Jackson girls eliminate defending tournament champion

Farmington has been a thorn in Jackson's side over the past year.

The Knightettes knocked off the Indians in the 2008 Saint Francis Medical Center Holiday Classic semifinals and also beat them earlier this season in the Farmington tournament.

Jackson turned the tables on Farmington on Tuesday night, posting a surprisingly lopsided 52-37 victory in the Saint Francis Medical Center Holiday Classic semifinals at the Show Me Center.

"It was good," Jackson junior guard Brooke Sanders said. "I figured it would be a close game unless we really played well."

That the Indians did as they advanced to the championship game of the 14th annual tournament for the first time since 2006, when they capped a run of four consecutive titles.

Jackson, seeded third for the eight-team event, will face top-seeded Notre Dame today for the crown.

"I'm very proud of them," Jackson coach Sheila Haertling said. "I'm really proud of our defense and our boxing out."

Haertling thought those were the major problem areas for the Indians (5-3) when they lost to second-seeded Farmington by five points earlier in the season, so that was a focus in the rematch.

"We didn't do a good job the last time we played them," Haertling said.

Senior guard Kaylen Knepp said defense sparked the victory.

"I think the key was our defense. We rotated really well," Knepp said. "And our shots fell, but defense won it."

Sanders and Knepp both scored 14 points to lead the Indians' offense, while every Jackson player who hit the court helped out defensively.

"I think our defense played really well," Sanders said. "Our shots were falling and that helped."

Defending champion Farmington (5-2) grabbed an early 5-2 lead, but Jackson scored eight straight points to go ahead 10-5 and the Indians never let the Knightettes catch up.

A 3-pointer by sophomore guard Dru Haertling midway through the second quarter put the Indians on top 21-11 for their first double-figure lead. Jackson stayed in control the rest of the way.

It was 28-18 at halftime, thanks in large part to 10 points by Sanders and nine by Haertling, who did all of her offensive damage over the opening two periods.

Jackson carried a commanding 44-30 lead into the fourth quarter and soon expanded the margin to 50-30. The Indians cruised from there.

"I thought we did a really good job," Sheila Haertling said.

Now the Indians will try to pull off a turnaround that, if successful, would be almost one for the ages.

Less than a week ago -- Thursday to be exact -- powerful Notre Dame routed the Indians 59-33 in Jackson.

"They spanked us," Haertling said. "We have a game plan. I don't know if it will work. They're a great team, but we're going to do our best."

Redemption is on the Indians' minds.

"We can play a lot better than last time. We just need to redeem ourselves," Sanders said.

Added Knepp: "We're all really pumped. We want to redeem ourselves."

Farmington 7 11 12 7 -- 37

Jackson 10 18 16 8 -- 52

FARMINGTON (37) -- Brittany Gladbach 10, Erin Littrell 2, Tayhlor Milfeld 3, Morgan Ankrom 4, Whitney Heuring 9, Brittany Ernst 5, Rachel Williams 4. FG 15, FT 4-6, F 11. (3-pointers: Gladbach 2, Ernst 1. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (52) -- Dru Haertling 9, Brooke Sanders 14, Kaylen Knepp 14, Connor King 5, Danielle Daume 6, Cassandra Bollinger 4. FG 20, FT 10-11, F 13. (3-pointers: Haertling 1, Knepp 1. Fouled out: none)