Saturday, March 04, 2000
Notre Dame sends message to 9th Region
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
COVINGTON — It's been four years since Notre Dame's basketball team has made it to the Ninth Region girls tournament, but the Pandas are acting like postseason veterans.
Notre Dame backed up its talk in Friday's 35th District finals at Holy Cross. Senior guard Emily Farrell scored 18 points and freshman guard Marquise Hanser added 14 in a 57-49 win over Holmes.
Both Notre Dame and Holmes will play in the Ninth Region tournament that starts Wednesday at Holmes.
Hanser said her team has been a factor all year.
“I think the rest of the region knows we're coming,” she said. “They know.”
Notre Dame, the No. 3 team in The Enquirer's Northern Kentucky coaches poll, enters the regional with a 21-7 record. But the Pandas have lost only to Highlands and Campbell County among local teams.
“I don't think anybody's thought of us as a basketball school,” coach Cheryl Darpel said.
Holmes (14-13) is the defending Ninth Region champion, but the Lady Bulldogs are practically a new team. Coach Alison McCarthy thinks this year's group can play well, but ...
“It hasn't happened ever for 32 minutes,” McCarthy said.
It didn't against Notre Dame on Friday.
Defending one standout Panda would have been tough enough, but Holmes had to contend with Notre Dame's balanced scoring and up-tempo offense in the first quarter.
In taking a 20-13 lead, all five Pandas scored, led by Farrell's six points and five apiece from Hanser and senior guard Mia Bradford.
Holmes' problem was its shooting. The Lady Bulldogs were 20-of-56 from the field, 3-of-10 from 3-point range and 6-of-17 at the free throw line, and they committed 19 turnovers.
McCarthy said she has gotten some leadership from sophomore guard Erica Hallman, who led Holmes Friday with 17 points.
“We're getting a little of it from Erica, but the girls have to play with her,” McCarthy said.
The Lady Bulldogs didn't stay with Hanser in the second quarter. She scored eight of her 13 first-half points, including a pair of 3-pointers, over the first two minutes of the quarter.
After Bradford's field goal gave Notre Dame (21-7) a 30-17 lead with 5:02 left in the half, Holmes drew no closer than 10 points.
Farrell's three field goals over the final 5:02 of the third quarter capped a 10-4 Panda run for a 46-30 lead with a quarter to play.
A 9-2 Holmes run cut Notre Dame's lead to 48-39 with 5:40 to go in the game, but the Pandas hit eight of 12 free throws over the last two minutes.
HOLMES (49): Jackson 3 0 6, Collins 3 1 7, Brinkman 2 1 5, Hodgen 1 0 2, Humphrey 2 0 5, Hallman 7 1 17, Patterson 2 3 7. Totals: 20 6 49.
NOTRE DAME (57): Farrell 5 8 18, Zembrodt 2 0 4, Fox 1 0 2, Bauman 1 0 2, Hanser 5 1 14, Kreyling 2 0 4, Bradford 3 5 11, Fischesser 1 0 2. Totals: 20 14 57.
Holmes ....... 13 11 6 19—49
Notre Dame ....... 20 16 10 11—57
3-point goals: H-Hallman 2, Humphrey; ND-Hanser 3. Records: H 14-13, ND 21-7.
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