JACKSON BOYS WIN DISTRICT OPENER 70-58

SIKESTON -- Tory Meyr scored 13 of his team-high 25 points in a decisive second quarter as the fourth-seeded Jackson boys defeated fifth-seeded Farmington 70-58 in a first-round game in the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament Monday night.

Jackson, which improved to 14-12, advances to semifinal action where it will play top-seeded Poplar Bluff 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Against Farmington, Jackson turned a three-point lead into a double-digit advantage in the second period. Leading 11-8, the Indians outscored the Knights 19-10 in the second quarter for a 30-18 halftime lead.

Myer hit both his 3-pointers in the second quarter.

"Levi Bollinger did a good job of getting the ball to him," said Jackson coach Steve Burk, who recently announced his intention to retire after the season. "Defensively, I thought we played pretty well in the second quarter. That was a big, decisive quarter."

Jackson upped its lead to 56-39 by the start of the fourth period and cruised to the win.

Senior center John Oehl added 16 points for the Indians.

"I thought Myer and Oehl played well throughout the game," said Burk. "Brad Hilbert gave us a big lift offensively off the bench and Matt Ferrell gave us a big lift defensively off the bench."

Ronnie Lashley scored a game-high 32 points for Farmington.

The win was the second in the past two weeks over Farmington, who had defeated Jackson early in the season

"The last game we won kind of easily and there's always that fear you're going take someone for granted," said Burk. "Farmington has a good solid team. Both teams were nervous early and then we started to play pretty well."