Jackson boys defeat Central at the Show Me Center

Jackson's offense sizzled in the second quarter.

The Indians shot 70 percent from the field as it pulled away from Central at the Show Me Center.

The Tigers never could dig out of the hole as the Indians pulled out the 57-46 victory Tuesday.

"I thought we got the ball in some good spots," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "We got to the high post, we got it in the low post. That's what I thought was key. We got the ball in positions where we can make shots and then we made shots."

Jackson went 7 of 10 while Central went 2 of 10 from the field in the second quarter.

Central's Kevin Casasola drives past Jackson's Taylor Williams during the first quarter Tuesday at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

"We were getting to the right spots and hitting them," said Jackson junior Zach McDowell, who scored 17 points.

Central coach Drew Church said he was disappointed in his team's effort during the second quarter as the Indians built a 14-point lead at the intermission.

"That first half, I really questioned how we competed," Church said. "They were imposing their game and we kind of just stepped back and took it, and that's not us."

While the Indians were knocking down shots on offense, their defense suffocated the Tigers (12-7). The Indians took away Central's big man, James Lane.

"We kept them guessing," Clark said of the Indians' defense. "We'd go man then a couple times we would run a triangle-and-two type thing. I think they never got in a rhythm. It hurts their overall team morale when they can't buy a bucket."

Central guard Kevin Casasola said the Tigers should have done a better job of attacking Jackson's defense.

"We didn't have the patience to move it around and get it in to them," he said of the Tigers' post players.

The Indians double- and triple-teamed Lane any time he touched the ball. He was limited to four points.

"We didn't respond very well," Church said. "That's something we talked about and worked on but we just didn't respond very well. You've got to give them credit, they had a good game plan."

The Tigers responded to their coach's challenge to play with more intensity in the second half. They scored the first six points of the third quarter and closed within 35-29 in the final minute.

Zach Boerboom helped spark the Tigers with 11 points in the second half, but Jackson went on a 7-2 run after Central had cut its deficit to five points with 3 minutes, 4 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

"I knew they were going to make their run like they did," Clark said. "They were going to press. They're long and athletic and we just had to weather the storm when them came out. If we did that, we'd be all right."

Tuesday's game bolstered Jackson's resume as it heads into today's Class 5 District 1 seeding meeting. It had suffered losses to Poplar Bluff and Central earlier this season but improved to 13-8 with the win.

The Tigers also enter the district seeding meeting with interesting credentials. They've beaten every team -- Jackson, Poplar Bluff, Northwest and Seckman -- at least once this season, but also lost to Poplar Bluff and now Jackson. Church said his team's win at Poplar Bluff on Friday may have affected its performance Tuesday against Jackson.

"I think coming off that emotional win at Bluff, I think our kids came in a little top heavy and it kind of bit them," he said. "A loss like this teaches us a lot. We've got to get back down to reality."

He'll learn later today if it cost his team the top seed in the district tournament, which will be played at Poplar Bluff.

Jackson 9 17 11 20 -- 57

Central 7 5 17 17 -- 46

JACKSON (57) -- Kyle Keith 4, Henrie Williams 10, Bobby Clark 18, Zach McDowell 17, Taylor Williams 3, Caleb Newcomer 5. FG 20, FT 13-20, F 15. (3-pointers: McDowell 2, Keith 1, Newcomer 1. Fouled out: none)

CENTRAL (46) -- Kevin Casasola 12, Andrew Williams 3, Zach Boerboom 13, Terrance Howard 8, James Lane 4, Josh Compas 2, Blake Ozbun 4. FG 17, FT 10-15, F 16. (3-pointers: Williams 1, Casasola 1. Fouled out: Boerboom)