GIRLS BASKETBALL: Nikes oust New London, Myers gains 100th win

Joe Geren   | The Hawk Eye

Reaching the 100th victory for Notre Dame High School girls basketball coach Jim Myers seemed to take forever, but then again it didn’t.

Myers picked up his 99th win as Notre Dame’s coach on Feb. 5 with a 64-40 decision over Mediapolis. No. 100 could have occurred the next day when the Nikes were to host New London. Bad weather canceled that game.

Myers had another shot at No. 100 on Feb. 8 with a home game scheduled against Van Buren County, but that game was also canceled due to weather.

Mother Nature cooperated Thursday night. Tenth-ranked Notre Dame opened the Class 1A, Region 5 tournament with a 63-37 win over New London at Father Minett Gymnasium.

The Nikes (17-1) advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinal round, hosting WACO (8-12) at 7 p.m.

Although Myers’ 100th win was twice delayed this season, it came quickly over the course of his career. He reached the milestone in just six seasons and this season isn’t over yet.

No. 100 may have been a bit of surprise for Myers.

“Last week or the week before it was so weird because of the snow,” he said. “We hadn’t played in a week. Matt Levins from The Hawk Eye asked me how many wins I had and I said I have no idea, didn’t have a clue. He told me I had 99, so at that point I knew, but again I forgot about that tonight. My brain just doesn’t work like that.

“I mean it’s nice,” Myers said. “I like it. A hundred wins wouldn’t be there without my staff. I feel very comfortable and fortunate I’ve had just a great staff. That’s the big reason I have a hundred wins. I’ve always had a great staff here.”

His current staff includes assistant coaches Mike Walters, Steve Gray, Kim Hedges and Meghan Stephens.

Four of his six seasons at Notre Dame produced winning records. His best, so far, was his first season when his 2015-16 Nikes went 24-2 with a state tournament appearance.

“We’ve had some really good seasons,” he said.

His third season, though, not so much.

“We only won eight games and then the next year we won just nine or 10 (11 actually),” Myers said, “but then we took off again. It’s a small school and they have those dips at a small school where we just didn’t have the players that we need to get deep in the playoffs and get a lot of those wins that we’re accustomed to.”

Myers’ teams went 24-2, 20-5, 8-13, 11-12, 20-5 and this year’s 17-1. He has coached seven all-state players at Notre Dame.

“We had three years at state and we did win a bunch of games,” Myers said. “The girls believe in the system. You have that and you can win anything.”

Prior to Notre Dame, Myers was head coach at Burlington High School in the early 2000s and also coached Southeastern Community College’s women.

He doesn’t remember his record at BHS. “I think I was about 20-25 games over .500,” he said. “I don’t know what I have overall, 150 wins, maybe, altogether.” 

At Notre Dame, Myers’ record is 100-38.

Thursday night, the Nikes never trailed. They were up 7-0 before Sophie Malott’s 3-pointer put New London on the scoreboard.

Notre Dame had just two runs longer than that 7-0 start. In the second quarter, Karli Artman’s steal and layup gave the Nikes a nine-point run and a 25-10 lead. New London’s Ashlyn McSorley ended the spree with two free throws.

Late in the third quarter, Shelby Bowman’s 3-pointer started a 10-point Notre Dame run. Bowman added a free throw, Abby Korschgen made a free throw, Reagan Engberg nailed a 3-pointer and then connected on two free throws for a 55-27 Notre Dame lead.

Notre Dame’s Megan Harrell led all scorers with 26 points, including five 3-pointers. Artman scored 10 points. Katy Stephens and Bowman each scored seven points, Engberg finished with five and Korschgen and Gabby Deery each had four points.

Marah Hartrick led New London with 12 points on four 3-pointers. McSorley had eight points, Malott had seven, and Keaura Williams scored six. Natalie Burden and Camryn Lair each added two points.

New London had just eight players, but only one (Hartrick) is a senior.

Notre Dame’s next opponent, WACO, advanced with a 56-50 win over Highland at Wayland. The Nikes defeated WACO twice in the regular season, 76-38 Jan. 8 at Notre Dame and 70-27 Jan. 18 at Wayland.

Tuesday’s winner advances to the regional semifinals Feb. 19 at Winfield. The regional championship game is scheduled for Feb. 24 at a site to be determined. The regional champion earns a berth in the state tournament.

Two other ranked teams remain in the running in Region 5: No. 9 Winfield-Mount Union (17-0), whom could face Notre Dame in the semifinals, and No. 8 Springville (18-3) in the top bracket.