Jackson girls basketball team shakes slow start against Sikeston to reach tournament final

The Jackson girls basketball team bounced back from a lackluster first quarter, settled in against a hectic Bulldog defense and went on an 11-3 run to end the first half and grab control of the second semifinal of the Kelso Supply Holiday Classic en route to a 45-34 victory over Sikeston on Monday night at the Show Me Center

The third-seeded Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-2 lead after one period of play, using their athleticism and aggressive defense to shake things up. But the second-seeded Indians responded by out-scoring the Bulldogs 33-17 in the middle two quarters.

"We just needed to settle down and and do what we do best, which is execute on offense and try to get the ball inside out," Jackson coach Tyler Abernathy said. "Pretty much [my message] was, 'Don't panic. It's a long basketball game and we've got to keep doing what we've talked about doing.'"

Jackson's Rylee Stafford drives past Sikeston's Erica Peet during the first quarter in a semifinal of the Kelso Supply Holiday Classic on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

A 6-0 swing early in the second quarter put Jackson (7-2) within a point, 11-10, after Mallorie Maintz drove the baseline for a bucket and Alexis Allstun hit a short jumper. Two minutes later Maintz scored down low to give the Indians their first lead of the game, 17-16 with 1:55 left in the first half. They never trailed again.

Despite only scoring two points in the first eight minutes, Jackson shot extremely well on the night, going 20 of 34 from the field, including 19 of 27 from 2-point range. By comparison, Sikeston struggled scoring the basketball, shooting just 12 of 49 from the field and 9 of 19 from the free-throw line.

"I think, for one, we had a hard time converting on simple inside shots to where we could really increase that [early] lead -- work harder to put them on the ropes," Sikeston coach Matt Schonoff said. "We didn't. I knew the team Jackson is, and at some point in time they're going to start hitting shots, and that's what they did.

"I think the thing was to be able to convert on the offensive end down low. We had shots. We had plenty of shots, and shots that would normally go in. Tonight they didn't."

Allstun led all scorers with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting and added nine rebounds. Maintz and Nikki Sotak each had eight points for the Indians.

"It was phenomenal," Abernathy said of Allstun's performance. "It gives you the ability when we attack the paint to have somebody down low who can finish. Plus, she's a fantastic rebounder. You can see she's got soft hands. I thought all of our post players were a big, big benefit for us."

Tyeshia Mitchell put in 11 points for Sikeston, while Erica Peet scored 10 and hauled down seven boards. Peet scored six points in the final quarter, but it wasn't enough for the Bulldogs to close ground, as the 11-point gap after three quarters remained until the final whistle.

Jackson's Kayla Keith tries to shoot between Sikeston's Erica Peet, left, and Tyra Bonner during the second quarter in a semifinal of the Kelso Supply Holiday Classic on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

"The main thing we preach to them is that every game is an opportunity to get better," Abernathy said, "and I thought tonight we handled adversity after that first quarter and we got better. It's something we can learn from, so I feel pretty good about where we're at."

Jackson will play for the tournament title tonight at 8:30 against Saxony Lutheran.

Sikeston 7 9 8 10 -- 34

Jackson 2 19 14 10 -- 45

SIKESTON (34) -- Miranda Harrison 1, Antravia Green 2, Tyeshia Mitchell 11, Erica Peet 10, Tyra Bonner 5, Larysa McClellon 5. FG 12-49, FT 9-19, F 13. (3-pointers: Bonner. Fouled out: None.)

JACKSON (45) -- Cassidi Tomsu 5, Kayla Keith 4, Alexis Allstun 16, Nicole Humphreys 4, Mallorie Maintz 8, Nikki Sotak 8. FG 20-34, FT 4-8, F 19. (3-pointers: Tomsu. Fouled out: None.)

Jackson JV 60, Cape Central 58, OT

In the consolation bracket of the Kelso Supply Holiday Classic, the Jackson JV squad slipped past Cape Central in overtime.

Both teams his the same amount of field goals (21) and 3-pointers (3) -- the difference was free throws, where the Indians were 15 of 27 and the Tigers were 13 of 28.

Michela Stone paced the victors with 14 points for Jackson, which also got 12 points each from Grace Pehle and Kalli Mayfield.

Cape Central's Abbie Reece led all scorers with 26 points.

Jackson JV 14 16 10 11 9 -- 60

Central 6 12 10 23 7 -- 58

JACKSON JV (60) -- Grace Pehle 12, Deanna Mirly 3, Mah Massey 5, Emma Masterson 9, Krista Martin 5, Kalli Mayfield 12, Michaela Stone 14. FG 21, FT 15-27, F 19 (3-pointers: Mirly, Masterson, Martin. Fouled out: none)

CAPE CENTRAL (58) -- Sydney Tollison 2, Corrie Reece 13, Salia Hamilton 4, Kassidy Pannier 3, Abigale Dumey 6, Abbie Reece 26, Quetaja Martin 4. FG 21, FT 13-28, F 21 (3-pointers: C. Reece, Pannier, Dumey. Fouled out: Tollison)

Perryville 69, Meadow Heights 20

The Pirates rolled past the Panthers in the second of two consolation-round games Tuesday in the Kelso Supply Holiday Classic.

Perryville leapt out to a 12-2 advantage after one quarter and never looked back, as 11 players scored for the winners. Kylie Bilek led that group with 15 points, while Reese Nations contributed 12.

Sammantha Miles had a team-high six points for Meadow Heights.

Meadow Hts. 2 7 3 8 -- 20

Perryville 12 23 20 14 -- 69

MEADOW HEIGHTS (20) -- Hope Dietiker 2, Sarah Bristow 2, Janie Cook 4, Sammantha Miles 6, Jaycee Whitener 3, Mayzie Thompson 3. FG 8, FT 4-6, F 18 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

PERRYVILLE (69) -- Kirsten Jannin 6, Kylie Bilek 15, Lydia Cook 3, Reese Nations 12, Abby Robinson 2, Ahnie Hoff 16, Maci Hotop 2, Jasmyn Mahathath 1, Alyssa Stortz 2, Anna Huskey 2, Emma Nelson 8. FG 26, FT 11-18, F 17 (3-pointers: Nations 4, Bilek 2. Fouled out: none)