Jackson bids a victorious farewell at home

Jackson's girls basketball team had its 3-point shot going Monday night and withstood hot-shooting Farmington for a 60-48 home victory on senior night.

Jackson honored its six senior players before the game and promptly opened with a 9-2 run. The Indians (22-3) led 12-4 at one point and held a 12-6 lead after one quarter. Farmington managed only one field goal in the quarter.

Indians senior guard Jennifer Ferrell said it was hard to get into the game early due to the emotional atmosphere.

"It was hard having done the warm-ups and then getting teary-eyed," she said.

Despite some early nerves, the Indians built on their lead early in the second quarter with a 3-pointer from Ferrell and six straight points from Ashley Bartels. Jackson was up 21-11 after Bartels' baskets, but that was when the Knightettes made a strong run.

Tessa Pratt, who sat out most of the first quarter with a hand injury, entered in the second quarter and hit three 3-pointers. Farmington connected on five 3-pointers in the period and cut the lead to 26-25 by halftime.

"I didn't think they were going to miss a shot," Jackson coach Sam Sides said. "They hit every free throw. We put them on the line too many times.

"Every time we left them open, they hit their 3's. I knew they couldn't have kept that up, though."

Farmington stayed close through the first three minutes of the third quarter, but the Indians finally began to pull away with their own 3-point-shooting display. Ferrell hit two 3-pointers and Katie Loos added another as Jackson outscored Farmington 18-5 over the final five minutes of the quarter. Loos scored all seven of her points in the quarter.

Ferrell scored Jackson's first seven points in the fourth quarter on her way to a game-high 20 points. She finished with four 3-pointers.

"We shot the ball well," Sides said. "Jennifer had been in a funk, but she had a really good game. It was good to see her step up."

Added Ferrell, "It's been a long time coming. I've been struggling a bit."

Bartels added 19 points for Jackson. All six Jackson seniors got into the scoring column in their final home game. Linden Hahs had six and Maria Oehl and Abigail Weinrich had two apiece.

"When you're a little girl this is how you dream your senior night happens," Ferrell said.

Jackson 60, Farmington 48

Farmington 6 19 11 12 -- 48

Jackson 12 14 24 10 -- 60

FARMINGTON (48) -- Natalie Bess 8, Tessa Pratt 9, Natalie Hooss 7, Stefanie Johnson 2, Cassie Tiefenauer 7, Jessica Arnold 2, Julie Schurbusch 3, Christina Johnson 6, Katelyn Peterson 4. FG 13, FT 17-25, F 17 (3-pointers: Pratt 3, Tiefenauer 2. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (60) -- Jennifer Ferrell 20, Ashley Bartels 19, Katie Loos 7, Linden Hahs 6, Abigail Weinrich 2, Maria Oehl 2, Bobbie Jones 4. FG 21, FT 10-17, F 17 (3-pointers: Ferrell 4, Bartels 2, Loos 1. Fouled out: none)

JV: Farmington 46, Jackson 38