Kelly unable to solve Notre Dame pitching (09/30/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs improved to 19-0 on the season Monday evening as they defeated the visiting Kelly Lady Hawks by a score of 6-0. The Lady Hawks really couldn't get things going against Notre Dame hurler Erika Reinagel as she held the visitors to just one hit while racking up 14 strikeouts. She also walked three in the victory...

Oran defense holds SHS (09/26/08) ORAN -- After falling to the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs earlier in the season during the Notre Dame Softball Classic, the Oran Lady Eagles returned the favor on Thursday afternoon with a 8-4 win. "This was a much needed win," Oran head coach Sara Heisserer said. "We've kind of been struggling this week. It was nice to get a win over them since they beat us earlier in the year."...

Lady Bulldogs breeze through East Prairie with victory (09/18/08) EAST PRAIRIE -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs handled business on Wednesday afternoon as they traveled to East Prairie, defeating the Lady Eagles 17-0 in five innings. For Sikeston, it was a display of offense as they rattled off 14 hits in four innings at the dish, chipping in nine walks as well...

Poplar Bluff tennis team beats Dexter (09/17/08) By DAR STAFF The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules tennis team captured their fourth win of the season with a 7-2 victory over Dexter on Tuesday afternoon. Jenni Hubbard, Allie Poteet, Kelsey Olsen, Rachael Brodell and Emily Gilmore each won their singles matches by a combined average of four points per game over the Bearcats...

Notre Dame downs SHS Lady Bulldogs (09/16/08) SIKESTON -- The top of the first inning set the tone for the rest of the game between the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs. Notre Dame scored five runs on four hits and three Sikeston errors in the top of the first on their way to a 14-1 win in five innings...

Sikeston blasts East Prairie (09/12/08) SIKESTON -- It was an offensive explosion that the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs was looking for on Thursday afternoon, by defeating the East Prairie Lady Eagles 13-1. After losing to Cape Central in a one-run game on Tuesday and then getting sent home by the Kelly Lady Hawks in a 11-1 game, nothing could have been better for the Lady Bulldogs...

Late goal ruins SHS upset bid (09/12/08) SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Bulldogs soccer team fell to 1-6 on the season after suffering a very tough loss on Thursday evening to the Notre Dame Bulldogs by a score of 1-0. Sikeston and Notre Dame were each scoreless at the break and the contest had all the makings for a classic battle between the two schools. Jason Isaacs, the young keeper for Sikeston, made several spectacular plays in goal, even fending off a tough penalty kick late in the first half...

Soccer, tennis teams both fall in road games (09/11/08) KENNETT -- For the first time in school history, the Sikeston Bulldogs soccer team was defeated by the Kennett Indians in a 2-1 overtime game on Wednesday night. Sikeston (1-5) struck first at the 37 minute mark when Evan Underwood kicked one in on an assist from Hector Lemus. That score would stand at halftime with Sikeston leading 1-0...

Lady Hawks blow past Scott City, 11-1 (09/10/08) BENTON -- It didn't take long for the Kelly Lady Hawks to put away the visiting Scott City Lady Rams on Tuesday afternoon, putting the ten-run rule into effect in a 11-1 five inning game. The quick pace, which was just a little bit over an hour, was mostly due to the solid pitching of Jessica Riley who threw all five innings in the shortened game...

Bulldogs net first win (09/10/08) SIKESTON--The Sikeston Bulldog varsity soccer team downed the Marion, Ill., Wildcats 3-0 in Sikeston Tuesday evening to pick up their first win of the season. "Last week we went on an 0-for-4 drought to start the season, but every game we've been improving," Sikeston head coach Derrick Long said. "Defensively, everyone has had to get used to playing with each other and it looked like we were getting there tonight."...

Sikeston finishes tourney in fifth (09/08/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeson Lady Bulldogs softball team came away with a fifth place finish from the 2008 Notre Dame Softballfest over the weekend by winning their final three games after dropping the first one on Friday. They defeated Ste. Genevieve 15-6, Oran 7-6 and Chaffee 3-0...

Sikeston soccer still in search of first victory (09/08/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston boy's soccer team fell to the Poplar Bluff Mules in a 2-1 battle at the Notre Dame Soccerfest on Saturday. The Bulldogs (0-4) had a chance to tie the game at the 68 minute mark with a penalty kick try, but it was missed to seal the win for the Mules...

Notre Dame downs the Lady Hawks in title game (09/08/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU-- The Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs Softball team defeated the Kelly Lady Hawks 2-0 to claim the championship of the Notre Dame SoftballFest tournament Saturday in Cape Girardeau. The defensive struggle was a pitching duel between two of the premier pitchers in the area in Notre Dame's Lauren Reinagel and Kelly's Danielle Dock...

ROUNDUP: Campbell baseball holds off South Pem (09/05/08) By DAR STAFF STEELE -- The Campbell Camels jumped all over South Pemiscot with a six-run lead after four innings lead and went on to a 8-6 victory. Shortstop Zack Jackson had a great day at the plate for the Camels as he went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a triple. Jackson had three RBI on the day...

Carbondale shuts out Bulldogs, 4-0 (09/05/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston Bulldog soccer team dropped their second match of the season on Thursday evening as they fell 4-0 to the Carbondale Terriers in the Notre Dame Soccerfest. Head coach Derrick Long said that the contest was similar to their loss against Saxony Lutheran as Carbondale jumped out early with two unanswered goals...

SHS loses opener (09/03/08) FRUITLAND -- The Sikeston Bulldogs kicked off their soccer season on Tuesday afternoon at Saxony Lutheran suffering a 4-0 loss to the Crusaders. For the Bulldogs it was a game of uncertainty as they are filling in holes across the field from graduated seniors of 2007...

PREVIEW: Notre Dame softball gets speedster back (08/31/08) Notre Dame featured one of the state's best offenses last fall, hitting for a .378 team batting average while capturing third place in Class 3. The Bulldogs did that without their leadoff batter and possibly their best hitter, Paris Burger, who sat out the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus...

SHS rebuilding in '08 (08/20/08) SIKESTON -- After losing five seniors to graduation from 2007's squad, head coach Steve Beydler is hoping that his Sikeston Lady Bulldogs volleyball team can bounce back with a few fresh faces. "We're going to be young as far as experience goes because I lost five seniors last year," said Beydler. ...

Bulldogs will rely on speed in 2008 (08/19/08) SIKESTON -- Speed. Coming into the 2008 varsity soccer season, that is the one thing that Sikeston head coach Derrick Long said that his team is relying on as their biggest asset. In previous seasons, Long said that if the speed wasn't there, then the Bulldogs relied on Scott Droddy to provide a wall in goal to stop opponents incoming shots...

Lady Bulldogs seek right mix (08/17/08) SIKESTON -- Coming into her fifth season as the head coach of the Sikeston Lady Bulldogs softball team, Tiffany King has high hopes of what her new squad can accomplish. "We look a lot better at this point than we did last year," said King. "We've got some young kids and right now we're just trying to find the right varsity mix."...

'Cats fall one run short in district title game (05/15/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU - The baseball season came to a heart-breaking conclusion for Bearcats Wednesday night at Notre Dame Regional High School as the Bulldogs defeated Dexter, 3-2, in the Class 3, District 1 championship game. The loss caps a story book season for the Bearcats who had to replace seven senior starters lost to graduation, but surprise most observers with a 17-7 season record that included a share of the prestigious SEMO Conference regular season title...

Stause leads Bearcats into district title game (05/14/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Playing with the youthful exuberance you would expect from a sophomore, Dexter's Cody Stause pitched the Bearcats into the championship game of the Class 3, District 1 tournament Tuesday night with a 8-1 win over the Kennett Indians...

Sikeston's season ends suddenly (05/13/08) Perryville knocks off Bulldogs in the first round of district play

Area teams score often in district play (05/13/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Kennett Indians jumped out to a big early lead and held off a late charge by the Doniphan Dons to take a 9-5 win in the first round of the Class 3, District 1 Tournament at Notre Dame Regional High School Monday. In other District 1 games, it was Notre Dame 18, New Madrid County Central 1; Perryville 9, Sikeston 1; and Dexter 4, Fredericktown 3...

