Jackson boys basketball team outlasts Sikeston in OT

~ Jackson turned back past visiting Sikeston 75-72

The Sikeston Bulldogs took their first lead of Tuesday night's game against Jackson with 2 minutes and 45 seconds remaining in overtime.

No sweat for Jackson's Karson King and Blake Reynolds.

The Indians' dynamic duo fed each other beautifully when the Indians needed it most, and Jackson scored six unanswered points in overtime to overcome a shaky second half and claim a 75-72 victory over its SEMO Conference foe.

"Me and Karson we've always had that kind of natural chemistry together," Reynolds said. "Karson did a great job of penetrating and pulling defenders towards him and getting me the ball."

Jackson senior Karson King shoots over Sikeston’s Chris Scott on Tuesday at Jackson High School. The Indians won 75-72. (Adam Vogler)

The Bulldogs (12-3) took their first lead at 67-65 before trading baskets with Jackson and maintaining a two-point lead with just over two minutes to go.

Then King and Reynolds went to work in decisive 6-0 run.

Reynolds first was fouled on a shot underneath and made both free throws to tie the game at 69-69.

The Indians forced a miss on the defensive end and King penetrated before dishing to Reynolds for an easy basket.

Jackson (15-2) forced a Sikeston turnover, and King again found Reynolds underneath for a 73-69 lead with 42 seconds left.

Jackson senior Brandon Lueders grabs a rebound between Sikeston’s Reese Porter, left, and J. T. Jones on Tuesday at Jackson High School. The Indians won 75-72 in overtime. (Adam Vogler)

"I love playing with Reynolds," King said. "I missed him a couple of times earlier in the game. He kind of got on to me. I got on to him for not showing himself early enough. We just kept telling each other stick with it, we'll find each other. No bigger time then right there, those two times."

Sikeston failed to give in, which was a reoccurring theme all night.

Dominique Dyes banked in a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to make it 73-72. King then made one of two free throws, leaving the door open for Sikeston.

J.T. Jones dribbled at the top of the key before finding Dyes in the left corner, but the sophomore's 3-point attempt was just long.

Reynolds corralled the rebound and was fouled. The junior made his first free throw for a 75-72 lead, but he missed his second attempt.

Jackson senior Karson KingCQ hits a three pointer over Sikeston senior Dantrell BrownCQ during the Indians' 75-72 overtime win over the Bulldogs Tuesday, Jan. 28, at Jackson High School. (Adam Vogler)

Sikeston rebounded the miss. Jones caught the outlet pass near half court and heaved a shot at the buzzer that clanged off the back iron.

"We did some good things," Sikeston coach Greg Holifield said. "You have to give Jackson credit. They really came out in the first quarter and played great. They made some shots. I was proud of our effort. We battled back and put ourselves in position to win the game and just didn't get a shot to fall."

Jackson entered the final eight minutes up 54-47, but Sikeston quickly turned the tables.

The Bulldogs cut the lead to 56-54 on a Jones basket three minutes into the quarter that brought the Sikeston faithful to the loudest they had been all night.

Jackson responded with a 6-0 run.

King scored a basket, Reynolds scored from underneath, and Brandon Lueders hit a layup for a 62-54 lead with less than three minutes left.

The Bulldogs refused to crumble -- thanks to Jones. The senior scored 10 of Sikeston's final 13 points.

"He's so strong," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "When he drives into places where other players would turn it over, he gets in there and still makes a play. Other kids we might have stripped them; [they] couldn't have made a play. He's so confident and so strong he splits two guys and gets in there."

The Bulldogs trailed 65-59 with 1 minute, 28 seconds left, but Chris Scott buried a 3-pointer to make it a three-point game.

The Indians missed a 3-pointer and Jones converted a traditional three-point play to tie the game with 51 seconds left in regulation.

Jackson dribbled out the clock, but Josh Daume's long two-pointer was short with two seconds left.

Sikeston missed a full-court shot at the buzzer and overtime ensued.

The Indians jumped out to a 19-9 first-quarter lead in front of a raucous home crowd.

King had seven of his team-high 23 points in the opening quarter and 15 in the first half, including three 3-pointers.

"I came out really looking to attack," King said. "I attacked the entire game, but shots weren't falling in the third and fourth quarter. I definitely wanted to attack. Sikeston's never easy and they're always looking to get out on top early. The past couple of times we've played them they jumped to 10- or 15-point leads, so you don't want to play behind on them so getting out to a lead was crucial."

Jackson controlled the boards in the opening quarter as Sikeston consistently was held to one shot on offense.

"We have to get better rebounding the basketball," Holifield said.

To make matters worse for Sikeston, the Bulldogs were 2 of 10 from behind the 3-point arc in the first half.

"We didn't shoot it well," Holifield said. "You have to give them credit; they were presenting problems and did a good job. I thought we played much more our style the second, third and fourth quarter."

Sikeston managed to cut the lead to 38-32 at the half and made it a one-point game shortly into the third. Jackson stretched its lead back to seven points heading into the nerve-racking final minutes.

"The biggest thing I was proud of was we had a lead," Scott said. "They came back and tied it which good teams are going to do. They took the lead in overtime, and then we didn't panic."

King led the Indians with 23 points and Reynolds had 18.

Jones led all scorers with 30 points and Reese Porter added 18.

All three of Sikeston's losses have come in overtime.

"We're inexperienced in spots," Holifield said. "We're getting better. Our goal and objective is in another month is to be as good as we can be, and a game like this will help us."

Sikeston 9 23 15 16 7 -- 72

Jackson 19 19 16 11 10 -- 75

SIKESTON (72) -- Corbyn Blissett 3, Chris Scott 12, Dominique Dyes 8, Marqese Parks 1, J.T. Jones 30, Reese Porter 18. FG 23, FT 11-15, F 16. (3-pointers: Scott 2, Dyes 2, Jones 1. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (75) -- Josh Daume 13, Braden Wendel 5, Calvin Lysell 5, Karson King 23, Blake Reynolds 19, Brandon Lueders 10. FG 23, FT 8-20, F 15. (3-pointers: Daume 2, Wendel 1, Lysell 1, King 3. Fouled out: none)