RAMS' BLUE-CHIP PLAYER STAGES 2ND-QUARTER RALLY

Like long-range investors, the Scott City Rams didn't put much stock into Notre Dame's productive first quarter.

Instead, the seventh-ranked Class 2A team showed patience, stuck with it's long-term goals and coasted to a profitable 76-65 retirement of Notre Dame Friday night.

Notre Dame (4-7), in front a packed home crowd, scorched the nets in the first quarter, making seven of its first 16 shots en route to a 20-13 lead heading into the second quarter.

Jason Rubel, who scored a team-high 18 points for the Bulldogs, got off to a especially sizzling start.

The third of his 3-pointers came early in the second quarter and gave Notre Dame its biggest lead of the game at 27-19.

That's when Scott City guard Jon Beck decided enough was enough.

The all-stater who has signed with Arkansas State personally slowed down the game's pace -- and Notre Dame's momentum -- by drawing four fouls in the second quarter. Eight of his 10 points in the second period came at the free throw line. He ended up with 29 points.

In the last four minutes of the second quarter, Scott City (12-2) outscored Notre Dame 14-7. The Rams took a 37-34 lead into halftime.

"The big players step up in big games," Scott city coach Derek McCord said. "Jon Beck got to the line and that's what we told him to do. That was what we talked about, breaking down (Notre Dame's defense) with penetration. I think that hurt them in the second and third quarter.

"But we've been down before and my kids were not rattled. I'm so proud of my kids. They never doubted themselves and kept fighting back and fighting back."

"I thought we played extremely well," Notre Dame coach Chris Janet said. "We haven't played in 15 days. We came out ready to play. I tell you what though, in the second quarter, I thought Jon Beck put his team on his shoulders and really carried them. He's a heck of a player."

In all, Scott City scored 30 points from the foul line in 43 attempts.

But Beck credited the win to patience and defense.

"We knew we were ready to make a run at any time too," Beck said.

Scott City continued its momentum in the third quarter, scoring on seven of its first eight possessions and hitting seven of its first eight shots.

Scott City, despite being obviously under-sized, outrebounded Notre Dame 30-28 for the game.

The Rams earned their first double-digit lead, 53-43, with 4:17 left in the third quarter.

But Scott City, who has played its last seven games on the road, couldn't put Notre Dame away.

The Bulldogs closed the gap to 66-61 with 2:24 left in the game when senior center Anthony Ressel, who later fouled out, scored from underneath the basket.

Then, Notre Dame missed five 3-pointers down the stretch and couldn't close the gap.

Scott City clobbered Notre Dame 75-49 in the second round of the University High Christmas Tournament earlier this season.

What was the difference this time?

"The atmosphere," Beck said. "There was a big crowd. We knew it was going to be a big game. They always shoot better on their home floor."

"It's a good win for us to come down here in a hostile environment and win," McCord.