Kennett's track teams finish second at SEMO Central meet; golf sends two to state (04/29/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- The Kennett Indians and Lady Indians track teams both finished second behind strong competition at the SEMO Central Conference track meet here Monday at Notre Dame Regional High School. On the boys side Notre Dame placed first with 196 points followed by Kennett with 139 and New Madrid County Central with 105...

Lady Bearcats claim SEMO Central conference title (04/29/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Dexter's girls track team took top honors at the SEMO Central Conference track meet Monday at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau. Dexter finished ahead of second place Kennet by 52 points to easily take the title. Dexter finished at 156, while Notre Dame was third (100), New Madrid County Central fourth (56), and Charleston and Caruthersville tied for fifth with 44 points...

Sikeston soccer drops thriller against Notre Dame (04/24/08) By David Jenkins ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com SIKESTON -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs soccer fell victim to an unlucky break Wednesday night, losing to the Notre Dame Bulldogs 2-1. With the game tied 1-1, Notre Dame's Courtney Luehmann sent a shot toward the Sikeston goal with just under 10 minutes left to play in the game. ...

Notre Dame wins Miss. Co. wood bat tourney (04/21/08) Bulldogs explodes for six runs in fourth inning to defeat host team

Kelly falls short against Notre Dame (04/18/08) By Josh Mills ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Kelly Hawks baseball team battled hard on Thursday afternoon, coming up shy of a victory in a 12-11 loss to the Notre Dame Bulldogs. The contest, scheduled originally to be played at Kelly High School, was moved north to Notre Dame due to poor field conditions following the recent rainfall...

Surprise attack: Mules start strong, fall short (04/16/08) By BRIAN ROSENER ~ DAR Sports Editor As the Poplar Bluff Lady Mules stretched before their game Tuesday night, they were attacked by a mob of junior varsity teammates brandishing foam weapons. The surprise attack -- less brutal than a pillow fight -- had a message...

ROUNDUP: Sikeston tennis shuts out Mules (04/15/08) Staff Reports ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com POPLAR BLUFF -- The Sikeston tennis team blanked Poplar Bluff 9-0 on the road Monday afternoon. "I thought we played well today," said Sikeston head coach Brian James. "It's only our second match, so we're behind some of these other teams that have several matches in and maybe a tournament or two in...

Notre Dame blows by Sikeston (04/13/08) Notre Dame hit three home runs on very windy afternoon

ROUNDUP: SIkeston soccer shuts out Harrisburg (04/10/08) Oran, Cooter baseball teams win convincingly

Sikeston drops two games in Notre Dame soccer tourney (04/07/08) By Andrew Powell ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Sikeston girls' soccer team had two tough outings this past weekend after running into two squads from Cape Girardeau in the Noon Optimist Club Tournament. In their first game of the tournament, the Lady Bulldogs took on the host Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs. These two teams had already squared off once this season with Notre Dame spoiling Sikeston's season opener 2-0...

Oran, Chaffee baseball teams remain unbeaten (04/03/08) Staff Reports ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com ORAN -- The Oran Eagles (3-0) routed the Clearwater Tigers on Wednesday afternoon. On a no-hitter by Steven Dooley the Eagles were lifted past the Tigers 14-0 in five innings of play. Dooley faced 17 batters in his five innings of work, striking out 10 while allowing only two walks...

Bearcats stumble against Bulldogs (04/03/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU - Notre Dame scored three runs in the sixth inning to break open a tight ball game and help the Bulldogs to a 6-3 win over the Dexter Bearcats in SEMO Conference baseball action Wednesday. Dexter had just manufactured a run in the fifth to tie the game at 2-all, before the Bulldogs used three hits and a throwing error to score three times and take command of the game...

Tribe rallies for SEMO win against Notre Dame (03/28/08) Struggling with errors and with their bats, things looked bleak for the Kennett Indians against Notre Dame on Thursday. But the Tribe never gave up. "We kept fighting until the very end," Kennett senior Shane Branum said. "That's what definitely kept us in the ballgame. We never gave up even though we were down after making a few errors. We just kept fighting hard."...

Sikeston soccer drops opener at Notre Dame (03/25/08) By Josh Mills ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs soccer team played their opener on Monday evening, falling to the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs on the road, 2-0. The visiting Lady Bulldogs had a solid first half performance, going into the break with the score knotted at zero...

SEMO Conference players honored for achievements (03/20/08) By Brad Hurt ~ SEMO News Service POPLAR BLUFF -- Some of the best coaches and players in Southeast Missouri shared the spotlight Wednesday night as representatives from the member teams of the SEMO Conference gathered in the student center of Poplar Bluff High School for the 50th annual Poplar Bluff Letter Club Basketball Banquet...

Dexter's Heil wins SEMO Conference post season honor (03/20/08) POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Some of the best coaches and players in Southeast Missouri shared the spotlight Wednesday night as representatives from the member teams of the SEMO Conference gathered in the student center of Poplar Bluff High School for the 50th annua Poplar Bluff Letter Club Basketball Banquet...

Greer battles pain, taller players (03/06/08) Notre Dame junior Austin Greer is described by teammate Ryan Willen as being straightforward -- something Willen received a first-hand glimpse of early this season when he returned to practice after missing five games with an ankle injury. "My first day back to practice we came into the locker room, and I sat down and [Greer asked], 'Are you ever going to play any defense?'" Willen said. ...

Himmelberg, ND set sights on Class 4 title (03/05/08) Notre Dame senior Mark Himmelberg drew inspiration from a movie he went to see Friday night. After watching the latest Will Ferrell movie, "Semi-Pro," he felt an added boost as he and his Notre Dame teammates prepare to play in the Class 4 state final four basketball tournament...

Himmelberg, ND set sights on Class 4 title (03/05/08) Notre Dame senior Mark Himmelberg drew inspiration from a movie he went to see Friday night. After watching the latest Will Ferrell movie, "Semi-Pro," he felt an added boost as he and his Notre Dame teammates prepare to play in the Class 4 state final four basketball tournament...

Himmelberg, ND set sights on Class 4 title (03/05/08) Notre Dame senior Mark Himmelberg drew inspiration from a movie he went to see Friday night. After watching the latest Will Ferrell movie, "Semi-Pro," he felt an added boost as he and his Notre Dame teammates prepare to play in the Class 4 state final four basketball tournament...

Himmelberg, ND set sights on Class 4 title (03/05/08) Notre Dame senior Mark Himmelberg drew inspiration from a movie he went to see Friday night. After watching the latest Will Ferrell movie, "Semi-Pro," he felt an added boost as he and his Notre Dame teammates prepare to play in the Class 4 state final four basketball tournament...

Himmelberg, ND set sights on Class 4 title (03/05/08) Notre Dame senior Mark Himmelberg drew inspiration from a movie he went to see Friday night. After watching the latest Will Ferrell movie, "Semi-Pro," he felt an added boost as he and his Notre Dame teammates prepare to play in the Class 4 state final four basketball tournament...

Himmelberg provides needed boost (03/02/08) FARMINGTON -- Notre Dame senior Austin Greer said when teammate Mark Himmelberg is shooting well from 3-point range, their team cannot be beat. "We will not lose," Greer said. "When he's hitting, the whole team is flowing right." Greer's theory held strong Saturday night...

Hale lands in third final four in four years (03/02/08) FARMINGTON -- When Paul Hale was hired nearly four years ago to coach the Notre Dame boys basketball team, the school's principal, Brother David Migliorino, called it a grand slam. On Saturday night, Migliorino repeated, "We couldn't ask for anything more."...

St. Clair's guard worries Notre Dame's Hale (03/01/08) One player stuck out as Notre Dame boys basketball coach Paul Hale studied his team's next opponent. Senior guard Jordan Flora leads St. Clair in scoring, averaging 19.1 points per game, including hitting 52.5 percent from 3-point range, according to stltoday.com...

Notre Dame scores first 39 points in 75-32 sectional rout (02/28/08) PARK HILLS, Mo. -- The Notre Dame student section confidently proclaimed the Bulldogs the victor over De Soto even before the opening tip of the Class 4 boys sectional basketball contest Wednesday night at Mineral Area College. "It's all over," the section chanted as they watched the Bulldogs and Dragons perform their pre-game warmups...

