Jackson Boys Basketball Preview

Conference: SEMO Conference

Coach: Darrin Scott, 11th year

District: Class 5 District 1

Schedule:

December 8-12, 2014 Monday-Friday SEMO Conference Tournament Sikeston TBA

December 16, 2014 Tuesday Dexter Away 6 p.m.

December 19, 2014 Friday Kirkwood Friendly Kirkwood TBA

December 20, 2014 Saturday Sullivan Shootout Sullivan TBA

December 26-30, 2014 Friday-Tuesday Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament Show-M Center TBA

January 8-10, 2015 Thursday-Saturday Lindbergh Invitational Tournament St. Louis TBA

January 13, 2015 Tuesday Woodland Away 6 p.m.

January 16, 2015 Friday Sikeston Away 6 p.m.

January 20, 2015 Tuesday Poplar Bluff Home 6 p.m.

January 22, 2015 Thursday Central (Park Hills) Home 6 p.m.

January 24, 2015 Saturday St. Charles West Home 2:30 p.m.

January 27, 2015 Tuesday Pacific Away 5:30 p.m.

January 30, 2015 Friday Notre Dame (Cape Girardeau) Home 6 p.m.

February 3, 2015 Tuesday Charleston Home 6 p.m.

February 6, 2015 Friday Farmington Away 6 p.m.

February 10, 2015 Tuesday Cape Central Home 6 p.m.

February 13, 2015 Friday New Madrid County Central Away 6 p.m.

February 20, 2015 Friday Kennett Away 6 p.m.

February 24, 2015 Tuesday St. Francis Borgia Home 5 p.m.

Roster:

No. Player Year Height

2 Jonathon Friess 10 5'10

3 Terry Venable 12 6'3

4 Jacob Friess 10 6'0

11 Garrett Walker 11 6'2

12 Braden Wendel 12 6'4

14 Jacob Smith 11 6'3

22 Antoine Collier 11 6'1

23 Pete Lake 9 6'5

24 Stephen Irons 11 6'2

32 Blake Reynolds 12 6'7

33 Grant Ward 11 6'4

35 Connor Shepard 12 6'5

45 Cameron Hester 9 6'6

Returning starters: Blake Reynolds, Braden Wendel

Starters lost: Karson King, Brandon Lueders, Josh Daume

Last year's record: 25-6

Postseason result: Lost to Christian Brothers College Preparatory 75-66 in a state quarterfinal

Last year's leaders:

Points: Karson King (14.8 ppg)

Rebounds: Blake Reynolds (7.9 rpg)

Assists: King (4.8 apg)

Team outlook

Entering his 11th season as coach of the Jackson Indians, Darrin Scott believes this year's team is one of the more athletic teams he's coached.

"From a quickness standpoint and just overall athleticism, our top six or seven guys I feel really good about," Scott said. "The two years before, we've had a team that really shared the ball. They were really committed to the team and doing what we need to do to win, and this bunch carried that over. They share the ball really well, pass the ball really well and see the floor, so those are things that I think are going to help them."

Experience could pay dividends for the Indians, who will be led by a pair of seniors. One of those seniors is Blake Reynolds, a 6-foot-7 forward who recently committed to playing college basketball at Yale University and averaged 14 points per game a year ago as Jackson's second-leading scorer. He also averaged a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game.

"From the summer, one thing that's progressed for him individually is he's shooting the ball so well. He shot the ball really well from the perimeter in the spring, summer and fall. Even in practice he has," Scott said. "The biggest thing he does is when he's out there, he makes everyone else around him better. He's a good communicator, a good leader. His work ethic has been good."

Scott said he's also excited about a young nucleus of underclassmen that have shown tremendous upside and are learning a lot from the Indians' four seniors.

Jackson's offseason preparation started in the weight room, where Scott believes the team is adding a new brand of physicality to its game.

"These guys want to do as well as they can," Scott said about the team's goals. "It's hard to put a number of wins on a season because there are a lot of things you can't control, when it comes to injuries and different things. Their goal is they want to win their district and have a chance to make it to the final four. That's their goal. That's why they've worked so hard. ... This bunch has been really good about understanding the process that you've got to show up every day and do work and get better every day."

District outlook

The Indians' district will also have a new look this season.

Jackson, Fox, Poplar Bluff and Seckman will be joined in Class 5 District 1 by Northwest (Cedar Hill), while Oakville remains in Class 5 but will compete in District 3.

Oakville and Jackson met in the two previous district title games, but Scott said the realignment doesn't make the road to a state championship any easier.

"Whoever wins our district just has a tough road the next two games with whoever you end up playing," Scott said. "... The district is a challenge, and it's a really big hill you have to climb after that."

Looking back

The Indians defeated Oakville 56-45 for last season's district crown but saw their season come to an end in a 75-66 loss to eventual state champion Christian Brothers College in the Class 5 quarterfinals. Jackson finished its season with a 25-6 mark.

Scott said the team has been focused on getting better this offseason and finishing where it left off last year.

"I felt like when the offseason started, they worked really hard," Scott said. "The four seniors we've got this year, plus the underclassmen, really seem like they've bought into wanting to work hard and trying to get better every day. They've really individually gotten better, which I think is big.

"I think they want to be the best basketball team that they can be."

-- Trent Singer