SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN ALL-STAR BASKETBALL TEAMS; ON TOP OF THEIR GAME: RESSEL IS ONE BULLDOG WHOSE BITE IS WORSE THAN HIS BARK

Want Jonathan Ressel to play in the post?

He can do that.

Want him to shoot threes?

He can do that.

Want him to defend the opponent's best player, block a shot or take a charge?

He can do all that, too.

Just don't ask him to bust onto the court to the trendy, over-played tune "Who Let the Dogs Out."

Of the numerous players we could've picked to be our Player of the Year, perhaps Ressel was the least flashy. But flash doesn't win basketball games.

There were no boys basketball players in the area this year with eye-popping, jaw-dropping Division-I talent. No player averaged more than 22 points per game. So we selected whom we thought was the best player on the best team.

Notre Dame was that team and Ressel was that guy.

The glue

Consistent, poised and quiet, the 6-foot-4 Ressel was the glue that kept Notre Dame's district-championship basketball team together. He was the calm during the storm.

"My senior year, I wanted to be a leader," Ressel said. "So I just tried to go out there and take care of everybody and do many different things. I didn't look to score too much; I tried to get everyone involved and keep the team happy."

While keeping the team happy, he also averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and more than three assists per game.

"He was kind of a steadying factor when he was out there," Notre Dame coach Darrin Scott said. "He kept us from going crazy sometimes.

"He doesn't talk too much. He's a man of few words. Throughout the year, he got a little more vocal but most of the time he did what we asked him to do. He's kind of like a lot of the Kelso kids. He's hard-working and not flashy; unselfish and super laid back."

On a team that had a 6-foot-6 center (Doug Schaefer) and a 6-foot-3 power forward (Cory Beussink), Ressel was asked to play mainly the three position, although he probably would've scored more points at power forward.

"I think if our team would've been different and if he was the only big guy, he probably could've got 20 or 25 a game," Scott said. "But he was unselfish and he did everything we needed. It probably hurt his stats, but it helped the team."

Ressel, who scored a 29 on his ACT, has not yet determined where he'll go to college. He might play at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. or Christian Brothers University in Memphis. Or he might not play ball at all and attend Saint Louis University or Southeast Missouri State.

Season highlights

Ressel said his best memory of this past season was winning the Class 2A, District 2 championship over Charleston.

"A lot of people didn't think we could do it," he said. "It was great to finally get one."

Ressel also remembered his game against Scott City.

The Bulldogs beat their rival Rams for the first in their last seven tries, 68-56.

Ressel, who resides in Kelso which is in Scott City's school district, had a breakaway dunk which was a pivotal play in the game.

Strong, silent type

Ressel is probably better known for his humble, quiet nature than his post moves or jump shot. But he is well-liked, which was proved when he was voted the school's homecoming king.

At a pep assembly earlier this year, Ressel was asked to speak.

As Scott explained, "He got up to the microphone and said, You all come to the game. We're going to try to win.'"

And that was about it.

"Everybody knows I'm like that," Ressel said. "I just think it causes a lot less problems on the team (not to talk much). Just go out there and do what you need to do. Don't talk trash -- just try to keep everybody on the same page."

Given Ressel's personality, there's no wonder he doesn't care for "Who Let the Dogs Out."

All that woofing and howling isn't his style.

"We're not going to have to run out to that are we?" Ressel softly asked his coach before the season.

"It got old pretty quick," Ressel said. "I was about sick of it before the season even started."

Indeed Ressel was a silent 'Dog.

But his bite was much worse than his bark.

2001 ALL-STAR TEAM

BOYS

FIRST TEAM

Lezcano Dean

School: Charleston

Ht./Pos: 6-4 forward

Year: Junior

Key stats: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists

Notables: The best player on the second-best team in the region. A strong, can-do-it-all, streaky player. Can shoot the three, penetrate and is strong in the paint. Capable of carrying a team.

Eric Henry

School: Bell City

Ht./Pos: 6-1 forward

Year: Sophomore

Key stats: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists

Notables: Recorded an unbelievable 110 steals for 4.1 per game. Could end up being the area's best player since Scott City's Jon Beck. A second-team all-state selection, the only all-state performer on our boys list.

Adam Rainey

School: Advance

Ht./Pos: 6-foot point guard

Year: Senior

Key stats: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists

Notables: A coach on the court, his team counted on him perhaps more than any team counted on anybody. Played solid defensie and only turned the ball over 1.5 times per game.

Jonathan Ressel

School: Notre Dame

Ht./Pos: 6-4 forward

Year: Senior

Key stats: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists

Notables: Took 18 charges and blocked 55 shots. Was the most consistent and most versatile player on the area's best team.

Tyler Wengert

School: St. Vincent

Ht./Pos: 5-9 point guard

Year: Junior

Key stats: 19 points, 5 assists

Notables: The most creative, entertaining player in the area. Can create his own shot, passes well and shoots well. Hit 73 percent of his free throws.

SECOND TEAM

Todd Blissett

School: Scott County Central

Ht./Pos: 6-0 forward

Year: Senior

Key stats: 17 points, 5 rebounds

Notables: One of the better slashers in the area, Blissett also averaged a smooth 70 percent from the free-throw line and made 54 percent of his shots.

Adam Friga

School: Oran

Ht./Pos: 5-10 guard

Year: Senior

Key stats: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists

Notables: As hard-nosed as they come, Friga led a young but talented Eagle squad to a fine season. Probably the best rebounding guard around.

Seth McDowell

School: Jackson

Ht./Pos.: 6-2 forward

Year: Junior

Key stats: 15 points, 7 rebounds

Notables: May not be the most talented player on his team, but brought a high-energy level, toughness and consistency to every game. Plays bigger than his size, but can shoot the three as well.

Chad Ozark

School: Perryville

Ht./Pos: 6-5 center

Year: Senior

Key stats: 17 points, 10 rebounds

Notables: From a role player to team's leading scorer and rebounder, Ozark improved as much as anybody. Had two games with at least 20 rebounds.

Nick Steimle

School: Scott City

Ht./Pos: 6-7 center

Year: Senior

Key stats: 17 points, 10 rebounds

Notables: Best shooting center in the region at 39 percent from 3-point range. Averaged 2.5 blocks per contest as Scott City checked in another solid season.

NOTE: Schools in the Southeast Missourian coverage area include Advance, Bell City, Cape Central, Chaffee, Delta, Fredericktown, Jackson, Kelly, Leopold, Marquand, Meadow Heights, Notre Dame, Oak Ridge, Oran, Perryville, St. Vincent, Scott City, Scott County Central, Woodland and Zalma.