ND, Jackson prep for sectionals (02/27/08) Notre Dame coach Paul Hale watched his Bulldogs rout De Soto by 35 points in the regular-season matchup between the two schools 12 days ago. But Hale has stressed to his team that tonight's second meeting could be more difficult since the stakes are higher...

Disappointing end: Sikeston falls to ND in district final (02/25/08) Sikeston offense unable to get on track in title game Willen scores 23 for Notre Dame as SHS held to a season-low in points

Notre Dame boys win district title with 23-point rout (02/24/08) PERRYVILLE -- Notre Dame junior John Unterreiner had a real long day Saturday, but it ended on a high note. Unterreiner, when turning around quickly at the Bulldogs' 10:30 a.m. shootaround, felt a sharp pain and something pop in the back of his head. He sat the rest of practice and spent the next three hours at the hospital, where he had a CT scan done...

ND, Sikeston fans scramble for tickets (02/22/08) Tickets for the Class 4 District 1 boys basketball championship game between Notre Dame and Sikeston are not easy to obtain for the general public. Just ask anyone who stood in line Thursday at Sikeston High School waiting for two hours to purchase tickets...

Sikeston ends Dexter's season (02/21/08) PERRYVILLE - There are reasons why the Sikeston Bulldogs are the state's third-ranked team in Class 4. The main one is they're good. Hampered by injuries and a flu-type bug working its way through the team, the Sikeston Bulldogs still had the horses to defeat the Dexter Bearcats, 59-39, and advance to the Class 4, District 1 championship game Wednesday at the Perry Park Center in Perryville...

Notre Dame advances to district final (02/21/08) PERRYVILLE -- The tune-ups turned out as expected. After top-seeded Sikeston finished off a 20-point win against Dexter on Wednesday night in the Class 4 District 1 semifinals at the Perry Park Center, Notre Dame blitzed Fredericktown with a 76-39 decision that put the two state-ranked teams in Friday's 7 p.m. championship game...

ND boys hope district gives chance for vengeance (02/18/08) When Notre Dame's Ryan Willen sat out the first five games this season with a stress fracture in his ankle, the Bulldogs lost twice to Sikeston. The first loss was by 33 points in the third-place game of the SEMO Conference tournament. The other was a five-point loss during the regular season...

Sikeston takes bite out of Tribe (02/17/08) SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston Bulldogs came into Friday evening's match-up against the Kennett Indians with three things at stake. A win would give them a share of the SEMO Conference title, a 21-3 regular season record, their best in decades, and a solid victory heading into the district tournament...

Willen played limited minutes as a freshman before developing into a force (02/17/08) Cathy Willen found a checklist last summer that her son, Notre Dame 6-foot-8 senior Ryan Willen, made before his sophomore year of high school. The list, which she found inside his closet and has since placed in a scrapbook for him, included four goals that he wanted to prove to his family that he could accomplish. ...

Dexter teams set sights on Class 4, District 1 tourney (02/17/08) A season's worth of wins and tournament titles will pale in comparison to a district championship. After the pain of preseason conditioning, and the grind of a 12 week season, it will all come to an end in the span of just 32 minutes for all but one girl's team and one boy's team at this week's Class 4, District 1 tournament at the Perry Park Center in Perryville...

Tigers drop regular-season finale to Bearcats, 71-43 (02/16/08) The Central boys basketball team hoped for a solid performance to warm up for Monday's Class 5 District 1 basketball tournament. The Tigers were forced to settle for a lopsided defeat, falling at Dexter 71-43. Central trailed by 10 at halftime, then the Bearcats pushed the lead to 25 entering the fourth quarter...

Local swimmers do not qualify for today's finals (02/16/08) Jackson sophomore Cailin McGinnis and Notre Dame junior Brittany Menz earned the top finishes among local competitors at the state girls swimming meet in St. Peters on Friday. McGinnis took 18th in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing in 1 minute, 4.75 seconds...

Notre Dame whips Poplar Bluff in first half (02/10/08) By BRIAN ROSENER ~ DAR Sports Editor CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A week before the end of the regular season, the Poplar Bluff Mules suffered their most lopsided loss of the season Friday night, losing to state-ranked Notre Dame, 81-38. "A humbling experience like this can do a lot for you," Mules coach Lamont Frazier said. "It makes you realize that you're not there yet and you still have some work to do."...

Central's Wolpers swims away with MVP at conference meet (02/08/08) PERRYVILLE -- Central junior Annie Wolpers had a lofty goal entering the Show Me Conference meet Thursday evening, although she was not sure how realistic she was being. "My goal was to get the [meet] MVP," Wolpers said. "But I wasn't full out, 'I know I'm going to get it' or anything."...

Morrill sinks winner with 1 second left (02/07/08) PERRYVILLE -- When Notre Dame sophomore Jane Morrill attempted a jump shot a few feet from the basket with 1 second left in a tied game Wednesday, she had no idea how much time was left on the clock. All she knew was that she was struggling offensively in the second half, with only four points and an 0-for-3 performance from the free-throw line...

Notre Dame makes short work of Tribe (02/06/08) One night after the Kennett Indians won their first-ever Bootheel Conference Tournament championship, they were reminded that the SEMO Conference is a lot tougher road to walk. The Notre Dame Bulldogs jumped out to a big early lead and were never seriously challenged by the Tribe in a 50-17 route Tuesday night in a game that was called at halftime because of the threat of severe weather...

Jackson rallies from 17-point deficit to defeat Central (02/06/08) Jackson senior Jake Leet already has a game-winning shot against conference rival Notre Dame on his resume this season. And Tuesday night he added a game-winning blocked shot to his list of late-game heroics against SEMO Conference foes. With his team leading 49-48 with 7 seconds remaining, Leet rejected Central's Jajuan Bell who drove to the basket for a layup. Leet held on to the ball, and the Indians held on for a 51-48 victory at the Show Me Center...

ND boys make quick work of Kennett (02/06/08) The Notre Dame boys basketball team only needed two quarters to notch its 16th win of the season. Notre Dame led host Kennett 50-19 at halftime when the game was called because of a tornado warning. Ryan Willen led the Bulldogs (16-6) with 19 points. Nick Koeppel and Mark Himmelberg each had eight...

Dexter wins overtime battle at Notre Dame (02/05/08) Lady Bearcats overcome poor foul shooting to get win

Dexter snaps losing streak to Notre Dame with OT win (02/05/08) CAPE GIRARDEAU - With their leading scorer on he bench and the momentum clearly with Notre Dame, it would have been easy for Dexter's Lady Bearcats to quit. Not this team. Trailing by four points with just over two minutes to play, Dexter scratched out a 51-51 tie at the end of regulation then delivered a knockout punch in overtime to earn a hard-fought 63-56 win over the Lady Bulldogs Monday, the program's first at Notre Dame Regional High School...

ND girls suffer 63-56 OT loss to Dexter (02/05/08) Notre Dame's bid to derail the Dexter girls basketball team's perfect run in the SEMO Conference looked fairly rosy heading into overtime Monday night at Notre Dame. The Bearcats' leading scorer, junior Katelyn Heil, had fouled out during the final 20 seconds of regulation. The Bulldogs had the momentum of a buzzer-beating shot by freshman Allyson Bradshaw. And the Bearcats' struggles from the free-throw line were helping offset Notre Dame's problems against the press...

Meadow Heights, Zalma advance to championship game (02/03/08) Zalma, the No. 5 seed, upset No. 1 Leopold, 62-61, in the semifinals of the Mississippi Valley Conference boys basketball tournament at Oak Ridge High School on Saturday. Justin Lemons led the Bulldogs with 17 points, while Colton Bailey scored 12. Leopold entered halftime with a 33-28 lead, but Zalma (8-8) controlled the second half, especially the third quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 24-15...

Kelly girls roll past Charleston (01/29/08) Staff Reports ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com BENTON -- The Charleston girls fell to the Kelly Lady Hawks Monday night by the final score of 60-31. "It was a good game for both teams, but it was a big win for us because of districts," said Kelly head coach Rod McQuerter. "I'm just proud of the girls. They came out and played hard with a positive attitude."...

