Sikeston shackles ND in semifinals of SEMO Conference tournament

Southeast Missourian

SIKESTON --As far as 14-point losses go, the Notre Dame Bulldogs were pretty pleased about the effort in Thursday's semifinal game at the SEMO Conference tournament.

Top-seeded Sikeston advanced to tonight's 8:30 p.m. championship by beating Notre Dame 64-50.

But the game could have been over at halftime when Sikeston built a 33-17 halftime lead with an explosive second quarter that showed the Bulldogs are more than just Michael Porter.

"I was very proud of the way we were able to come back and even make it a game," first-year Notre Dame coach Kevin Roberts said. "We're definitely holding our heads high. This is something we've got to learn from."

Notre Dame, the defending Class 4 champion, fell to 3-2. Last year, the Bulldogs lost to Sikeston at the SEMO tournament without Ryan Willen and Austin Greer in the lineup and lost again in December without Willen. Notre Dame later avenged the losses in the district championship showdown en route to state.

While Willen graduated and is playing at Division I Lafayette, Notre Dame was without another key component as junior guard Nick Koeppel, who Roberts called the team's best on-ball defender, remains sidelined by an injury. Koeppel also would have been a helper to guard John Unterreiner in handling Sikeston's pressure defense.

"We've got a couple of kids who can pressure the basketball pretty well," Sikeston coach Gregg Holifield said, "and our goal was to get up there as well as we could."

Notre Dame led 10-6 midway through the first quarter after Greer's rebound basket, but it was all Sikeston for the next 12 minutes.

Porter, a three-time all-stater, scored all 11 of Sikeston's points in the first period as Sikeston took an 11-10 lead. The host Bulldogs continued their run with the first 14 points of second quarter for a 25-10 lead before Greer hit two free throws.

The Bulldogs ended up with a 22-7 scoring edge in second period without a single point from Porter. Will Holifield knocked in two 3-pointers in the latter part of the quarter.

"You could see them focusing on Michael, and we've got good players who are going to get better and better," Gregg Holifield said. "At times we did a good job attacking their match-up zone with dribble penetration and at times we didn't do well."

Sikeston struggled to open the second half as Notre Dame rattled off the first 13 points to close back within 33-30. Porter took over again, scoring 10 of Sikeston's points in the quarter as the lead went back into double digits at 45-34.

Porter finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and attracted eight fouls, including two drawn charges.

"They're a very good team with a very, very, very good player in Michael," Roberts said. "They go as he goes. In the third quarter, he basically held their team together when we made a good run to get back in the game."

Notre Dame had five players between nine and 11 points. Greer scored 11, as did Joseph Tolbert. Jacob Tolbert had 10.

"We really wanted to beat them," Greer said, "but it's a learning experience.

"Tonight proves we can play with them. We need to cut down on turnovers and execute our offense a little better, and I think come district time, we'll be right there with them."

Holifield expects tough battles ahead. The teams meet again next Friday -- Notre Dame again will be without Koeppel -- in SEMO Conference play.

"They're so good," Holifleld said."They've got so many kids who played in the state championship game. We knew it would be tough. Our kids have a lot of respect for Notre Dame and their program. They're going to be hard to beat."

Notre Dame will play Poplar Bluff at 7 tonight in the third-place game while Sikeston faces second-seeded New Madrid County Central in the title tilt.

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:SIKESTON 64, NOTRE DAME 50

@z_agate_HSbasketball_linescore:Notre Dame1071914--50

Sikeston11221219--64

@z_agate_no tab_no indnt_bld ld:Notre Dame (50) -- Alex Bader 9, John Unterreiner 9, Austin Greer 11, Jacob Tolbert 10, Joseph Tolbert 11. FG 18, FT 6-8, F 18. (3-pointers: Jo. Tolbert 3, Bader 2, Unterreiner 1, Greer 1, Ja. Tolber 1. Fouled out: none)

Sikeston (64) -- Juqualin Wiggins 6, Darryl Howard 2, Martez Evans 2, Dominic Fondon 4, Will Holifield 6, Cal Lane 14, Michael Porter 26, Eli Jackson 4. FG 29, FT 4-11 F 14 (3-pointers: Holifield 2. Fouled out: none)