Notre Dame rides athleticism to rout of Jackson in SEMO title game

Jackson's Piper Guilliams (23) looks to shoot the ball while being contested by Notre Dame's Emily Kellum (5) during the Semo Conference Tournament championship game Thursday at Cape Central High School in Cape Girardeau.

Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian

The Notre Dame girl’s basketball squad isn’t going to overwhelm any opponent with its size. However, when it comes to athleticism and using it to cover space defensively, the Bulldogs are more than capable of utilizing that to their advantage.

“We have to,” Notre Dame coach Kirk Boeller said. “We don’t have anybody big to slow things down. So we use our athletic speed to our advantage.”

Notre Dame extended its defense all game Thursday in the SEMO Conference Tournament championship game against Jackson at Cape Girardeau Central and easily won the title with a 52-34 victory.

The Indians (3-1) were able to handle the defensive pressure for a while, as they tied the game at 17 on a 3-pointer from senior Piper Guilliams in the final minutes of the second quarter.

Guilliams hit consecutive 3-pointers and scored 10 points in the opening half to keep Jackson in the game.

However, the relentlessness and quickness of Notre Dame (4-0) began to take its toll on Jackson.

Following Guilliams’ long shots, Notre Dame tore off on a 5-0 run on a basket from Emily Kellum and then a precursor of things to come from Delaney Dohogne, as the junior drained a 3-pointer.

“Delaney is so smart,” Boeller said. “She knows where to put herself, position wise, on the court, before any (coach) can tell her where to go.”

The Indians only trailed 24-21 at the break, but little did anyone realize, this game was about to be decided.

Neither team could muster much offense in the third quarter initially, but Notre Dame sophomore Lexi Rubel took a pass from Tori Rubel and hit a shot at the 5:45 mark to break the ice.

Lexi added an offensive rebound and basket for a 28-21 advantage and the Bulldog beatdown was underway.

Notre Dame scored 15 consecutive points and led 39-21 before Jackson shooter Brooke Thompson hit a 3-pointer to giver her team some semblance of offense.

The Bulldog defense forced six turnovers in the third quarter and 14 in the second half, as Notre Dame outscored Jackson 17-3 in the third quarter and 28-13 in the second half.

“We decided to start guarding in the second half,” Boeller said. “When all five (players) decide to guard, we have enough athletes that it is pretty tough.”

Through the dominating quarter, Dohogne hit a 3-pointer, made a steal and scored, made another steal, and hit consecutive 3-pointers to crush any Indian thoughts of a comeback.

It was an impressive outing for an athlete who is in her first varsity season.

“She has a knack for the basket,” Boeller said of Dohogne.

Dohogne scored 11 of her team-high 16 points in the second half, while the Bulldogs kept Guilliams off the scoreboard for the final two periods.

“Delaney was confident,” Boeller said. “She was busting it.”

As good as Notre Dame was defensively, it shredded the Jackson zone defense with ball movement and spacing.

“The plan was to look for the open spot,” Boeller explained. “If you see it, attack it.”

Dohogne hit four 3-pointers, while Lexi Rubel added 12 points in the win and Kellum totaled nine.

Guilliams paced the Indians, while Madison Lambert had seven in the loss.

Notre Dame will compete in the Border Challenge event on Dec. 12, while Jackson will host Farmington at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Notre Dame 52, Jackson 34

Notre Dame - 11 13 17 11 - 52

Jackson - 10 11 3 10 - 34

Notre Dame - Kellum 9, Smith 1, Jansen 2, Dohogne 16, Burger 2, L. Rubel 12, Rodgers 4, T. Rubel 6. FG 18, FTs 10-17, 3-pointers (Kellum, Dohogne 4)

Jackson - Thompson 8, Ward 2, Emmendorfer 2, Waller 3, Lambert 7, Guilliams 10, Burroughs 2. FG 13, FTs 3-5, 3-pointers (Thompson 2, Waller, Guilliams 2).