C6D1: Jackson knocks off Kirkwood to win title

The Jackson Indians survived a game-winning three-point attempt by the Kirkwood Pioneers to win 39-37 on Monday in the Class 6 District 1 championship at Kirkwood High School.

Jackson’s Blayne Harris said seeing the final shot go up felt like slow motion.

“It was nerve-wracking to see him get it off,” Harris said. “There was a moment of relief when I saw it hit the ground.”

Indians senior Clayton Ernst said it was rewarding to see all of the team’s hard work paying off.

“It just feels great,” Ernst said. “We’ve been going for 10 months, man.”

The Indians trailed 12-9 after the first quarter but led 17-16 heading into the locker room at halftime.

Kirkwood would respond in the third quarter as they took a 28-24 lead into the fourth quarter.

Jackson was able to battle back and keep the game close before knocking down some big shots and coming up with some big stops down the stretch.

Jackson led 35-33 with under a minute left before turning it over and allowing the Pioneers to cut it to 35-34.

The Indians would knock down 4-straight free throws to go up 39-34 when the Pioneers hit a corner three to make it 38-37 with 8 seconds left.

After Kaed Winborne split a pair of free throws the Indians could only watch as the Pioneers’ final attempt from three would be no good.

“We hit some free throws and we took care of the ball,” Jackson coach Kory Thoma said.

Ernst credited the togetherness of the team for the success the Indians had down the stretch in the fourth quarter.

“We were just able to stay together,” Ernst said. “We stayed together the entire time and that’s really what pushed us through to win this game.”

In Thoma’s first season at the helm, the Indians claim their first district title since 2020.

“It’s all about the kids,” Thoma said. “I just point them in the right direction.”

Jackson (20-9) will take on Eureka at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 10 at Jefferson College in Hillsboro.

“We got some tape on them and we’re back in the gym tomorrow,” Thoma said. “We’ll see them on a neutral court so it’ll be nice to see a team on a neutral court. (Eureka) is going to be a tough out.”

Ernst feels it will be critical for the Indians to keep doing what they’ve been doing all season long.

“It’ll just be the same approach that we had to this game,” Ernst said. “We’re just practicing each day, getting better, getting shots up, staying together as a team, eating good and sleeping good.”