State champions look for another big finish

What to do for an encore.

That's the problem -- albeit a pleasant one -- for Notre Dame's girls as they come off a state championship season.

The Bulldogs, after coming close several times, finally broke through all the way last year when they beat Elsberry 63-57 in the Class 2 title game. That concluded a 29-2 season for veteran coach Jerry Grim's squad, which had been second in the state the year before.

"Last year was everything we could ask for," said Grim, last season's Class 2 state coach of the year. "Being so close before, it was great to finally get that state championship. And the kids we had on the team last year sure deserved it. They worked their tails off."

But now Grim faces the task of replacing most of last year's stars, including all-state center Deana McCormick and second-team all-state guard Lisa Millham, who rank as the top two scorers in school history. Also lost to graduation was steady point guard Courtney Vickery.

"To lose the top two scorers ever at our school, those are pretty good players," Grim said. "And Courtney got the ball to whoever needed to get it, and nobody could press her."

Grim, however, knows something about putting together strong teams. In 20 years, he's led the Bulldogs to a 357-173 record and four state semifinal appearances, finishing second three times.

And, despite losing those three standouts, the cupboard for Grim is not exactly bare. He returns two starters, led by 5-foot-11 senior Ashley Millham, who averaged 14 points per game last year as one of the Bulldogs' top offensive weapons.

Millham, entering her third season as a starter, will compete in college at Central Missouri State, where her sister Lisa also plays.

"Ashley can do a little bit of everything. She can handle the ball, post, drive," Grim said. "I look for her to have another good year."

The other returning regular is 5-8 senior Ali Tyson, who averaged a little more than four points per game last year.

"Ali has done well for us and, with some of those other players gone, I look for her to have a good year," Grim said. "It's amazing what a senior year does to a kid. I think it just brings out everything in them."

Rounding out the Bulldogs' senior class is 5-9 Erin Pfau, who averaged nearly three points per game off the bench last season.

"She's worked hard to make herself better," Grim said.

Several other players with varsity experience return, including 5-7 junior Sierra Ellis, who averaged nearly four points per game last season as the Bulldogs' first guard off the bench.

"I look for her to step up," Grim said.

Katie Palmer, a 5-11 junior, saw quite a bit of playing time last season backing up McCormick. She averaged a little more than two points per game.

Amanda Dirnberger, Laura Weissmueller and Sommer McCauley, a trio of 5-7 juniors, played mostly junior varsity ball a year ago but were called up to the varsity toward the end of the season. They all contributed between three and four points per contest.

"Katie, Amanda, Laura and Sommer all got some good experience last season and they should be a lot better this year," Grim said. "They should all help us."

Also figuring to help out is 5-8 junior Rachel Wright, who primarily played on the JV last season.

While Grim said matching last year's success will be virtually impossible -- not only did the Bulldogs lose plenty of talent but they have been bumped up to Class 4 -- he expects another solid season.

"It's going to be hard to duplicate last year, but you can't look back all the time, you have to look forward," Grim said. "Our kids play hard and I think we're going to surprise some people. Not that we're going to do what we did last year, but I look for a good season."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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