Jackson comes up short against Staley in state semis

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Jackson senior Clayton Ernst took a moment to reflect as he walked into Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield on Friday.

The Indians were making their first state semifinal appearance since 1934, and Ernst understood the significance of the walk he was taking.

“We’ve had so much talent come through Jackson in 89 years, and for it to be us to finally break through that glass ceiling is something really special,” Ernst said.

Ernst scored the first basket of the game, but a powerful Staley team used a smothering defense and a balanced offense to overwhelm Jackson 68-42 Friday in a Class 6 semifinal during the Show-Me-Showdown in Springfield.

Staley (29-2) will play Kickapoo (23-8) in the Class 6 championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Great Southern Bank Arena. Jackson (21-10) will face Troy (25-6) in the third-place game at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hammons Arena.

After the Ernst putback, Jackson missed its next six field goal attempts, and Staley quickly built a 16-5 lead by turning missed shots and turnovers into fast break points.

“Their pressure is the real deal. We were struggling even getting into our offense,” Jackson coach Kory Thoma said.

Jackson's leading scorer Blayne Harris missed his first four perimeter shots before draining a corner 3-pointer late in the second quarter. He followed it with a layup in transition moments later as the Indians sliced a 19-point deficit to 34-18 three minutes before halftime.

“I was really impressed with [Jackson]. All the things they run with regards to screens and cuts, and just physicality, I respect them a ton,” Staley coach Chris Neff said.

Staley, which placed third last season, continued to come at the Indians with a variety of talented scorers. A 9-2 flurry in the final two minutes gave the Falcons a 43-20 advantage at halftime.

Cameron Manyawu, who led the Falcons with 18 points, ran the floor and threw down two thunderous dunks. Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year Kyan Evans added 15 and senior Jared Lee had 14. Reserves K.V. Stone and Xavier Wilson combined for 16 more.

“We started out ok, but we didn’t follow through with our game plan like we wanted to,” senior guard Kaed Winborne said. “We let up a couple of easy transition buckets and let people go downhill on us. We’re not used to that, being as good of a defensive team as we are.”

Jackson went into a 2-3 zone to begin the second half and held Staley to nine points in the third quarter. On offense, junior Judd Thoma creatively slithered around defenders to score in the post as the Indians slowed the pace to a less frenetic level and matched Staley shot-for-shot.

Thoma led Jackson with 10 points and Ernst added nine. “We came out in the second half, and we stuck with them both quarters, it was just that we had dug ourselves too deep of a hole,” Winborne said.

The positive second-half performance, combined with the thrill of the state tournament atmosphere has Jackson ready to close its season in style Saturday in a third-place matchup with Troy.

“We’re going to have a team dinner, converse, flush this game, come back (Saturday), and give our best effort again,” Ernst said.

Winborne added, “We’re going to keep trusting in ourselves and play the best we can.”