JACKSON HOPES TOURNAMENT WILL REVEAL THE RIGHT MIX FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON

While the U-High Tournament gives fans the opportunity to see all the teams in Southeast Missouri, Jackson coach Steve Burk wants a good look at just one team.

His own.

"One nice thing about the Christmas Tournament, if you get four games, is you get a lot of looks at your kids," said Burk.

And Burk has yet to get a good handle on his Indians, who were 3-2 entering a game last Tuesday at Graves County, Ky.

"We are still in the process of trying to determine the best way to play for us," said Burk. "We have a lot of new faces and have had different kids playing at different times. We're still trying put things together. We do have three wins and that's a positive."

The Indians own victories over Potosi, North County and Kelly. In the losses, Farmington thwarted the Indians' attempt for a third straight Farmington Tournament title in the championship game while Kennett downed the Indians 49-47 with a shot at the buzzer.

Jackson, the third seed, will open U-High tournament play against No. 14 seed Oak Ridge Monday at noon.

"I thought seeding was pretty much what it should have been, based on what people have done, but some schools played better competition," said Burk. " For instance, Cape Central and Notre Dame played better competition than maybe us and Scott City."

The Indians, who have just one full-time starter back from a year ago, have played a variety of players and combinations.

Tory Meyr, the returning starter, has picked up where he left off in football. An all-state receiver on the gridiron, Meyr leads the Indians on the hardcourt too with 17 points per game.

Levi Bollinger, who played a lot as a sophomore but saw limited action as a junior due to a broken leg, has been contributing 14.5 points a game.

The guard tandem of Meyr and Bollinger is a strength of an inexperienced team.

"They're capable of hitting the outside shot and penetrating to the basket," noted Burk. "I think people have to respect us from behind the 3-point line, but it's not like it's a dominant part of our game. If people pack the zone I think we can hit the three."

Lucas McCulley has also seen playing time at guard.

John Oehl, the tallest player on the team at 6-foot-5, has been leading the inside game with 10 points and seven rebounds a game. He's been spelled by Josh Koehler.

Jeremy Hager, Nathan Brown and Matt Farrell have all started at times at forward while Brad Hilbert has been the team's second-most scoring threat on the inside with 7.5 points a game off the bench.

The Indians don't have an abundance of size for a 4A school, but thus far have been holding their own on the boards.

"We haven't dominated people but we haven't really been hurt," said Burk. " But again, we haven't played many people all that big."