INDIANS SHOT DOWN 'CATS 80-41

JACKSON -- Maybe Justin Keen should defer the above-the-rim play to fellow 6-foot-5 senior Jeff Walter.

But Keen is unlikely to hear nary a whisper of objection when he lines up for an open 3-pointer -- or even a contested one.

Keen's wide-open slam-dunk try clanged off the iron in the fourth quarter, but he led Jackson High's Indians with five 3-pointers and 17 points in their 80-41 home-opening demolition of Fredericktown on Tuesday.

The successful 3-point heaves were infectious for the Indians (3-1). Jackson shot 55 percent from behind the arc (11 of 20) for the game and enjoyed sizzling 7 of 11 3-point shooting in the first half as it opened a 39-18 lead by halftime.

Junior guard Justin Suedmeyer hit three 3-pointers and scored 15 points. Complementing the outside display, Walter totaled 16 points and 6-1 junior Harith Jones played well off the bench and added 10.

"We wanted to try to take it to this team and put them away early," said Keen, who was Jackson's football team's quarterback this season. "We shot it pretty well. This team played a lot of zone (defense), which left that open for us."

Said Jackson coach Steve Burk: "We were able to shoot the ball well from outside tonight. It helped open it up, obviously. It was a nice game."

Burk substituted liberally, and his bench responded. All nine Indians scored and five hit 3-pointers.

"Tonight I was pleased with some of our kids off the bench," Burk said. "It was the best that they've played so far. That's something that we need to improve, and hopefully this is a step in the right direction."

Burk said the Indians' defense may have made some strides, also. While Jackson shot 52 percent (34 of 66) from the field, the Indians limited Fredericktown (0-3) to 31 percent shooting (18 of 58).

Fredericktown was led by 6-1 junior Brandon Boswell's 13 points.

After Fredericktown took a 4-2 lead about two minutes into the game, Jackson scored 12 of the next 16 points. Walter scored six points in the quarter, including a slam-dunk on a fast break, and Suedmeyer hit two threes as Jackson led 14-8 entering the second quarter.

The Indians drilled five threes and outscored Fredericktown 25-10 in the second period.

The third quarter was the closest as Jackson outscored the Blackcats 16-15. A 6-0 run early in the quarter brought Fredericktown within 17 points, 41-24. Jackson then scored the 39 of the next 56 points.