After winning the 2019 First State Community Bank Holiday Classic Championship, the Notre Dame girls basketball team has been seeded No. 1 yet again in this year’s tournament.
The Bulldogs won last year’s Holiday Classic by defeating Jackson 57-38 in the title game as the Indians earned the No. 2 this year. Notre Dame beat Jackson 46-33 for the SEMO Conference Tournament Championship on Dec. 4.
However, the Indians were without their returning leading scorer and rebounder from 2019-20 in that one — senior Madison Lambert. She signed with Missouri Baptist last week and will be back for Jackson in the tournament.
Lambert was named to the 10-person, 2019 Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team last winter with fellow senior Olivia Ward. Other returning all-tournament team members include Notre Dame senior Delaney Dohogne and junior Lexi Rubel and Oran senior Katie Webb.
The Eagles have been seeded No. 3 in this year’s tournament as Webb helped Oran win the Lady Devils Invitational by defeating Holiday Classic No. 6 seed Woodland 48-31 for the title Friday. Webb scored a game-high 14 points in the contest.
In last year’s tournament, Jackson didn’t have its current leading scorer junior Jordyn “Jo” McClellan since she missed the season with a torn ACL. McClellan has averaged 14.6 points while leading the team in 3-pointers (16) through five games for the Indians this season.
Saxony Lutheran, which won the SEMO Conference Consolation Championship by defeating Sikeston, is the No. 4 seed and will face No. 5 Delta in the first round of the Holiday Classic this Sunday. Jackson will take on No. 7 Scott City as Notre Dame faces No. 8 Meadow Heights in round one.
