JACKSON GIRLS EARN TICKET TO FINAL FOUR

ST. LOUIS -- The Jackson Lady Indians are back.

Back to a state power. Back to tradition. Back to Columbia.

Jackson (21-6) used a strong third quarter Saturday to knock off Vashon (15-6) 53-39 in a state quarterfinal game at the University of Missouri St. Louis.

The Lady Indians -- fresh off a rebuilding year, a 13-11 campaign that was their worst season in recent memory -- clawed their way out of districts and ascended the state ladder. They will return to the Hearnes Center Friday for the first time since 1998, the last of four straight semifinal appearances which netted three runner-up trophies.

This year's Final Four trip is perhaps the least expected. Going into the season, most figured Jackson would be good. Few expected the Lady Indians to emerge from District 1.

But Andrea Koeper, the team's leader in every sense, wasn't surprised.

"As a team, we had it in our minds that we were going to work our behinds off to get there," Koeper said. "In years past, we didn't win first. Maybe this is our year."

Koeper finished with a game-high 21 points and team-high 11 rebounds.

With the game tied at 20 going into halftime, the Lady Indians were a little nervous going into the third quarter. But Jackson used a fullcourt press which produced some steals and easy baskets.

"We just needed to trust our ability," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "We've got good athletes and we need to trust ourselves. In the first half, I saw some flashbacks of us forcing shots, but we did a lot better in the second half."

Jackson opened the second half on a huge 11-2 run. With 4:20 left in the third, Jackson led 31-22. Koeper scored 12 points in the third quarter and Jackson forced five turnovers as it carried a 40-30 lead into the fourth.

"The difference was they kept their composure and played with more discipline than we did," Vashon coach Jason Williams said. "And Jackson just wanted it a little bit more."

Once the Lady Indians built a double-figure lead, the game was theirs.

Jackson played keep away for most of the fourth quarter and the Wolverines never got closer than five points.

"We were wanting to score off it, but it didn't happen," said Cook. "But it worked out for the best, I guess."

Both teams seemed to be trying to figure the other out in the first quarter. Jenna Leet, who scored 16 points, combined with Koeper for nine of Jackson's 11 first-quarter points as the game was tied going into the second eight-minute period.

Jackson got several open looks from the perimeter in the first half, but the Lady Indians made only one of their first seven 3-point attempts and just two of nine overall. The Lady Indians made only seven of 23 shots total in the half. Despite the cold shooting Jackson found itself tied at 20 going into the locker room at halftime.

Briranda Griffin, a 5-foot explosive point guard, led Vashon with nine points at halftime, including a coast-to-coast leaner in the lane with one second left. Laniya Stevens also had nine at halftime.

Stevens finished with 17 points for Vashon, while Griffin added 12.

* Parkway West's girls advanced to the state semis with a 64-46 win over Hazelwood Central. Parkway West defeated Jackson 64-36 on Feb. 3, but Koeper did not play.

* Doniphan's girls defeated Cor Jesu 68-53 to advance to the Final Four. The Donnettes were the winners of District 1.

* New Madrid County Central's boys team, the defending Class 3A state champions, held off St. Francis-Borgia 51-45 in its quarterfinal game. The Eagles are hoping to give legendary coach Lennies McFerren one more state championship.

McFerren, who has won seven state championships with Charleston and New Madrid, has announced his retirement as a coach effective at the end of this season. New Madrid's boys -- like Jackson's and Doniphan's girls -- were District 1 champions.

* In a game closer than many expected, Vashon -- ranked by some publications as one of the top 10 teams in the nation -- knocked off Christian Brothers College 50-41 in the boys' quarterfinal that preceded Jackson's game. Vashon led 31-28 going into the fourth quarter but it didn't pull away until the last two minutes.