Jackson boys pull out nailbiter at home

It's hard to imagine a high school basketball game being any closer than Friday night's boys matchup between Farmington and host Jackson.

A nice bit of anticipation and then a strong move to the basket by senior guard Taylor Williams turned the tide in Jackson's favor.

The Indians trailed 50-48 in the final minute and had just missed two shots when Farmington's Jonathon Bird grabbed a rebound.

An instant after Bird let go of a short outlet pass, Williams stepped in front of the intended receiver and immediately streaked to the bucket.

Williams deposited the layup, was fouled and completed the three-point play to give Jackson a 51-50 lead with 39 seconds left. The Indians won 53-50.

Jackson's Henrie Williams makes a layup during the third quarter Friday.

"I just anticipated they were going to hit the outlet pass," Williams said. "I got a good read and just jumped on it. I decided to get to the basket, got fouled and made my free throw."

Said Jackson coach Darrin Scott: "We talked about you have to make plays to win games. Taylor made a big play."

Jackson improved to 12-9 and Farmington fell to 11-10. The game was as close as the identical records the teams carried into the night.

There were 16 lead changes and six ties. Jackson's biggest advantage was four points, which the Indians reached three times in the second half. Farmington's largest edge was three points several times.

"I thought it was a really good game," Scott said. "I thought their intensity was great. Their pressure was good.

"Their pressure really bothered us the first half. We did a better job the second half and attacked the basket."

Williams, whose 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer sent the squads to the break tied 27-27, termed the victory "big, especially with all we've overcome the last few days. We came out ready to play."

Williams was referring to the fact several key Jackson players missed the past two games due to disciplinary reasons. The Indians lost both contests.

"That was good," Scott said of having his full roster. "I thought the kids came out with intensity."

Senior center Henrie Williams paced Jackson offensively with 14 points.

Junior forwards Bobby Clark and Zach McDowell both added 13 points. Taylor Williams scored eight points.

Bird, a muscular junior center, and senior guard Landon Barks led the Knights with 15 points apiece.

"They played well," Clark said of the Knights. "They pressure you."

Jackson entered the fourth quarter ahead 41-39 and Clark's jumper made it 43-39.

A follow shot by Clark again put Jackson up by four at 46-42, but the Indians couldn't shake the Knights.

Farmington edged back ahead 50-48 on Bird's follow shot with 1:14 left.

Taylor Williams then came up with his key play that gave Jackson the lead for good.

After a Farmington miss, McDowell hit both ends of a 1-and-1 free-throw opportunity with 9.9 seconds left to make it 53-50.

"Those were two really big free throws," Scott said.

Farmington junior guard Pete Grindel was way off on a 3-point attempt from the corner and Jackson held on for the win.

The Indians were 9 of 10 from the charity stripe in the game, compared to 3 of 5 for Farmington.

"Making free throws, I think that won us the game," Clark said.

Farmington 15 12 12 11 -- 50

Jackson 14 13 14 12 -- 53

FARMINGTON (50) -- Landon Barks 15, Pete Grindel 8, John Schnurbusch 1, Tim Anderson 4, Jonathon Birk 15, Doug Warren 5, Roper Garrett 2. FG 22, FT 3-5, F 11. (3-pointers: Barks 3. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (53) -- Caleb Newcomer 3, Taylor Williams 8, Tyler Rhodes 2, Zach McDowell 13, Henrie Williams 14, Bobby Clark 13. FG 20, FT 9-10, F 10. (3-pointers: Newcomer 1, T. Williams 1, McDowell 2. Fouled out: none)