JACKSON GIRLS EDGE CENTRAL'S STATE-RANKED LADY TIGERS

Cape Central landed the proverbial jab.

Jackson countered.

Cape Central countered that counter.

Repeat that process about a dozen times and you can get a picture of the fourth quarter of the girls basketball game Thursday night at Tiger Field House.

Jackson (11-9) won the battle, though, and pulled off a minor upset over ninth-ranked Cape Central (16-4) 50-45 in a game that was up in the air until there was 14 seconds to go.

"It was a tough game for both teams," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "We hit some tough shots in the fourth and so did Cape. This was a big win for us. We had some kids come off the bench and help us out."

Leading 44-37 with 3:43 left, Jackson was in position to deliver the knockout blow.

But Central sophomore guard Sarah Hyslop cut the lead to 44-39 on its next possession. Then Jackson freshman Whitney Werner, who scored seven of her 11 points in the fourth quarter, landed a vicious blow in the form of a 3-pointer with 3:12 left to put Jackson up 47-39 the Lady Indians largest lead of the game.

"That's exceptional for a freshman," Cook said of Werner's poise. "We've had a lot of freshmen and sophomores step up this year."

The Lady Tigers then went on a 6-0 run and cut the lead to 47-45 on a basket by Heather Jenkins with 1:22 left.

"Every time we answered, they answered," said Central coach Darrick Smith, whose team made seven of its 10 shots from the field in the fourth quarter. "But we had our chances."

Central actually had a chance to tie the game at 47 with :17.2 left, but Katie Dougherty missed the front end of a one-and-one. Jackson's Andrea Koeper then made two free throws with :13.9 left to seal the game at 49-45.

Jackson could've put the game away earlier but twice in the last 1:07 it missed the front ends of one-and-ones.

The Jackson win created a log-jam atop the conference. Central, Jackson and Poplar Bluff each have one loss.

Despite the loss, Smith was not disappointed with the effort nor with the experience.

"These types of games are the kind you're going to get in district," Smith said. "This was a district-type atmosphere. You better get used to it."

Jackson was led in scoring by Koeper, who finished with 15. Werner had 11 and Cherish Tillman put in 10.

Dionna Webb was the only player in double figures for Central with 13, but Mindy Hoffman and Jenkins scored nine and Dougherty scored eight.

Jackson led after every quarter. The Lady Indians got out to a 10-8 lead after the first quarter and led 18-15 at halftime. Jackson took a 32-31 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Lady Tigers struggled from the field in the first half, hitting just five of 21 shots from the field. They shot well in the second half, however, making 13 of 22 from the field to finish the game at about 44 percent.

Cape Central, though, was not as careful with the ball as Jackson was and it cost the Lady Tigers dearly in some critical situations down the stretch. Central turned the ball over 15 times to Jackson's seven.

The battle between the student bodies was almost as entertaining as the game itself. The schools traded insulting chants to each other throughout the game, some of them bordering tastelessness. Most of them, however, were good in nature such as Jackson chanting "O-ver-Ra-ted" referring to the Lady Tigers' state ranking. Central's students, painted in orange and black stripes, sang songs like "I'm a Little Teapot" while Jackson's players were at the free throw line.

"That was a good crowd tonight," Smith said. "That's the way it should be."