Jackson girls top Central, move to 11-0

~ The Indians rolled to a 63-21 victory.

It took a little longer than Jackson girls basketball coach Sam Sides would have liked, but the unbeaten Indians finally showed their form in the second quarter of Thursday's game at Central.

Jackson outscored Central 14-4 in that period and followed with a 18-6 advantage in the third quarter on the way to a 63-21 victory.

"We came out a little too relaxed, but the second and third quarters were as good defensively as we've played all year," Sides said. "And we were passing the ball well and getting good looks."

Bobbie Jones scored 17 points for Jackson (11-0), while Amanda Peiffer added 16. Lindsay Poole scored 12, all in the first half.

Central, coming off a come-from-behind win against North County, trailed just 17-9 after the first period before falling behind by 18 at halftime and 30 after three periods.

Junior Courtney Schuessler led the Tigers (3-9) with six points.

"We came out and played well the first few minutes," first-year coach Sherri Shirrell said. "Then Jackson turned it up a notch, and we didn't play to the level we should have. You have to give credit to Jackson. They're a good basketball team and they're well coached."

Shirrell, a Central graduate, inherited a program that won five games last year and six the year before that.

"There have been some positives," Shirrell said. "Coming back against North County was a good step for us.

"I think you can see the future of Cape basketball with the younger players on the team. The seniors have been leaders and encouraging for the younger kids. There are positives coming out of practice, and the kids are working hard every day."

Jackson, ranked No. 1 in the SEMO girls rankings, steps into a tough stretch of games beginning with tonight's game at Doniphan, 12-1 through Tuesday and ranked second in the SEMO poll. The Indians then play Webster Groves in the MLK Classic on Monday at Maryville University in Chesterfield, Mo., host Kennett on Thursday and face the state's top-ranked Class 5 team, Incarnate Word, in the Notre Dame Shootout on Jan. 21.

"We'll try to improve what we do," Sides said, "and keep our energy up."

JACKSON 63, CENTRAL 21

Jackson 17 14 18 14 -- 63

Central 9 4 6 2 -- 21

JACKSON (63) -- Andrea Barnes 2, Cody Goodpasture 2, Tara Kelley 1, Lindsay Poole 12, Kylie Werner 4, Gabrielle Garritano 5, Ashley Charbonneau 2, Bobbie Jones 17, Amanda Peiffer 16. FG 25, FT 7-17, F 10 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

CENTRAL (21) -- Dani Gross 2, Paige Rothenberger 2, Wendi Zickfield 4, Courtney Schuessler 6, Christina Sexton 4, Tierra Walker 3. FG 9, FT 3-8, F 14 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

JV -- Jackson won, 45-30.