Jackson girls edge Central

~ The Indians struggled to a 46-39 victory at the Show Me Center.

The Jackson girls basketball team struggled shooting the basketball Tuesday night and needed six free throws in the final minute to push past rival Central 46-39 at the Show Me Center.

The Indians led by as few as three points twice in the final minute, but they hit six straight free throws down the stretch to hold off the Tigers. Jackson (15-5) has won three straight after dropping back-to-back games to Notre Dame and Nerinx Hall on consecutive nights.

"We're going to live and die by the 3," Jackson coach Sam Sides said. "If we're not hitting them, we're going to struggle. We let it affect other parts of our game. We were letting our defense kind of struggle."

Despite two first-half 3-pointers, Jackson struggled with its shot. Jackson sophomore Ashton Howard hit a pair of jumpers in the second quarter, but much of its offense came from inside near the basket.

Lindsay Poole led the Indians with five first-half points as eight different Jackson players scored. Jackson led just 24-21 at halftime.

"It was poor, and again we're a pretty good shooting team statistic-wise," Sides said of his team's shooting. "We struggled a bit, and our post players struggled too and missed a few layups."

While the Indians were having a hard time finding their perimeter shooting touch, Central senior Courtney Schuessler was on her game. Schuessler scored Central's first 13 points and finished the first half with 15 of her game-high 17 points.

"The last few games she's been playing well and scoring," Central coach Sherri Shirrell said. "Early this year, she started off slow, but the last few weeks she's stepped up and she's playing better."

Poole hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter, with her second giving Jackson its first double-digit lead at 33-23 with 2:39 left in the third quarter. Jackson pushed its lead to 35-23, its biggest of the game, but settled for a 35-27 lead after three quarters.

Central edged back into the game in the fourth quarter, using 6-foot-2 center Wendi Zickfield's size down low to generate offense. Zickfield had six points in the fourth quarter and scored eight of her 10 points in the second half as the Tigers did a better job of getting the ball inside.

"We did a better job [of getting her the ball] in the second half," Shirrell said. "Wendi tonight kept herself out of foul trouble, which was big, too. The last few games that's been a problem."

Zickfield's two free throws with 2:11 left cut the lead to 40-35, and a short jump shot from Sadie Pittman cut the lead to 40-37 with 1:03 left. Despite struggling at the line in the second half -- Jackson hit eight of 17 free throws in the second half -- the Indians hit their next six free throws when Central put them on the line.

Poole led the Indians with 13 points and Howard had eight off the bench.

"The Howard girl came in and she inspired us a little bit," Sides said. "She was a big difference for us."

Central (8-12) won its second straight after a buzzer-beater from Schuessler gave Central a win over New Madrid County on Monday. The Tigers have three games remaining, all at home.

Jackson 46, Central 39

Central 10 14 11 11 -- 46

Jackson 7 14 6 12 -- 39

CENTRAL (39) -- Courtney Schuessler 17, Wendi Zickfield 10, Sadie Pittman 6, Tierra Walker 6. FG 14, FT 11-13, F 19 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (46) -- Lindsay Poole 13, Ashton Howard 8, Cody Goodpasture 6, Andrea Barnes 4, Ashley Charboneau 4, Amanda Peiffer 4, Kelci Keith 3, Gabrielle Garritano 2, Kaylen Knepp 2. FG 15, FT 12-21, F 17 (3-pointers: Poole 3, Keith 1. Fouled out: none)