Jackson girls rally past Dexter 46-34

The Indians outscored the visiting Bearcats 20-7 in the fourth quarter.

Josh Hester

Special to the Southeast Missourian

JACKSON -- Jackson coach Sam Sides had much to be thankful for after escaping with a home win over Dexter on Monday night.

The Indians were forced to fight back from a seven-point deficit early in the third quarter and did -- coming away with a 46-34 win in a game between two of the top three teams in the girls' Southeast Missouri poll.

Jackson, which improved to 16-1, came into the game ranked No. 2, with Dexter (15-3) right behind at No. 3.

"We hit some big free throws down the stretch," Sides said. "We also shot the ball really well. That's something we haven't been doing lately."

Jackson was nearly perfect from the line in the fourth quarter, sinking 11 of 12 free throws. They outscored Dexter 20-7 in the period.

Defensively, the Indians held Dexter senior Rachel Blunt and her low-post sidekick Taylor Nelson to 12 points each -- well below their season averages.

Kelly Loos and Amanda Peiffer were the only Indians to reach double-digits, scoring 10 points each.

After a back-and-forth first quarter that saw Jackson take the lead 11-8, Dexter was able to force key turnovers in the second and grab an 18-16 lead with 36 seconds left in the half.

It would be Tara Kelly, however, who got loose for a breakaway lay-up to tie the score 18-18 by halftime.

"Dexter outplayed us most of the game," Sides noted. "But Tara made a big three for us late in the game."

Kelly connected on the 3-pointer with 6:30 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 30-30.

From there it was all Jackson, as they closed out the game on a 16-4 scoring run.

"We executed well late in the game," Sides stated. "What really hurt us was Dexter's solid defense. It frustrated us early on.

"I told the girls we have to be the aggressors in the fourth quarter and not to be timid. Dexter became timid, and I think wins usually favor the aggressor."

Neither team shot well the entire night, and the game came down to turnovers at crucial points in the game. It's an area where the Jackson defense has excelled all season.

"We were able to create turnovers late in the game which led to scoring situations for us," Sides noted.

He came away impressed with the Bearcats.

"They are just as competitive as a lot of the teams we have been playing," Sides said. "If they shoot the ball as well against other teams as they did against us, they are going to be tough. They had us on the ropes."

Dexter 8 10 9 7 -34

Jackson 11 7 8 20 -46

DEXTER (34) - Haylee Finch 4, Natalie Hayes 6, Rachel Blunt 12, Taylor Nelson 12. Totals: 13 6-6 34. (3-pointers: Nelson 2. Team Fouls 9.)

JACKSON (46) - Adrea Puisis 2, Tara Kelley 5, Kylie Werner 4, Loni Littlepage 6, Kelly Loos 10, Bobbie Jones 9, Amanda Peiffer 10. Totals: 15 13-15 46. (3-pointers: Kelly 1, Loos 2. Team Fouls 8.)

JV: Jackson 47, Dexter 13.