Reigning state champion Notre Dame earns spot in district final

SIKESTON -- The Dexter boys basketball team switched to a man-to-man defense against Notre Dame to begin the second half after trailing by as many as 17 points during the first half Thursday.

Dexter's defense held Notre Dame scoreless during the first three and a half minutes of the third quarter and cut the deficit to nine points.

But when Alex Bader followed an Austin Greer basket by nailing a 3-pointer to build the Notre Dame lead back up to 14 points, momentum shifted back to the Bulldogs.

And it stayed with the Bulldogs, who cruised to a 64-47 victory in a Class 4 District 1 semifinal.

"Every game can be the last game, and I don't want to go home," Bader said. "I don't want my career to end. I'll do anything. I'll fight, scrap, claw, anything. So I got the shot and I took it and that was the story."

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.comNotre Dame senior Austin Greer drives through the Dexter defense during a Class 4 District 1 semifinal Thursday at Sikeston High School.

The defending Class 4 champion Bulldogs (18-8) advanced to the district title game against Sikeston for the third straight year. The game is today at 7:30 p.m. at Sikeston High School. Notre Dame has won the past two district titles, including routing Sikeston 59-36 last year before going on to win the state championship.

Notre Dame first-year coach Kevin Roberts is excited to face Sikeston tonight.

"It's going to be a neat atmosphere," Roberts said. "This place is going to be packed. They're going to have to get here early to get in. We're going to fight. We're the underdog and I like playing that role."

Greer led the Bulldogs with 23 points. John Unterreiner chipped in 13 points.

Bader, a player who Greer said has a nice outside shot and who will be important to the team's success during the playoffs, netted 10 points. Five of those points came in the third when Notre Dame had trouble offensively and was outscored by Dexter 12-11.

Notre Dame senior John Unterreiner puts up a shot in the lane.

Bader converted two 3-pointers in the game.

"He's been on and off throughout the year, but when he's on, he's excellent," Unterreiner said of Bader. "And it's confidence. I think he's got it. He needs to have it, and he's an excellent shooter. If he's hitting, not only does it put points on the board, but it extends the defense and gives us another guy they have to guard."

The third quarter was the only time when Notre Dame looked a little vulnerable. Dexter switched to a man-to-man after playing a matchup zone and 1-3-1 zone in the first half.

Unterreiner described his team's play as lackadaisical in the third. He said his team settled for bad shots and did not drive the ball inside like in the other three quarters.

"We played OK tonight," Greer said. "We were sloppy. We were definitely sloppy. It's been a week since we played I think is what Bader said, and it's just been a while since we actually played a game like this. And they were a pretty good team.

"It's going to take a heck of an effort [to beat Sikeston]. A lot of things are going to have to go our way. We're going to have to hit shots. We're going to have to stay with them on the boards and we're going to have to somewhat score inside."

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the first 5 minutes against Dexter. They led by double digits the rest of the first half. Dexter cut the deficit to nine points twice in the third before Notre Dame led by double digits the rest of the way.

"It could be a long night tomorrow if we play like we did tonight," Greer said.

Still, the Notre Dame players think tonight will be exciting no matter what.

"Win or lose, it's a great atmosphere to play in," Unterreiner said. "I don't think there's any bad blood. We both want to beat each other, but it's one of the most fun games you can play in."

Sikeston reached the title game with a 64-35 victory over Perryville.

The Pirates actually led 15-14 after one quarter, but only managed two points in the second quarter.

Michael Porter, Sikeston's senior standout, did not play.

Wade Leible led Perryville with 10 points.

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:Notre Dame 64, Dexter 47

@z_agate_HSbasketball_linescore:Dexter9141212--47

Notre Dame21171115--64

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:DEXTER (47) -- Drew Kelly 8, Luciano Starling 12, Ryan Windham 4, Gary Summer 1, Brandon Stroker 5, Alan Flannigan 7, Jon Bowman 6, Taylor Jarrell 4. FG 16, FT 12-16, F 14. (3-pointers: Bowman 2. Fouled out: none)

NOTRE DAME (64) -- Nick Koeppel 4, Alex Bader 10, John Unterreiner 13, Austin Greer 23, Jacob Tolbert 9, Joseph Tolbert 2, Matt Helle 3. FG 22, FT 17-22, F 15. (3-pointers: Bader 2, Greer 1. Fouled out: none)

------

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:Sikeston 64, Perryville 35

@z_agate_HSbasketball_linescore:Perryville152810--35

Sikeston14161319--64

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:PERRYVILLE (35) -- Andrew Martin 7, Ben Prevallet 6, Michael Bachmann 2, Brent Roth 3, Jason Thieret 5, Wade Leible 10, Tyson Brown 2. FG 13, FT 4-7, F 16. (3-pointers: Prevallet 2, Leible 2, Thieret 1. Fouled out: None)

SIKESTON (64) -- Juqualin Wiggins 4, Niquavious Dixon 11, Daryl Howard 5, Martez Evans 2, Will Holifield 6, Cal Lane 11, Corey Porter 2, Eli Jackson 13, Gibson 2, McGee 1, Jordan 7. FG 24, FT 13-30, F 10. (3-pointers: Holifield 2, Howard 1. Fouled out: None)