ND girls post 70-61 victory (01/29/08) In a battle between two of the better girls post players in the area, Central's Wendi Zickfield outscored Notre Dame's Jane Morrill. But it was Morrill's Bulldogs who came out on top, earning the 70-61 victory at the Show Me Center on Monday night...

Notre Dame weathers Central's 14 3-pointers (01/29/08) Notre Dame sophomore guard Nick Koeppel admitted that Central converted "an awesome amount" of 3-pointers against his team in the first half Monday. Every time the Tigers scored one, a "3" sign was placed on the wall behind the student section, like baseball fans hang "K" signs when a strikeout pitcher is on fire...

Perryville girls rout Crystal City (01/29/08) Perryville outscored Crystal City 24-6 in the second quarter to help secure the 62-34 road win in girls basketball action Monday. Ava Johnson scored 16 for the Pirates (15-4) to lead the way. Kendra Schilli chipped in 12, and Alicia Kueker netted 11 in the win...

Central earns 59-45 road win at Kennett (01/27/08) Wendi Zickfield wasn't about to let her team fall on the road. The Central junior scored a game-high 30 points to lead the Tigers girls basketball team to a 59-45 victory over Kennett on Saturday. Sophomore point guard Sadie Pittman added 14 in the victory...

Indians' Keith repeats late feat vs. ND (01/25/08) Jackson senior Kelci Keith attended the Jackson at Notre Dame boys basketball game Jan. 11, when her classmate Jake Leet swished a 17-foot jumper with 8 seconds left to beat the Bulldogs. She thought that game-winning shot was exciting. Little did she know that the next time the Indians and Bulldogs girls teams played each other, she would do the same thing Leet did...

Perryville girls pummel Woodland (01/25/08) The Perryville girls basketball team continued to roll as it earned a 74-27 victory against Woodland on Thursday. The Pirates held the Cardinals under 10 points in three of the four quarters. Perryville (13-4) led 42-10 at halftime. Alyssa Bauwens scored 18 points, while Alicia Kueker had 14 to lead Perryville...

ROUNDUP: Risco loses to Gideon; NMCC drops OT thriller (01/23/08) Staff Reports ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com RISCO -- A third quarter collapse by the Risco Tigers Tuesday night, insured a Gideon Bulldogs win, 77-56. "We were in it at the half," Risco head coach Brandon Blankenship said. "In the second half they kind of put us away."...

Scott City wins OT thriller over NMCC, 66-64 (01/23/08) The 12th win of the season for the Scott City boys basketball team came in thrilling fashion. Jay Simmons hit about a 30-foot shot with one second left in regulation to force overtime, and the host Rams went on to beat New Madrid County Central 66-64 Tuesday night...

Puxico shakes slow start at Stoddard County tourney (01/22/08) By DAR STAFF Puxico overcame a slow start Monday night to beat Richland 55-45 in the Stoddard County Tournament. "They got off to a 6-0 start and we started pressing and we established ourselves," Puxico coach Josh Dowdy said. "I felt like it turned the game around."...

St. Vincent girls pound Kelly 53-20 (01/22/08) The St. Vincent girls basketball team jumped to an 18-point lead after the first half and cruised to a 53-20 victory against visiting Kelly on Monday night. Courtney Besand paced a balanced scoring attack for the Indians (12-3) with 12 points. Jessica Welker added 11, while Lacey Siegmund, Brooke Brown and Elizabeth Rozier each had eight...

Local swimmers find out how they stack up against state's best (01/20/08) Jackson sophomore Cailin McGinnis is in a pickle most high school swimmers only dream of being in. The sophomore has already qualified for the state meet in five individual events, but she can swim in only two individual events at state. So she has to take time to decide which two are her best races...

Notre Dame crushes St. Charles (01/20/08) Notre Dame's Alex Fowler cannot remember a game this season in which she scored as many points as she did Saturday against St. Charles. The junior, who averages 9.4 points per game, led the Bulldogs with 19 points in a 61-30 win over the Pirates in the final game of the five-game Notre Dame Shootout...

HS BKB - ND v Saxony (01/19/08) Notre Dame constantly pumped the ball into its big men near the basket, and the Bulldogs post players created headaches for the Saxony Lutheran defenders. Notre Dame's Ryan Willen maneuvered down low and forced the Crusaders to foul him, generating 10 free-throw attempts in the first half alone. He converted all 10 and helped the Bulldogs earn the 67-50 victory Friday in boys basketball action...

Dexter's Heil drops 42 points on Portageville (01/18/08) PORTAGEVILLE - It was one of those games that most high school basketball players only dream of. Dexter's Katelyn Heil was energized from the opening tipoff and scored a career-high 42 points to help lead the Lady Bearcats to a 81-66 win over state-ranked Portageville on the road Thursday...

Bulldogs drop second straight road game (01/17/08) The Notre Dame girls basketball team limped into halftime after shooting 13 percent in the first two quarters Wednesday. What made the Bulldogs' woes even worse is that St. Joseph's shot 76 percent in the opening half. The Angels enjoyed an 18-point lead at halftime and cruised to the 77-43 victory. St. Joseph's entered the game ranked No. 10 in Class 5 in the latest Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association poll. Notre Dame was ranked No. 10 in Class 4...

Notre Dame boys defeat Charleston a second time this season (01/16/08) Notre Dame's Ty Williams used a simple three-word phrase to sum up the way his teammate, Mark Himmelberg, played Tuesday against Charleston. "He was money," Williams said. "It seemed like every time we needed the big shot, we'd kick it out to him and he'd knock it down," Williams added...

Early run has Poplar Bluff back in SEMO Conference race (01/15/08) The Mules raced to a 21-6 lead en route to a 58-33 victory against Notre Dame on Monday night.

Mules' stubborn defense derails ND (01/15/08) POPLAR BLUFF -- Most teams that face the Notre Dame girls basketball team know by now that slowing sophomore center Jane Morrill is a top priority. Poplar Bluff became the first team in a month to be able to execute that strategy. The Mules jumped on Notre Dame early and cruised to a 58-33 victory in a meeting of two of the hottest teams in the SEMO Conference...

Notre Dame's Brumitt quite familiar with Poplar Bluff (01/15/08) POPLAR BLUFF -- Notre Dame junior Emily Brumitt is no stranger to the members of the Poplar Bluff girls basketball team, and that made Monday night's outcome an especially difficult one. Brumitt, who grew up in Poplar Bluff before moving to Cape Girardeau before her freshman year, expects to get some ribbing from her Poplar Bluff friends...

Saxony Lutheran falls in Chester, Ill., title game (01/13/08) The Saxony Lutheran boys basketball team fell in the closing seconds to Marissa, Ill, 56-54 in the Chester, Ill., tournament championship game Saturday. "With all do respect to Bell City, Marissa is the best team we've played this year," Saxony coach John Daniel said. "We really played an outstanding game. We just couldn't hold them off. Our kids came out ready to play. It was a big game and a great atmosphere. We played with a lot of intensity. Bret Steffens really got us going early."...

Jackson downs Notre Dame with late shot (01/12/08) There is something about Notre Dame that brings out the best in Jackson's Jake Leet. For the second time in two weeks, Leet burned the Bulldogs. This time the fire was especially hot. Leet, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, swished a jumper from about 17 feet away with 8 seconds remaining Friday night, lifting the Indians past the host Bulldogs 65-63...

Notre Dame rolls past Sikeston 80-29 (01/11/08) By Andrew Powell ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Sikeston Lady Bulldogs had a tough test Thursday night when they traveled Notre Dame to take on the Lady Bulldogs of the north. In the end, the home team prevailed with a solid 80-29 win. Notre Dame opened up the game, hitting their first three shots. And, after a pair of Emily Brumitt free throws, the hot hand continued for the home team when Alex Fowler nailed a 3-pointer to go with another long two, to put her team up 14-0...

ND, Jackson meet in rematch of tourney final (01/11/08) Jackson vs. Notre Dame Round II. Tonight marks the rematch between two of the top high school boys basketball teams in the area -- the Indians and Bulldogs -- who last dueled in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament title game 13 days ago. Jackson was the victor in that contest, beating the Bulldogs 61-53...

