Jackson boys basketball team holds ground before falling to ranked CBC

~ The Indians suffered a 74-61 loss to the highest ranked Class 5 school in the St. Louis area

The Jackson boys basketball team was disappointed it failed to pull off a major upset.

But the Indians took solace in the fact they pushed one of the state's top squads featuring one of the nation's elite college prospects most of the way Tuesday.

Christian Brothers College from suburban St. Louis spoiled Jackson's senior night with a 74-61 win that was much closer than the score indicates.

"It's obviously a letdown we didn't win, but it's a confidence booster," senior guard Braxton McDowell said. "Our team's coming together."

Jackson fell to 16-10 as the Indians had their four-game winning streak snapped.

"You've got to take a lot from it," junior guard/forward Karson King said. "We hung with them. It does give us confidence."

CBC, the state's third-ranked Class 5 team -- and the highest-ranked Class 5 squad from the St. Louis area -- improved to 19-5.

"They're a very good team. Overall I thought we played well," said Jackson coach Darrin Scott, whose team has just one game left before opening Class 5 District 1 play as the No. 1 seed. "I really believe if they wouldn't have come down here ready to play we would have beat them."

CBC coach Bobby McCormack expected a tough test from Jackson, which is why the Cadets did appear to be well prepared.

"Senior night for them ... it's a tough place to play ... this is a good win for us," McCormack said.

CBC features three junior Division I prospects, led by 6-foot-8 guard/forward Jordan Barnett, No. 101 in the Rivals rankings for the Class of 2014.

Barnett scored a game-high 24 points, displaying the versatile skills that have some of the nation's premier programs recruiting him.

"He can do some nice things for us," McCormack said. "I thought he played a compete game tonight. He's a prime-time player."

Barnett hit two long 3-pointers, did plenty of damage inside and recorded the highlight-reel play of the night when he intercepted a pass, dribbled nearly the length of the court and threw down a monster dunk.

"He's very good. He can do it all. I can see why he's a big-time recruit," Scott said.

Ray Doby, an ultra-athletic 6-7 forward, was not as prominent as Barnett but still made his presence felt with 10 points.

CBC's third Division I junior prospect, 6-5 point guard Patrick McCaw, was on the bench in street clothes while serving a team suspension for reportedly missing a class.

King knew just how talented Barnett and Doby were well before taking the court Tuesday.

Jackson's leading scorer, who is also drawing some preliminary Division I interest, played last summer on the renowned St. Louis Eagles AAU team that also featured Barnett and Doby.

"They're very good players," King said. "I roomed with Jordan five or six times [during tournaments on the road]. I was pretty much with the team two nights a week. It helped get me prepared for this season and for tonight."

King scored 16 points and got plenty of help from McDowell, who led the Indians with 18 points -- all coming on 3-point baskets.

"I haven't shot it good for a while. I felt good tonight," said McDowell, who accounted for more than half of Jackson's 10 3-pointers.

Junior guard Josh Daume added 11 points for the Indians.

Although CBC led virtually the entire night, the Cadets never could pull away from Jackson until the end.

The Indians held two early leads, at 3-0 and 5-3, but CBC scored seven straight points to go ahead 10-5. Jackson never caught up.

CBC, ahead 40-32 at halftime, threatened to blow Jackson out as Doby's basket early in the third quarter opened up the game's biggest lead of 48-35.

Jackson cut the deficit to 50-47 late in the period. It was 55-49 entering the fourth quarter.

"They're a good ballclub. They're big, they're long. They play well together," McCormack said.

The Indians pulled within four points early in the final period and still trailed just 69-61 with under four minutes left before CBC scored the final five points.

"We played pretty good defense, they just made a few shots," King said.

CBC shot 54.5 percent and, like Jackson, was strong from the outside with eight 3-pointers.

Jackson also had a solid shooting night at 47 percent and the Indians committed just 11 turnovers -- only two in the second half. CBC had seven turnovers.

"I thought we did a great job taking care of the basketball. If you can rebound, take care of the ball and not give up layups, you give yourself a chance to compete," Scott said. "The first half I thought we let them get in the paint too much. The second half I thought they just made shots."

Jackson ends the regular season Feb. 19 at home against Hillsboro.

"We've just got to keep getting better," Scott said.

CBC 17 23 15 19 -- 74

Jackson 15 17 17 12 -- 61

CBC (74) -- Jordan Barnes 4, Tyris Lockhart 4, Ray Doby 10, Zach Fischer 13, Beau Bommarito 12, Jordan Barnett 24, Christian Willis 7. FG 24, FT 18-21, F 11. (3-pointers: Barnes 1, Fischer 3, Bommarito 2, Barnett 2. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (61) -- Josh Daume 11, Braxton McDowell 18, Braden Wendel 3, Karson King 16, Blake Reynolds 4, Brandon Lueders 8, Luke Stevens 1. FG 24, FT 3-8, F 18. (3-pointers: Daume 1, McDowell 6, Wendel 1, King 2. Fouled out: none)

JV -- CBC won 46-42.