Indians beat Mules, reach semis

SIKESTON -- The casual observer would view Tuesday night's SEMO Conference Tournament game between second-seeded Jackson and seventh-seeded Poplar Bluff as an easy win for the Indians.

It was anything but.

Jackson had to scratch and claw all night before finally holding off the pesky Mules 55-50 and earn a berth in Thursday's final four against the winner of today's Central-Kennett contest.

"They have everybody back, and they're a really good team," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said after the game. "They beat us early in the season a year ago, and we had to scratch and claw to beat them the second time we played them.

"If anybody thinks that that was a given, that we were supposed to win, they have not watched Bluff play, I can tell you that much."

Jackson (1-0) started out hot, jumping to an early 8-0 lead and holding it for most of the first half before going into intermission leading 28-20. It was 32-25 midway through the third when the Mules (1-1) made their move.

An 8-1 run knotted the score at 33 before Jackson's Karson King canned a short baseline jumper that gave the Indians a precarious 35-33 lead entering the final period.

Four times the Mules pulled within two points over the final eight minutes, but they couldn't get over the hump. Jackson used its size advantage inside, continually feeding 6-foot-8 senior Brandon Lueders and 6-7 junior Blake Reynolds in the low block. Reynolds scored seven of his game-high 15 points in the final period.

"I feel like tonight we weren't really clicking, maybe first-game jitters," Reynolds said. "Getting offensive stick-backs, things like that. We weren't just finishing around the rim. I think it's all just first-game [jitters]. A little rusty, that's all. We'll work on that."

If anything, the Indians showed how they can spread the scoring around as two other players -- King and senior point guard Josh Daume -- also scored in double figures with 13 points each.

"First half, we were going a little fast on offense," Scott said. "But defensively, I was really pleased with how we guarded. Second half, I thought we did a better job of executing, getting the ball where we wanted to. We just couldn't finish.

"I thought out guards, in the second half when they had a chance to attack, they attacked. And we got fouled a few times, and we got into the bonus."

The Indians hit 12 of 16 free throws over the final eight minutes to keep the Mules at bay.

"This is probably the most parity that there's ever been in the SEMO Conference that I've seen," Poplar Bluff coach William Durdan said. "Up and down, one through eight, every [team] night in and night out can beat each other."

Durdan admitted Jackson's height was difficult for his squad to overcome.

"The only way you can beat a team like that is with ball pressure and pushing the ball up the floor," he said. "You've got to be on the attack the whole game, and you've got to take care of the ball. We turned the ball over late a couple times, and we turned the ball over when they went on those two 8-0 runs in the beginning of the game. If we control those and keep them from going on those runs, we're right there at the end, probably winning it."

Poplar Bluff 9 11 13 17 -- 50

Jackson 14 14 7 20 -- 55

POPLAR BLUFF (50) -- Joseph Eyler 1, Malik Metcalf 4, Patrick Tillman 2, Lucas Tibbs 5, Ryan Brittingham 7, Stacy Gipson 12, Brandon Stuckenschneider 4, Chris Stocks 13. FG: 19. FT: 8-15. Total fouls: 15. (3-pointers: Brittingham 2, Stocks 2. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (55) -- Josh Daume 13, Brandon Wendel 12, Calvin Lysell 1, Karson King 13, Connor Shepard 2, Blake Reynolds 15, Brandon Lueders 5. FG: 19. FT: 13-18. Total fouls: 16. (3-pointers: Daume 2, Wendel 1, King 1. Fouled out: none)