Delta, Kelly advance to final of Scott-Mississippi tourney (01/11/08) Taylor Smith and Alison Burger both scored 12 points to lead top-seeded Delta to a 57-30 victory against No. 4 Scott City in the semifinals of the Scott-Mississippi girls basketball tournament Thursday at Scott County Central High School. Brittni Deprow added nine points in the win...

Central boys rally for win (01/09/08) The Central boys basketball team staged a fourth-quarter rally Tuesday night to notch its ninth victory of the season. Central outscored visiting Francis Howell North 25-16 in the final period to prevail 60-59. Shane Nolen led the Tigers (9-7) with 17 points. Jajuan Bell added 14 points...

Notre Dame gets better of Farmington girls (01/08/08) Notre Dame sophomore Jane Morrill admits that she has felt both pressure and excitement in her first full varsity basketball season. "Everybody's watching you and saying like, 'This sophomore is coming in and starting over some juniors,'" Morrill said. "I kind of feel bad. It's a lot of pressure and excitement. I just try to step up and do my best for my team."...

Meadow Heights rallies for third (01/06/08) Sparked by freshman Jillian Mills' 3-pointer in the second quarter Saturday, Meadow Heights rallied from a 20-6 deficit in the second period to avenge a loss to Woodland earlier this season. Meadow Heights knocked off Woodland 57-39 in the third-place game Saturday at the Delta New Year's Tournament...

Scott City needs two OTs to knock off the Red Devils (01/05/08) Jay Simmons drained four 3-pointers and had a game-high 36 points as he led the visiting Scott City Rams to a double-overtime 66-61 victory over Chaffee on Friday. "Jay Simmons is an unbelievable player," Chaffee coach Tyson Moyers said. "We guarded him every way we knew how to guard him."...

ROUNDUP: Jackson girls surge past Doniphan for 45-39 win (01/04/08) By DAR STAFF Jackson overcame a one-point halftime deficit and outscored the Doniphan Donettes 8-2 over the final 2 minutes to break a tie and come away with a 45-39 win. "We had our chances," Doniphan coach Jimbo Blackwell said. The Donettes (6-3, 1-2 SEMO) got the game off to a good start and held a five-point lead after the first quarter before the Jackson defense turned up the pressure...

Bulldogs step it up in the second half against Bearcats (01/04/08) Notre Dame coach Paul Hale said he challenged his team a little at halftime and he might want to use that approach more often. Notre Dame turned a 26-23 halftime lead into a rout as the Bulldogs scored 36 points in a nearly flawless performance in the third period to defeat Dexter, 73-40, Thursday on the Bearcats' home court...

Steffens leads Saxony to 10-point win (01/04/08) Bret Steffens went to work early, scoring eight points in the first quarter, to help lead the Saxony Lutheran boys basketball team to a 57-47 victory at Oran on Thursday. Steffens finished with a team-high 17 points and 12 rebounds. Max Wieser added 12 points and Ben Courtois 11. Austin Kwikkel chipped in 13 rebounds for the Crusaders (9-2)...

Charleston falls to Notre Dame in semifinals (12/30/07) Top seed unable to overcome Notre Dame's Ryan Willen

Leet, Grantham lead Indians to tourney title (12/30/07) Hunter Grantham said his friends call him by two different nicknames:~ Jackson avenged last year's loss in the championship game. Big Red and Big Country. "Everyone says they'll call me [it] because I'm big, red-headed and I stick out," he said...

Guards deserve respect (12/30/07) You won't find much love for the true point guards on the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament's all-tournament team. In fact, you found very few of them on the ballot, despite several standout performances. "Point guards are the most underestimated people," said Jackson shooting guard Jake Leet, who assisted backcourt mate Marcus Harris against Notre Dame's press in the tournament's championship game. ...

Indians take control in second quarter (12/29/07) When Jackson beat Scott City on Thursday to advance to the semifinals of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, Hunter Grantham dominated first-half play while Jake Leet led the Indians in the second half. It was the other way around Friday night when the Indians met Central in the semifinals at the Show Me Center...

Willen puts up 40 in Bulldogs' victory (12/29/07) Notre Dame's Ryan Willen admitted on the first day of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament that if there was any team he'd like to face this week, it was Charleston. The 6 foot 8 center missed the first five games this season with a stress fracture in his ankle, and during that stretch the Bulldogs dropped a 30-point decision to the Bluejays...

Scott County falls, Charleston advances in Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament (12/28/07) Notre Dame too much for Scott Central in anticipated match-up of touted teams

Fifth-place semifinal 2: Scott City bounces back, Bell City does not (12/28/07) The Scott City Rams sent No. 2 seed Bell City home from the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament with a 53-55 victory in a fifth-place bracket semifinal. Shae Simmons scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead the Rams. Jay Simmons added 18, including one trey...

ND tops SCC to reach semifinal (12/28/07) When Notre Dame junior Austin Greer was matched up against some big bodies last weekend in the Show Me Center, he had a quiet day offensively. With the Bulldogs facing another challenge Thursday night in the Show Me Center in the semifinals of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, Greer was the offensive beneficiary when Scott County Central's press was broken...

Bulldogs 'Advance' to quarterfinals (12/27/07) Notre Dame's Mark Himmelberg says he's glad fellow senior, 6-foot-8 Ryan Willen, is back in the lineup after the Bulldogs started the season 2-3 without him. "I don't care what they say: size does matter," Himmelberg said, discussing Willen, a center who missed the first five games with a stress fracture in his ankle...

Jane Morrill, Notre Dame (12/26/07) The Notre Dame girls basketball team on Thursday and Friday avenged two losses from earlier this season to capture the championship of the Saint Francis Medical Center Holiday Classic at the Show Me Center. That gave the No. 6 seed Bulldogs three upset wins to capture the title...

GAME 5: Willen leads Notre Dame past Advance (12/26/07) Ryan Willen poured in 28 points, and Notre Dame's pressure defense forced Advance into turnover after turnover resulting in a 70-29 victory for the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament's fifth seed. Austin Greer, who scored 12 points, was the only other Notre Dame player in double figures. Ten different players scored for the Bulldogs...

Bell City eager to defend Christmas tournament title (12/24/07) Third-year Bell City coach Brian Brandtner says one of the finest moments he has experienced while leading the Cubs came when his team won last year's Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament. "Growing up in the area and being around the Christmas tournament as a small child on up, my whole life, the teams you watch only win it so often," he said. "So it's such a great honor to win it. That was absolutely a special moment."...

Bell City eager to defend (12/23/07) Third-year Bell City coach Brian Brandtner says one of the finest moments he has experienced while leading the Cubs came when his team won last year's Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament. "Growing up in the area and being around the Christmas tournament as a small child on up, my whole life, the teams you watch only win it so often," he said. "So it's such a great honor to win it. That was absolutely a special moment."...

Notre Dame falls on last-second shot (12/23/07) Admittedly, Gateway Tech isn't the best shooting basketball team in the state of Missouri. But with a front line featuring 6 foot 8 Jessie Perry, 6-6 Kenneth Harris, 6-5 Corey Breeding and 6-4 Sheldon Richardson, the Jaguars will be able to convert a few of those misses into baskets...

Notre Dame claims Classic title as the sixth seed (12/22/07) With its double-digit lead having dwindled to just two points with less than a minute to play, the Notre Dame girls basketball team seemed to be showing its youth. But after Farmington's Taylor Jensen missed the second of her two free throws with 53 seconds remaining, Farmington decided to test Notre Dame's mettle from the free-throw line...

Sixth-seeded Bulldogs reach tournament final (12/21/07) The final four of the Saint Francis Medical Center Holiday Classic know each other well from the Farmington Invitational earlier this season. But the Notre Dame Bulldogs are doing their best to reintroduce themselves as a team with confidence. The Bulldogs hammered Jackson 52-34 in a championship semifinal game Thursday night at the Show Me Center, avenging a 14-point loss Dec. 1 in the fifth-place game at the Farmington Invitational...

Perryville dumps Crusaders (12/21/07) Ava Johnson scored 18 points and helped Perryville clamp down on defense in the second quarter as the Pirates routed Saxony Lutheran 77-26 in a consolation semifinal at the Saint Francis Medical Center Holiday Classic at the Show Me Center on Thursday...

