chance as anyone," Notre Dame coach Paul Hale said. "We'll have to play really well, but I like our chances."

This season the Bulldogs have posted a 9-16 record without the services of senior Bryce Willen, who injured his knee prior to the start of the season. Without its top returning scorer, Notre Dame has had to rely on effort and defensive intensity to win games.

Notre Dame will face No. 6 Ste. Genevieve at 7:30 p.m. in the opening round tonight. The Bulldogs routed Ste. Genevieve 85-37 in their only meeting this season.

"There's no reason we can't compete at least. I've tried to get that across to the kids," Hale said. "But we have to win that first game first."

Perryville (11-13) will open the district tournament against No. 5 Fredericktown at 6 p.m. tonight. The Pirates lost their only meeting with Fredericktown this season 61-60. Perryville won three of its last four games heading into district play, including a win over rival St. Vincent at the Perry Park Center.