Bluff's big finish eliminates Jackson

~ The two-time defending state champion posted a 52-37 victory.

The Jackson boys basketball team held Poplar Bluff star Ben Hansbrough to just 12 points -- including two second-half points -- but the Indians offense wilted under the Mules' pressure defense in a 52-37 loss on Tuesday in the semifinals of the Class 5 District 1 tournament at Central.

Top-seeded Poplar Bluff had ended the Indians' last two seasons in the district finals. Jackson finished this season 18-8.

"Defense wasn't our problem," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "The defense played well. Until we started fouling, they had 40 points offensively. We just needed to be better against their pressure.

"I've seen them play against Doniphan and Charleston, and they made some teams with great guards look bad."

Jackson found itself in an 18-7 hole after one quarter. The defense picked it up for the Indians in the second period, and an 11-0 run narrowed the margin to 20-18. At the half, Jackson trailed 22-19.

"I think the first half we did a good job contesting their shots and taking away the things away we wanted to," Scott said.

With momentum on its side, Jackson captured its first lead of the game a little more than a minute into the third. Senior point guard Kyle Pridemore's three-point play put Jackson ahead 24-22.

Poplar Bluff answered with an 11-0 run, sparked by six points from senior Allan Spencer. Jackson managed just two points over the final 6:56 of the quarter, and the Mules took control with an 18-2 run to go ahead 40-26.

"The third quarter, we came out with a lot of intensity and did a good job," Scott said. "But they stepped up their defensive intensity, made a run, and we never responded when they made their run."

In the fourth quarter, Poplar Bluff simply passed the ball around as the Indians never made a serious comeback run. The Mules hit 10 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter and finished the game 19-for-23 from the charity stripe.

Spencer led the Mules with 17 points. Other than Hansbrough, Kevin Hutson also was in double figures with 11. Hutson had three 3-pointers.

"They were really clinging hard to Ben," Poplar Bluff coach Travis Brown said. "Ben does a good job distributing the ball, and we got the shots to fall."

Redecker led the Indians with 16 points. No other Jackson player had more than five points.

Jackson will graduate five players off its varsity roster, including three starters. Jackson started four seniors for much of the season, but lost senior guard Drue McNeely to a knee injury about midway through the season.

"Our seniors, they left in all on the floor," Scott said. "They battled."

Poplar Bluff 52, Jackson 37

Jackson 7 12 7 11 -- 37

Poplar Bluff 18 4 18 12 -- 52

JACKSON (37) -- Aaron Redecker 16, Hunter Grantham 5, Spencer Goodman 5, Jake Leet 5, Kyle Pridemore 3, Antonio Garritano 2, Ryan Leet 1. FG 14, FT 7-12, F 20 (3-pointers: J. Leet 1, Goodman 1. Fouled out: Pridemore, Goodman)

POPLAR BLUFF (52) -- Allan Spencer 17, Ben Hansbrough 12, Kevin Hutson 11, Ricky Taylor 4, Rusty Bryant 2, Phillip Brown 2, Jack March 2, Mario Robinson 1, Even Bascombe 1. FG 14, FT 19-23, F 16 (3-pointers: Hutson 3, Hansbrough 2, Spencer 1. Fouled out: none)