Farmington opens tourney with 64-6 rout of Crusaders (12/20/07) Top seeded Farmington led 50-0 at halftime and won 64-6 as they made easy work of a young Saxony Lutheran team in the first round of the Saint Francis Medical Center Holiday Classic. Brooke Valleroy, Emma Meraz and Kara Verseman each had two points for the Crusaders...

East Prairie hangs on to beat Bloomfield 73-68 (12/19/07) M.C. Williams scored a season-high 29 points to lead the Eagles

Scott City boys win, improve mark to 4-0 (12/19/07) The Scott City boys basketball team remained perfect through four games with a 70-38 drubbing of Poplar Bluff at home Tuesday night. The Rams bolted to a 19-2 lead after one period and a 36-11 advantage at halftime. Six-foot-5 senior center Alex King led the Rams with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while guard Jay Simmons recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds. Shae Simmons added 10 points, and Caleb Estes chipped in with 12. Derrick Laxton had six rebounds and five assists...

St. Vincent girls roll past Meadow Heights (12/18/07) Lacey Siegmund led the way for St. Vincent, scoring a team-high nine points and grabbing 10 rebounds as the Indians rolled past Meadow Heights 51-30 in a girls basketball game Monday night in Perryville. Brooke Brown (eight points, seven rebounds) and Kelsey Cissell (eights points, eight rebounds) also played well...

Deja Whew: Sikeston holds off Notre Dame 75-70 (12/16/07) Bulldogs hold off Notre Dame one week after 33-point victory

Porter leads Sikeston past Notre Dame (12/15/07) Michael Porter pumped his fist and did a little dance at the free-throw line after hitting his first of two free throws. Porter's free throw gave Sikeston a four-point lead with 2.4 seconds left Friday night. After being unable to shake Notre Dame all game, Sikeston finally could let out a sigh of relief, as it held on for the 75-70 victory...

Notre Dame swimmerssweep three-team meet (12/14/07) Notre Dame took first place in all 11 events as it rolled at the St. Vincent three team girls swimming meet Thursday. Brittany Menz and Lauren Castleman led the Bulldogs by aiding in the victories by the 200 medley relay, the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Castleman also won the 50 freestyle and Menz won the 100 freestyle...

Risco loses in pool play at Clarkton tournament (12/12/07) Staff Reports ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com CLARKTON -- The Risco Tigers lost to a tough Gosnell (Ark.) team Tuesday night in their second game of pool play at the Clarkton Tournament 77-52. "Gosnell is probably one of the best teams we've played all year," said Risco head coach Brandon Blankenship. "I know the score doesn't show it but we came out and played well tonight."...

Bernie remains undefeated heading into game with Bell City (12/12/07) BERNIE -- The Mules improved their record to a perfect 5-0 on the season with a 82-45 SCAA Conference win over the Woodland Cardinals at home Tuesday. Zach Curry used four 3-pointers to score a game-high 20 points for the Mules, who took control of the game in the first half...

Greer's return sparks ND to win over NMCC (12/12/07) Junior Austin Greer made his season debut after returning from a back injury and scored 20 points to lead the Notre Dame boys basketball team past visiting New Madrid County Central 62-57 Tuesday night. "He looked pretty good. He gave us some scoring inside," said Notre Dame coach Paul Hale, whose squad has been without the 6-foot-1 Greer and 6-8 Division I recruit Bryce Willen since the start of the season...

Notre Dame rolls past Lady Indians in SEMO opener (12/11/07) In an unfortunate repeat of last year's contest, the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs dominated the Kennett Lady Indians 69-29 in SEMO Conference action Monday night. The game was the SEMO opener for the Lady Tribe (0-5, 0-1 SEMO). Kennett struggled all night on both ends of the court scoring only 29 total points and were plagued by turnovers...

2007 all-Southeast Missourian softball team (12/11/07) The Southeast Missourian sports staff put together a team of the most talented high school softball players in the newspaper's coverage area. Below is the roster, with links to each player's page. P -- Amanda Nichols, Central P -- Jessica Tuschhoff, Jackson...

ND's Reinagel named Southeast Missourian Softball Player of the Year (12/11/07) Notre Dame sophomore Lauren Reinagel said her best performance during her first varsity season came at the Jackson Invitational, when she pitched four games in one day, winning every one. Reinagel's dominance was the main reason the Bulldogs won that tournament for the first time in school history. Afterward she declared her arm felt just fine...

Central girls rout Charleston 71-27 (12/11/07) The Central girls basketball team put on a dominant performance at home against Charleston, allowing only nine points in the second half, in the Tigers' 71-27 victory Monday. Four Central players scored in double digits, including Wendi Zickfield, who led the way with 14 points...

Sikeston blows out short-handed Notre Dame (12/09/07) By David Jenkins ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com SIKESTON -- All season long, the Sikeston Bulldogs have played one good half of basketball and have had one bad half. On Friday night the Bulldogs put it all together and hammered their arch-rival Notre Dame 78-45 to claim third place in the SEMO Conference Tournament...

Morrill nets 21 as Bulldogs earn win (12/09/07) Jane Morrill scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Notre Dame girls basketball team to a 57-43 victory against Westminster on Saturday. Paige Schumer added four points and seven rebounds, while Alex Fowler had seven points and six boards...

Shorthanded Bulldogs suffer loss in third-place contest (12/08/07) SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Notre Dame boys basketball team, last year's Class 4 state runner-up, came home from the SEMO Conference tournament with its second consecutive lopsided loss. Not that it's an acceptable showing for the tournament's top seed, but it is understandable...

Bluejays rout Notre Dame in SEMO Conference semifinal (12/07/07) By Andrew Powell ~ sd_sports@yahoo.com SIKESTON -- The Charleston Bluejays will try to repeat as SEMO Conference Champions tonight after beating the No. 1 seed Notre Dame Bulldogs in Thursday's semifinals 77-47. Charleston wasted no time after the opening tip off as they took control on both ends of the court, leading with their signature defense and finishing with their newlysparked offense...

Lady 'Dogs take bite out of Kennett (12/07/07) The Portageville Lady Bulldogs have gotten off to a fast start this year, winning their first seven games of the new season. The Lady 'Dogs also got off to a fast start Thursday night, opening the first two quarters on 21-4 and 19-0 runs, respectively, to take a 68-32 win over the Kennett Lady Indians in Bootheel Conference action...

Top-seed ND falls in semis to Charleston (12/07/07) SIKESTON, Mo. -- Notre Dame was without two of its top players in Ryan Willen and Austin Greer when it took the court against Charleston in the semifinals of the SEMO Conference tournament on Thursday. Charleston's Jerquawn Sherrell said his team was aware of Notre Dame's vulnerabilities with the absence of Willen and Greer, both sidelined with injuries...

Delta, Kelly to play for title of Chaffee basketball tourney (12/07/07) Sara Blattel scored 20 points and Taylor Smith added 12 as Delta knocked off Oran 47-35 in the semifinals of the Chaffee girls basketball tournament Thursday. The Bobcats will face Kelly for the title Saturday. The Hawks beat Scott City 48-35 on Wednesday...

Eagles oust 'Cats from SEMO Conference tourney (12/06/07) SIKESTON -- New Madrid County Central's Koney Ealy scored a game-high 18 points and was an imposing figure around the basket as the Eagles defeated the Dexter Bearcats, 51-44, during SEMO Conference tournament action Wednesday at Sikeston. Dexter only trailed 23-20 at the half, but the Bearcats went ice cold in the third period and could only manage five points in the frame as the Eagles pulled away for an 11-point advantage, 35-25...

Problems with the Central pool pump kept swimmers on land (12/06/07) Many members of the Central team did karaoke and other similar activities instead of actual swimming during the first two weeks of winter practice. "We did karaoke, but not the singing kind," Tigers senior Amity Downing said, laughing. "So it is like this ..."...

Sikeston tops stubborn Mules; Notre Dame squeaks by Dexter (12/05/07) In other action at the SEMO Conference tournament, Jackson cruised past Cape Central in teams' second meeting of the season.

