HS HOOPS: Notre Dame recovering just fine

Notre Dame is coping without guards Jahmel Taylor and Ausar Madison, both of whom transferred out after starting as freshmen last year.

Taylor is at Sierra Canyon, and Madison went to a prep school in Massachusetts, but nevertheless Notre Dame is 9-3 and does not plan on backing away from anyone once Mission League competition begins Monday against Loyola followed by a game Friday against Harvard-Westlake.

"Obviously, initially it was hard to see those two go, but that's the way it is - kids move on," Notre Dame coach Bill Bedgood said.

Jonathan Bell, Kennedy Edwards and Antwon Johnson are among the players who've picked up the slack. Bell scored a career-high 32 points Wednesday in a win over Turlock in the Modesto Christian tournament.

"It was phenomenal. It was the best I've seen him play," Bedgood said.

Notre Dame will know more about where it stands after next week because Loyola and Harvard-Westlake, both in higher playoff divisions, are the Mission League favorites.

"We get the two big dogs right away," Bedgood said.

Loyola coach Jamal Adams thinks the Mission league is tougher than ever, and he could have a point because all seven teams are above .500.

"I've been around the league for 16 years, and this is as good as it's been," Adams said. "It's going to be an absolute war every night."