Jackson boys basketball team's spurt not enough vs. Poplar Bluff in Class 5 District 1 semifinal

The Jackson boys basketball team didn't look like a team ready to make a run early in the third quarter of its Class 5 District 1 semifinal against Poplar Bluff on Wednesday night.

The Indians turned over the ball three times in the first 90 seconds of the second half before making their next seven consecutive shots during a 15-0 run for an eight-point lead.

But the game soon slowed down, and that lead disappeared in a 59-51 loss on their home floor.

"At halftime, we talked about our bigs staying spread more," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "With their pressure, we started coming together a little bit and there wasn't as many driving lanes. I thought when [Josh Daume] came in that third quarter, he really attacked the basket good. He had good spacing. There was some gaps and he got in there and made some plays, scored for us, put it on some people. We got some confidence, and then the game got a little bit up and down there."

Josh Daume, a sophomore, stole a Poplar Bluff pass during the run and found teammate John Meyer for an easy score inside on the Indians' next possession. He also scored a basket during the run. Sophomore Karson King scored four of his 10 points during the stretch.

Jackson's Caleb Newcomer pushes the ball past Poplar Bluff's Chris Stocks during the third quarter of a Class 5 District 1 game on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, in Jackson. Jackson lost 51-59. (Kristin Eberts)

"We were able to get it up tempo," Scott said. "Then it kind of slowed down into half court, and we've struggled all year with when it slows down into a half-court situation and we've got to be a little more patient on offense."

Jackson (14-13) led 33-25 with less than three minutes left in the third quarter when Poplar Bluff's Michael Griggs ended the Mules' drought. The Mules pulled within four by the end of the quarter and went on a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter with the help of four Jackson turnovers to take a 46-43 lead they never gave up.

"That's just basketball," Jackson senior Caleb Newcomer said. "You don't see a lot of teams just come down and score every time or get a stop every time. You're going to make runs and you're going to turn it over, but I thought our young guys handled it pretty well. We made runs to get back in it and kept it close."

Poplar Bluff made 15 of its 21 free-throw attempts in the game, including 11 of 16 in the final two minutes of the game.

Kendric McCain led the Mules with a game-high 26 points and made four of his six shots from the free-throw line down the stretch.

Jackson players react to the score during the fourth quarter of a Class 5 District 1 game against Poplar Bluff on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, in Jackson. Jackson lost 51-59. (Kristin Eberts)

"Clutch," McCain said about the finish. "That's all I can say. I want the ball."

The Indians missed the front end of a 1-and-1 situation down three with 1 minute, 15 seconds to go, and the first of two free throws down five with 1:11 to go.

"We got a couple chances," Scott said. "We just came up empty, and then they fouled us -- I know it was two times in a row -- and we missed the front end of a 1-and-1. That let them stretch their lead a little bit."

Newcomer led the Indians with 11 points. The 6-foot-5 King was the only other player to finish in double digits for Jackson.

"We've got to defend the post, and they've got shooters," McCain said about his team's talk before the game. "They're such a good team. They've got all the right materials to win. Our emphasis all week was just guard the post and our guards add pressure. We did that and we got the win."

Jackson's John Meyer pulls down a rebound in front of teammate Karson King during the third quarter Wednesday. (Kristin Eberts)

The Mules forced 18 turnovers in the game.

"Meet them up the floor," McCain said about his team's defensive plan. "Start early. You can't let their 4s get on the post. You've got to meet them at the 3-point line. Our guards, we've got to start at the full court."

McCain said guarding the post would be the key to Poplar Bluff's chances of upsetting No. 1 seed Central on Friday night.

"[T.J.] Tisdell -- he's good," McCain said. "We've got to come with it.

"It's a bigger challenge. They won today. They beat us two, three times last year. We've got to bring it. That's all."

Jackson 7 11 20 13 -- 51

Poplar Bluff 13 6 15 25 -- 59

JACKSON (51) -- Josh Daume 5, Caleb Newcomer 11, Braxton McDowell 5, Calvin Lysell 6, Karson King 10, John Meyer 9, Luke Stevens 5. FG 19, FT 9-17, F 12. (3-pointers: Newcomer 2, McDowell 1, Stevens 1. Fouled out: Lysell)

POPLAR BLUFF (59) -- Michael Griggs 13, Kendric McCain 26, Tyheim Towns 4, Stacey Gipson 12, Lance Gray 4. FG 21, FT 15-21, F 17. (3-pointers: McCain 2. Fouled out: none)