BURROUGHS THWARTS ND GIRLS AGAIN

PARK HILLS -- There are scoring droughts.

Then there is what happened to Notre Dame at Park Hills Central High School on Saturday.

The Lady Bulldogs failed to score in the second quarter and hit just one of their 15 shots in a stretch through the second and third quarters as John Burroughs fought off a valiant comeback and ended Notre Dame's state run for the second straight year, 44-40, in a Class 2A state quarterfinal game.

"We were getting the shots we wanted and we were getting the right ones to take the shots," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim. "I don't know why it was that we tightened up. I guess we've waited the whole year to get back to this game and to play this team."

Notre Dame (22-6) had several easy layups and short jumpers that did everything but drop through the orange cylinder.

For the game, the Lady Bulldogs shot just 30 percent (16-of-52).

After not scoring a basket during an 11-minute drought in the second and third quarters, during which time Notre Dame was outscored 12-0, Ashley Millham finally hit a field goal with 5:35 to go in the third to cut the lead to 22-10.

Notre Dame, which trailed by as many as 14 points early in the third quarter, got itself within two points midway through the fourth. The Lady Bulldogs actually outscored John Burroughs 23-10 in the fourth quarter but lost the game.

Deana McCormick cut the Lady Bulldogs' deficit to single digits when she hit a pair of free throws with 5:32 left in the fourth to make the score 31-22. After a defensive stop, McCormick hit two more free throws, making it 31-24 with 5:56 to go.

A few possessions later, Ashley Millham nailed a three to make the score 31-27.

Ashley's sister, Lisa, moments later scored to make it 32-29.

Burroughs extended its lead to seven points, 36-29, but Notre Dame mounted another charge.

Lisa Millham hit a three at the 3:37 mark to cut the lead to 36-32 with 3:34 to go. After two missed free throws by John Burroughs (20-10), McCormick hit a nifty right-handed hook shot to cut the deficit to 36-34.

But that's as close as Notre Dame would come as the Lady Bombers finally began hitting their free throws.

"Any time you come from 14 down and cut it to two, that's a great effort," said Grim. "Our kids just worked extremely hard."

McCormick and Lisa Millham each scored 12 points for the Lady Bulldogs.

For John Burroughs, Amy Argetsinger scored a game-high 15.

"I was surprised, stunned and shocked," said John Burroughs coach Dennis Moore. "I hope our defense had something to do with (Notre Dame's shooting). I thought we were fortunate, but that's the name of the game.

"I thought we'd have a .500 season. We're so young and inexperienced."

Notre Dame played what was likely its worst half of the season in the first 16 minutes.

Notre Dame, which trailed 10-8 at the start of the second quarter, was shut out in the period.

John Burroughs got out to a quick start in the second quarter, making two of its first three shots and taking a 17-8 lead at the 4:30 mark.

The Lady Bulldogs, with McCormick and starting forward Jessica Seratti both out for much of the second with two fouls, missed all seven of their shots of the second quarter.

Notre Dame also turned the ball over four times in the period.

When the half was completed, the Lady Bulldogs made just four of their 17 shots from the field and turned the ball over 10 times.

John Burroughs led 19-8 at the half.