Efficient champs: Jackson wins district title by combined three points

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- As the Jackson boys basketball team hoisted the Class 5 District 1 championship plaque Friday night at Poplar Bluff High School, it looked like the Indians had figured the winning formula with the utmost precision.

The Indians had calculated precisely the amount of gas it would take to win their third district championship in four years. Jackson collected its two district victories by a combined margin of three points.

One day after the Indians survived a double-overtime encounter with rival Central in the semifinals, Jackson squeaked out a 51-50 victory over top-seeded Poplar Bluff.

"It makes it so much sweeter because we had to work so hard for it," said Jackson junior Bobby Clark, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half. "It was a tough game last night, but once we got out here, I knew our adrenaline would carry us through."

A big night by 6-foot-6 senior center Henrie Williams also helped. Williams scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down numerous crucial rebounds.

Jackson's Henrie Williams shoots over Poplar Bluff's Jacob White during Friday's game.

"I think the people got their money's worth watching us play the last two nights," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "They went down to the wire. A lot of free throws and a lot of pressure. That's what good high school basketball is all about."

Friday's game ultimately came down to a free throw by senior guard Kyle Keith that broke a 50-50 deadlock with 2.1 seconds left, capping a wild final minute that started with Jackson trailing by four points.

"This is what we've been working for all year," said Keith, who finished with six points. "That's been our main thing -- adversity, just pushing through everything. That's what we have to do."

More adversity appears to be just ahead as the Indians play top-ranked Webster Groves in a Class 5 sectional game Wednesday in Farmington, Mo. Webster Groves beat the Indians 64-50 on Feb. 15.

Jackson, the No. 3 seed, improved to 16-12, while Poplar Bluff's season ended at 19-7.

Jackson's Bobby Clark shoots over Poplar Bluff's Eljie Johnson, left, and Jay Raulston, right, during the Class 5 District 1 championship at Poplar Bluff High School on Friday, February 26, 2010. Jackson won 51-50 and will advance to Sectionals. (KRISTIN EBERTS)

Bluff had defeated the Indians by 13 points on the same court in mid-January, and the Mules looked to be on their way to winning again Friday after wresting the lead away from Jackson in the fourth quarter.

Jackson had turned a 21-20 halftime deficit into a 35-31 lead late in the third quarter, but the Mules sank a 3-point basket at the buzzer as senior guard Jordan Marler scored off an inbound pass that was tossed in from under the Mules basket with 1.1 seconds left in the quarter.

"I take the blame for that," Scott said. "We subbed, trying to save fouls and were unorganized. If we had been more organized, we might have got there better on it. But you have to give him credit, he made the shot at the buzzer.

"They kind of built off that going into the fourth quarter. That was a huge shot for Marler to make. If he played against everybody like he did against us, he'd be all-world because he kills us. He sees Jackson and his eyes just light up."

Poplar Bluff took a 37-35 lead in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, but Clark gave Jackson a 37-36 lead when he drove the left baseline with 4:54 left in the game.

Jackson's Zach McDowell shoots over Poplar Bluff's Jay Raulston during Friday's game.

The Indians would not lead again until Keith's winning foul shot.

Marler and Jacob White connected on 3-pointers in the next three minutes as the Mules went on an 11-4 run. Bluff led 47-41 after Kendric McCain hit a free throw with 2:06 remaining.

"Coach said they were going to make a run some time, they're a good team and we're just going to have to push through it," Keith said.

Keith responded with a 3-point basket from the top of the key on Jackson's next trip down the floor. It was the Indians' lone 3-pointer in the game.

"Kyle hitting that big 3 to cut it to three was huge," Scott said.

Jackson's Zachary McDowell goes up for a lay-up against Poplar Bluff's Eljie Johnson during the Class 5 District 1 championship at Poplar Bluff High School on Friday, February 26, 2010. Jackson won 51-50 and will advance to Sectionals. (KRISTIN EBERTS)

McCain sank a pair of free throws on Bluff's next possession for a 49-44 lead, but Jackson junior Zach McDowell got those points back when he drove the lane for a basket with 1:33 left.

Jackson's fouling strategy then began to pay dividends as Mules senior center Jay Raulston hit on 1 of 2 free throws with 1:13 left for a 50-46 advantage. Clark cut the lead to 50-48 when he scored off an offensive put back with 1:00 remaining.

Jackson fouled the Mules' Eljie Johnson on the next possession. Johnson missed his first attempt and his second attempt spun out and was grabbed by Williams.

"I was just saying, 'Please miss this, miss this. Just give us one more chance,'" Williams said. "They were trying to deny me the ball so I told myself I'm not going to let them stop me for nothing right now. We were down two, and I knew I needed to score right there, right then, right now."

The senior somewhat hesitantly took the rebound the length of the floor for the tying basket with 41 seconds left.

Jackson's Bobby Clark drives around Poplar Bluff's Jacob White during their Class 5 District 1 championship Friday in Poplar Bluff, Mo. (KRISTIN EBERTS)

"He was dribbling and I was starting to call timeout," Scott said. "I got a little worried at about half court, and then nobody came near him and he's pretty good on the left side of the floor. He's on the left side and he's left-handed and he turned it up the floor and backed his way down in there. Nobody came to him. I kept waiting, and he faked middle and went baseline and scored. It worked out for us."

Poplar Bluff was called for traveling on its next possession. The Indians ran off about 35 seconds before calling timeout with 8 seconds left. Keith inbounded the ball to McDowell in the Indians' backcourt and quickly got the ball back in his hands. He crossed midcourt, then drove the lane from the top of the key. A reaching foul was called on a Bluff player with 2.1 seconds left, and Keith hit the first of two free throws. Keith missed the second, Bluff grabbed the rebound and called timeout, but with less than a second left.

Bluff's desperation heave on the inbounds hit a ceiling fixture. The possession and victory went to Jackson.

"We missed 10 free throws and we turned the ball over 15 times," Poplar Bluff coach Lamont Frazier said. "It doesn't matter who you play, you have numbers like that you're going to put yourself in a bad situation."

Jackson 12 8 15 16 -- 51

Jackson teammates Taylor Williams, left, and Chris Poyner celebrate the Indians' 51-50 victory over Poplar Bluff to win the Class 5 District 1 championship Friday.

Poplar Bluff 5 16 13 16 -- 50

JACKSON (51) -- Taylor Williams 1, Kyle Keith 6, Zachary McDowell 8, Henrie Williams 21, Bobby Clark 15. FG 21, FT 8-12, F 20. (3-pointers: Keith 1. Fouled out: none)

POPLAR BLUFF (50) -- Kendric McCain 5, Greg Coble 2, Jay Raulston 19, Jordan Marler 8, Jacob White 3, Eljie Johnson 13. FG 16, FT 14-24, F 13. (3-pointers: Raulston 1, Marler 2, White 1. Fouled out: none)