Jackson boys basketball team rallies to capture district crown

IMPERIAL, Mo. -- The Jackson boys basketball team was suddenly clinging to a two-point lead as the clock ticked under three minutes to go in the Class 5 District 1 championship game Saturday at Seckman High School.

Cue Jackson senior Branden Lueders' "out-of-body-experience."

The 6-foot-8 senior scored 10 consecutive points in less than two minutes to help the Indians defeat Oakville 56-45 and claim a second consecutive district championship.

"It was kind of like an out-of-body experience, I guess," Lueders said. "But I was enjoying the moment. That's for sure."

Oakville went on a 7-0 run to cut Jackson's lead to 42-40 with 5 minutes left in the game. Jackson turned the ball over on its next possession and then missed shots on the next two after that, but Oakville could never equalize.

ADAM VOGLER avogler@semissourian.com (Jackson students and players celebrate the Indians’ 56-45 win over the Oakville Tigers in the championship game of the Class 5 District 1 tournament Saturday, at Seckman High School in Imperial, Mo.)

"I thought we did a great job of keeping our composure," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "I mean, they made some plays, some things didn't go our way. I think it helps being in situations. We've been in a ton of close games. Last year's experience I think helps them. And I still believe at the end of a game your composure comes from having faith that you're going to be able to win. You're going to be able to do what you need to do to make plays, and I think these guys have that, and that showed up in that stretch when Oakville made that run."

Lueders scored inside with 2:29 to go to make it 44-40 and then added baskets on the Indians' next three possessions before capping the run with a couple free throws.

"It was exciting," Lueders said. "My senior year district championship -- I wouldn't have wanted to end the game in a different way."

Junior Braden Wendel capped the scoring with an emphatic dunk at the buzzer. His hand was bleeding from the play after the game, but he wasn't complaining.

"Oh yeah, definitely worth it," Wendel said.

Jackson senior Braden Wendel drives past Oakville senior Hayden Trout to dunk at the end of the Indians’ 56-45 win over the Tigers in the championship game of the Class 5 District 1 tournament Saturday, at Seckman High School in Imperial, Mo.

"It was good to send it out that way. Send it out with authority."

Top-seeded Jackson trailed 8-2 to start the game and spent the entirety of the first half chipping away at No. 2 Oakville's lead.

Senior Josh Daume made a long 3-pointers at the halftime buzzer to tie the game at 27-27, and junior Blake Reynolds gave the Indians their first lead of the game with a free throw 11 seconds into the third quarter.

Jackson started the second half on a 7-0 run and never trailed again.

"I'm proud of these guys," Scott said. "They put in a lot of work to get to this point, so it's nice to see them rewarded. We didn't have a great start, but they battled back to tie it at halftime. I thought that was big, and then we played really well the second half -- executed exactly what we needed to do, made some shots, did a much better job of getting the ball inside and being a little more patient on offense."

Jackson's defense held Oakville to just six points in the third quarter and Oakville senior Austin Gillmann, a Saint Louis University commit, to just four points for the game. Gillmann was in foul trouble for most of the game and fouled out with 5:37 left in the game.

"We did a great job defensively, I thought," Reynolds said. "I think they had six points in the third quarter, and we did a good job packing it in. We did a good job making sure we stayed in front of Gillmann and had lots of help-side defense [which] was big. And closing out on shooters, not letting them get good looks, and if they were going to score making sure it was over the top of us."

Lueders, who was also tasked with guarding Gillmann -- always with help -- finished with 18 points to lead the Indians.

"Brandon did a great job of manning up on him in the triangle," Scott said. "He did a great job of not letting him catch. He was physical. And then Braden and Calvin [Lysell] and Josh Friess did a great job of guarding No. 12 [Ervin Sarajlic]. Gillmann is the big kid, but 12 is really the key to their team. When they play well, he scores, he makes a lot happen. He's really improved since last year, puts the ball on the floor a lot better than he did last year."

Lueders said he looked forward to facing Gillmann.

"It gets me hyped up for sure," he said. "Before the game I had a little bit of adrenaline going. I'm sure you saw it while I was out there on the court, but I really enjoy a challenge like that, especially when it turns out like this."

Jackson improved to 23-5 and will face Lafayette in a Class 5 sectional at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill, Mo. The Indians advanced to the state quarterfinals a season ago but will enter their sectional game as an underdog for a second year in a row.

"It's hard to put it into words," Lueders said of back-to-back district titles. "But we're just taking it one step at a time, and I couldn't be happier."

Oakville 16 11 6 12 -- 45

Jackson 13 14 12 18 -- 56

OAKVILLE (45) -- Carvon Robinson 9, Kolade Osikoya 3, Ervin Saajlic 12, Jake Meier 17, Austin Gillmann 4. FG 19, FT 2-4, F 16. (3-pointers: Robinson 1, Sarajlic 1, Meier 3. Fouled out: Gillmann)

JACKSON (56) -- Josh Daume 12, Braden Wendel 2, Calvin Lysell 3, Karson King 7, Blake Reynolds 14, Brandon Lueders 18. FG 21, FT 10-14, F 14. (3-pointers: Daume 2, Lysell 1, Reynolds 1. Fouled out: none)