Jackson back at home, back on track

JACKSON, Mo. -- It didn't take long to figure that the Woodland Cardinals had gotten into the wrong gymnasium on the wrong night against the wrong team.

A Jackson Indian team, playing its 14th game of the season but having a homecoming of sorts with just its second home game, was in a festive mood and more than willing to deliver a first-round knockout blow to their Class 2A visitors.

Despite both teams entering with 7-6 records, Jackson, a Class 4A school, romped to a 30-point first-half lead en route to a 67-31 win Tuesday.

"It's our last year and we're trying to enjoy every game we have," said Jackson senior guard Nathan Brown, who scored 10 of his 13 points in the first-half onslaught. "Coach made an emphasis before the game about having fun."

The Indians created both fun and a multitude of Woodland turnovers in the first half. Using a tenacious half-court man-to-man defense, Jackson (8-6) forced 16 first-half turnovers to outnumber Woodland's shot total -- 14.

"We can play," Jackson coach Mike Kiehne said. "We just haven't been around this area for people to see us play."

Woodland committed turnovers on seven of its first eight possessions of the game, with Brown scoring three consecutive fastbreak baskets at one point for an 8-2 Indian lead.

Ahead 11-4 midway through the period, the Indians launched a 27-2 run at Woodland. Jackson, which removed all but one starter with three minutes left in the quarter, connected on four 3-pointers before the close of the first period, including a Nick Fiehler trey at the buzzer for a 27-6 lead.

"We wanted to come out and get on top, but that was more than we expected," Jackson point guard Matt Gordon said. "We have a tough schedule, so we don't get a lot of chances to come out and dominate. When you get them you have to take advantage."

Jackson shot 55 percent from the field in the half, while Woodland continued a recent shooting slump, hitting just 28 percent.

Woodland's top two scorers coming in, Alex VanGennip and Luke Johnson, combined for just four first-half points. VanGennip finished with a team-high 11 points.

Lance Bollinger led Jackson with 15 points while Seth McDowell added 14.

jbreer@semissourian.com

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