'Cats give'em a scare, but come up short (12/05/07) SIKESTON -- The Dexter Bearcats gave the SEMO Conference tournament's top-seeded team a scare, but in the end Notre Dame rode the three-ball to a 65-59 win Tuesday in day-two action at Sikeston. Notre Dame's Ty Williams and Mark Himmelberg combined for eight 3-pointers, six in the second half, to help the injury plagued Bulldogs rally from a 50-48 fourth-quarter deficit and advance to tournament's semifinal round...

High school honors (12/05/07) Class 2 All-Region Soccer (Southeast Region) Parker Rawdon, sr., forward, Clayton; Scott Belsky, sr., midfielder, Clayton; D J Lambert, sr., goaliekeeper, Lutheran South; Nick Platipodis, jr,, sweeper, Lutheran South;Nelson Dorvlo, sr., forward, University City; Patrick McCaffey, so., forward, DuBourg; Sam Brotherton, jr., midfielder, Affton; Clint Carder, jr., midfielder, De Soto; Alex Haverstick, so, forward, De Soto; Scott Droddy, sr., goalkeeper, Sikeston; Patrick Wulfers, sr., forward, Farmington; Mike Alvarado, jr., forward, Windsor; Ty Williams, sr., forward, Notre Dame; Ryan Willen, sr., Midfielder, Notre Dame; Mark Zimmer, sr., defender, Notre Dame; Ryan Bass, jr., goalkeeper, Notre Dame; Mark Himmelberg, sr., defender, Notre Dame; John Unterreiner, jr., midfielder, Notre Dame; Joda Holloway, jr., midfielder, Notre Dame.. ...

Notre Dame fends off Dexter (12/05/07) The short-handed Notre Dame boys basketball team survived an upset bid as the Bulldogs opened their season Tuesday night in the SEMO Conference tournament at Sikeston. Top-seeded Notre Dame, playing without 6-foot-8 all-stater Ryan Willen and fellow returning starter Austin Greer -- both are injured -- slipped past No. 8 Dexter 65-59...

Portageville girls beat Charleston to remain perfect (12/04/07) Dexter blows out Senath; Notre Dame too much for NMCC

'Cats play there way in to SEMO tourney (12/04/07) SIKESTON -- Kevin Hart poured in 24 points to lead the No. 9 Dexter Bearcats to a 55-49 win over No. 8 Kennett in one of two play-in games to open the 2nd Annual SEMO Conference Tournament at Sikeston Monday. The 6'3" senior did most of his damage inside, posting up and crashing the boards for offensive rebounds. ...

Hawks, Rams claim tourney wins (12/04/07) Top-seeded Kelly rolled over eighth-seeded East Prairie in the opening round of the Lady Devils Invitational on Monday night, collecting a 62-32 victory at Chaffee High School. Londyn Backfisch had a game-high 19 points to lead the Hawks (2-0). Kayla Cissell netted 17 points and Sarah Ruff added 15...

ND's Williams leads all-state soccer honors with player of the year (12/04/07) Notre Dame's Ty Williams considers the two Class 2 titles he won playing for the Bulldogs the highlight of his high school soccer career. But he added that the 2007 Class 2 player of the year award he received Monday also feels really sweet. "The state championships are better, but it's nice to to be honored like this, especially since my high school soccer career is over," he said. "It is nice to be honored with that award."...

Central rides Bell to third at Farmington tournament (12/02/07) Central finished in third place at the Farmington basketball tournament with a 48-37 win over Doniphan on Saturday. Senior Jajuan Bell scored 22 points to lead the Tigers. Senior Shane Nolen also played well, chipping in 13 points. The game was tight throughout with the Tigers leading by only three at halftime and by three at the end of the third...

'Cats go cold in the second half, drop home opener to Bulldogs (12/01/07) For the first two quarters it looked like the Dexter Bearcats were going to make a game of it against the highly touted Sikeston Bulldogs. Unfortunately, there are four quarters to a game and the Bearcats couldn't keep pace with the explosive Bulldogs in the second half, dropping an 80-49 decision at home Friday...

SEMOBALL GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM (11/30/07) The top seven girls runners in Southeast Missouri:

Braves, Cubs to play for Oran title (11/30/07) Nick Niemczyk poured in a game-high 44 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead Bell City past Twin Rivers 93-62 on Thursday and into the championship game in the Oran Invitational. The Cubs will face Scott County Central for the title tonight. Niemczyk went 12-for-12 at the free-throw line in the win. Phillip Gross added 23 points for the Cubs...

SEMOBALL BOYS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM (11/30/07) The top seven runners in Southeast Missouri:

SEMO tournament tips off Monday (11/29/07) Notre Dame has No. 1 seed (List of games at bottom of story)

Central, Jackson boys advance to semifinal showdown (11/28/07) Central and Jackson set up a Friday meeting in the semifinals of the Farmington Invitational with wins Tuesday in the opening-round games. The teams will meet 7:30 p.m. at the Farmington Civic Center, with the tourney's third-place and final games set for Saturday...

Bulldogs dominate honors (11/22/07) The Notre Dame softball team came close to a perfect season this fall, going 29-1 and finishing third in the state in Class 3. And with the Bulldogs' success on the diamond came many individual honors for the players. Notre Dame pitcher Lauren Reinagel, who posted a 28-1 record, earned Class 3 all-state honors. ...

Notre Dame repeats as Class 2 champions (11/11/07) State champions -- again. Notre Dame midfielder Ryan Willen debated over whether to return to the Bulldogs after winning a Class 2 title with the team last fall. He was considering focusing primarily on his basketball career. But Willen did return with the idea in mind of winning another state championship...

No offense, but defense comes first (11/11/07) Notre Dame's Mark Himmelberg scored the game-winning goal for the Bulldogs late in the second half of last year's Class 2 state championship game. This year he helped the Bulldogs capture their second straight title in a new role as a sweeper. Himmelberg was called upon to move from forward to defense in mid-October because of an ACL injury to defender Chris McMillan...

Notre Dame to play for Class 2 soccer title (11/10/07) FENTON, Mo. -- Notre Dame forward Brock Dirnberger said he and his teammates were feeling stressed before their Class 2 state semifinal game against Duchesne on Friday evening. The stress mainly resulted, he said, from the team's bus breaking down twice on the way to the game in Fenton...

Meeting helps 'Dogs find chemistry (11/10/07) FENTON, Mo. -- Notre Dame forward Brock Dirnberger felt a good deal of pressure at the beginning of this season. He was taking over one of the two forward positions vacated by the graduation of his cousin, Abe Dirnberger, and Jack Wedemeier, two of the top offensive players on the Bulldogs' Class 2 state title team of a year ago. Wedemeier set a school record with 30 goals in one season...

Adept at adapting (11/09/07) An injury to a key defender late in the season threatened to create a speed bump in Notre Dame's road to back-to-back state championships. When senior Chris McMillan went down with a knee injury against Clayton on Oct. 13, Bulldogs soccer coach Brad Wittenborn was forced to make some changes. He moved a forward to sweeper, his sweeper to stopper and inserted a utility player into McMillan's spot...

Bulldogs make final push today against Duchesne (11/09/07) A quick glance at Duchesne's 16-9-2 record could lead one to believe the Pioneers will be an easy out in the Class 2 state soccer semifinals. That would be a mistake, Notre Dame senior Matt Kiblinger said. "We know that their record isn't amazing, but you have to look at who they play," he said. "They have the tough competition, and I know they're going to be ready for us. We just have to take it to them."...

Golden touch (11/09/07) Ty Williams uses every body part to blast shots past opposing goalies. He used his head to rocket the ball into the goal during the district title game against De Soto. The Notre Dame senior again went to his noggin in the state quarterfinals against Clayton...

Central's pool problems stunted competitors' training (11/08/07) Central captain Peyton Waggener has witnessed first hand how pump failures at the Central Municipal Pool adversely affected the Tigers and other local swimming programs. The pool problems caused the teams to schedule practice sessions at other facilites where they have not been able to put in as many hours as usual...

Notre Dame reaches Class 2 semifinals (11/07/07) FENTON -- Mark Himmelberg considers Notre Dame's previous meeting with Clayton, back on Oct. 13, a turning point. The second meeting was a stepping stone. Notre Dame defeated Clayton 2-0 on Tuesday night in the Class 2 quarterfinals at the Anheuser-Busch Center, earning a berth in Friday's semifinal round as the Bulldogs try to defend their state championship...

