Jackson leans on bigs to overpower Advance

Jackson didn't need a miraculous comeback this time.

The Indians just needed to get the ball inside -- and they did.

Jackson knocked off Advance 71-50 behind the strong inside play of Henrie Williams and Bobby Clark in the fifth-place game of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

The Hornets had no answer for the inside game.

"We ran the floor well," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "We looked inside and got the ball where we wanted it to be. We did a pretty good job in the paint."

The game was close throughout the first half.

"I thought we ran the floor well," Advance coach Josh Dowdy said. "We pushed the ball, sped up the pace. We knew they were big and wanted to try and run on their bigs. I was proud of the offense and transition."

Jackson jumped out to a 15-11 lead after the first quarter after a Caleb Newcomer 3-pointer at the buzzer.

In the second quarter, Jackson moved ahead 19-13 on a Williams basket and held a lead throughout the quarter.

Williams hit a buzzer shot to send Jackson into halftime up 31-26.

"We looked at yesterday's game," Williams said. "We came out slow. So we wanted to start well and execute our offense."

Jackson started to pull away in the early going in the third quarter.

Zach McDowell hit a bucket to start and Clark followed that with a jumper in the lane to give the Indians their biggest lead at 35-26.

"We went to a zone and they made four straight baskets," Dowdy said. "So we went back to a man and tried to deny. We tried, we fought and battled. I felt like we lost our legs a little bit. We still need to get more mentally tough."

The Indians continued to pull away, thanks to Williams and Clark inside.

"We realized we had a mismatch down low," Williams said. "They didn't have the size. My teammates did a good job of getting me the ball and I just had an easy finish."

With the game at 46-30, Clark hit a basket, Williams followed with a lay-in, Clark hit a jumper and Williams hit a basket and a free throw after a foul to complete a 9-2 run to give Jackson its largest lead of the night at 53-32.

"In the third, we finished the first three or four baskets," Scott said. "I was proud of the way we adjusted."

Jackson's lead never was threatened with Williams controlling the glass.

"He played hard the whole time he was in there," Scott said. "He came out winded and that's a good sign. He played hard. He's a good player and he's hard to guard."

Dowdy is glad he won't have to face the 6-foot-6 senior again this year.

"He's a load," Dowdy said of Williams. "He finished well, he was active on the glass. I thought we did all we possibly could. I'm glad we don't have to face him again."

Advance 11 15 11 13 -- 50

Jackson 15 16 22 18 -- 71

ADVANCE (50) -- Luke Steil 7, Grant Gray 13, Matt Ware 6, Darren VanGennip 14, Brad Steil 7, Law Duncan 2, Ethan Barr 1. FG 19, FT 10-18, F 9. (3-pointers: Gray 1, VanGennip 1. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (71) -- Caleb Newcomer 12, Taylor Williams 6, Kyle Keith 9, Law Duncan 2, Zach McDowell 6, Eli Gohn 6, Bobby Clark 14, Henrie Williams 16. FG 32, FT 3-3, F 17. (3-pointers: Newcomer 2, T. Williams 1, Keith 1. Fouled out: none)