Notre Dame wraps up another top-four finish (11/04/07) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Notre Dame boys cross country team had its fifth consecutive top-four finish in hand, and some of the Bulldogs runners already were thinking about 2008. "I'm looking to get first place next year," junior Dillon Klaffer said. "I'm looking to come back next year and have a big senior year."...

Central football closes season with 27-20 district win (11/02/07) Senior running back Derek Walker rushed for more than 200 yards in his final game as the Tigers ended a disappointing football season with a 27-20 victory over Sikeston on senior night at Houck Stadium on Thursday. Central picked up its first district win and just its second victory of the season, concluding with a 2-8 record...

Bulldogs capture district title (11/01/07) FARMINGTON -- Ryan Bass passed all the tests De Soto kicked at him Wednesday night, including the one he barely remembers. Bass made 11 saves in Notre Dame's 2-0 shutout of the Dragons in the Class 2 District 1 championship game played at Farmington...

Pepsi Showcase Tickets on sale Monday (10/31/07) From a press release issued today by the Show Me Center: This Dec. 22, the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau asks "Who's Next?" To answer this question the venue has teamed with Pepsi to create the Pepsi Showcase, which brings fourteen of the hottest regional teams from Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee to compete in seven exhibition battles demonstrating their basketball prowess...

Willen commits verbally to Lafayette (10/31/07) Notre Dame's Ryan Willen confirmed Tuesday that he has verbally accepted a full scholarship to play basketball at Lafayette College, which has a Division I program in the Patriot League. Willen, who also received offers from two other Division I programs -- North Dakota State and Texas-Pan American -- said he selected Lafayette after visiting the school last weekend...

Sikeston soccer falls to rival Notre Dame (10/30/07) The Bulldogs finished 8-15-1 after losing 2-0 in the district semifinals.

Notre Dame edges Festus for second place (10/28/07) POTOSI, Mo. -- Saturday was about survival for the Notre Dame cross country team. The Bulldogs survived, using their depth to outrun Festus by six points for the second state-qualifying spot in the Class 3 District 1 meet at Potosi City Park. Now, they can set their sights on a fifth consecutive top-four state finish...

Notre Dame's postseason run ends at sectional (10/28/07) DE SOTO, Mo. -- Saturday's loss to Lutheran South in the Class 3 sectional left the Notre Dame volleyball team at .500 for the season. But the Bulldogs can be satisfied adding to their tradition of state playoff showings -- now at seven appearances in the last eight years -- during a season of transition...

Dexter falls to Notre Dame in district volleyball final (10/24/07) Josh Mills ~ Standard Democrat DEXTER -- The Dexter Lady Bearcats volleyball team had a busy night on Tuesday, as they won their first match in districts over the Perryville Lady Pirates in three games, 24-26, 25-14 and 26-24. Then, the Lady Bearcats had to turn right around and play the Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs for the district title, where they fell in two straight games, 18-25 and 22-25...

Notre Dame ends Lady Tribe's season in district semifinals (10/24/07) DEXTER, Mo. -- Paige Schumer had 21 assists, while Kelsey Bradshaw added 17 digs and Taylor Sanders finished with nine kills as the top-seeded Notre Dame Lady Bulldogs downed the Kennett Lady Indians 25-19, 25-21 in the semifinals of the Class 3, District 1 Tournament here Tuesday...

Notre Dame repeats; Dexter’s Lady ‘Cats finish second, again (10/24/07) Notre Dame High School celebrated a second-straight Class 3, District 1 volleyball championship on Dexter’s court as the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Bearcats, 25-18, 25-22, Tuesday. Top-seeded Notre Dame had earlier advance to the championship match with a 25-19, 25-21 win over No. 4 Kennett, while the host Lady Bearcats, seeded No. 2, needed three games against No. 3 Perryville to advance out of the semifinals, 24-26, 25-14, 26-24...

Notre Dame repeats; Dexter’s Lady ‘Cats finish second, again (10/24/07) Notre Dame High School celebrated a second-straight Class 3, District 1 volleyball championship on Dexter’s court as the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Bearcats, 25-18, 25-22, Tuesday. Top-seeded Notre Dame had earlier advance to the championship match with a 25-19, 25-21 win over No. 4 Kennett, while the host Lady Bearcats, seeded No. 2, needed three games against No. 3 Perryville to advance out of the semifinals, 24-26, 25-14, 26-24...

Notre Dame volleyball claims district title with sweep in final (10/24/07) Notre Dame captured the championship in the Class 3 District 1 tournament Tuesday night at Dexter, beating Kennett 25-19, 25-21 in a district semifinal and then defeating Dexter 25-18, 25-22 in the championship. The Bulldogs (15-14-2) were led by senior Paige Schumer in the first match. Schumer, who was sidelined for the past two seasons because of injuries, had 21 assists. Junior Kelsey Bradshaw added 17 digs, and junior Taylor Sanders had nine kills...

Notre Dame took relaxed approach to consolation final (10/21/07) Notre Dame sophomore Lauren Reinagel was doing some dancing out on the mound while she warmed up for the third inning of the Class 3 third-place consolation game against Platte County on Friday. And she was even smiling from ear to ear while she faced some batters...

Bulldogs suffer first loss of year in Class 3 semis (10/20/07) COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For the first time this fall, Notre Dame sophomore Lauren Reinagel was outpitched. Reinagel entered Friday's Class 3 state semifinal against Webb City with a 27-0 record, a 0.47 ERA and 235 strikeouts. But Webb City's Nicole Hudson was more relaxed and in command...

Pickoff plays bolster defense (10/19/07) On the rare occasion pitcher Lauren Reinagel allows a base runner, Notre Dame breaks out its secret weapon. The Bulldogs have perfected their pickoff plays, gunning down opposing players who dare to venture too far from the base. "It takes a lot of pressure off Lauren because it keeps the baserunners off the base if it works," Notre Dame catcher Lauren Bond said. "She doesn't have to worry about getting all the outs."...

Bulldogs face Webb City in Class 3 semifinals (10/19/07) Lauren Reinagel and her Notre Dame teammates headed for the state softball tournament Thursday, but Reinagel made sure she was ready well before then. "I have my bags packed and I'm really excited," she said Wednesday. "I packed about Saturday night when I got home."...

Errors pile up in Poplar Bluff's loss to Cape Central (10/19/07) By DAR STAFF CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Poplar Bluff committed 29 unforced errors and had just 13 total kills in a 25-22, 25-9 loss to Cape Central. Jamie Fritts led the Lady Mules with seven kills while Hannah Pratt and Kaci Tapp had two each. Tapp and Abby Ivie combined for 11 assists...

Ralls adds power to the Notre Dame lineup (10/18/07) Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett declared at the start of the season that he was looking to Alexis Ralls to account for much of the power his lineup lost after graduating last year's top slugger, Kristain Burger. Ralls felt the pressure of the high expectations...

Lady Bulldogs rally past Dexter's Lady 'Cats (10/16/07) Rivals could meet again for Class 3, District 1 title

Jackson sweeps Perryville (10/16/07) Megan Spooler smacked eight kills and added 10 digs and two blocks to lead the Jackson volleyball team to a win against Perryville on Monday. Chelsea Olson chipped in six digs, 11 assists and six kills while Jill Rushin added six blocks for the Indians (18-7-1)...

Bulldogs survive double overtime (10/14/07) John Unterreiner took a pass from Trenton Vance to score the game-winner in double overtime to lead the Notre Dame boys soccer team to victory Saturday. The Bulldogs improved to 16-3-1 overall with the 1-0 win against Clayton. Notre Dame goalie Ryan Bass had 16 saves in the shutout...

Bulldogs advance (10/14/07) BALLWIN -- Notre Dame's Alecia Glaus was not in the starting lineup when the Bulldogs faced Affton in the Class 3 state quarterfinals Saturday. But by the end of the game, she had played as big a role as any member of the Notre Dame team. The sophomore entered in the top of the fifth inning with the score knotted 1-1 as a courtesy runner for Whitney Eftink, who had doubled. ...