Jackson makes habit of playing for tourney title

~ The Indians have reached the championship game three straight years, winning two titles.

Jackson's boys basketball team went 22 years between its first appearance in the finals of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament in 1964 to its next in 1987.

The Indians have made the championship game a habit since then, appearing in the finals 10 of the past 17 tournaments. Jackson's current streak of three straight championship appearances matches its longest, and the Indians have made the finals five of the past six seasons.

"Our kids, they look forward to the Christmas Tournament," third-year Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "They look forward to playing at the Show Me Center and the crowds. We've been fortunate to make it to the finals."

Up first for the Indians is today showdown with No. 14 Woodland.

Jackson junior forward Hunter Grantham saw Christmas tournament action last year as a sophomore. (Southeast Missourian file)

While those trips to the championship game have not resulted in much success -- Jackson has just three overall titles -- the Indians' fortune has turned in recent years. Jackson won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004, including a victory over rival Central in front of a near-capacity crowd in the former year.

This year's Indians (6-3) returned three starters but little else from a squad that fell 74-65 to Notre Dame in the finals at last year's tournament. The young Indians are hoping to etch their own place in Jackson's tournament success.

"For our kids, it's important to them," Scott said of Jackson's tournament tradition. "They want to play well in the tournament so when they see the guys who have graduated in recent years, they have something they can talk about with those guys. With alumni, you always remember how well your team did."

Jackson is seeded third this year after suffering a loss to second-seeded Notre Dame at the SEMO Conference Tournament. The Indians won the season-opening Farmington Invitational, but the title proved costly when 6-foot-7 starter Spencer Goodman was lost to injury.

Goodman has not played since, a stretch in which the Indians have lost three of six games. The Indians' losses were to Class 4 runner-up Sikeston, Notre Dame and Belleville (Ill.) Althoff, a perennially strong team out of the St. Louis area.

Jackson has reached the championship game of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament in each of the last three years, winning the tournament twice. The Indians will be the third seed for the 62nd edition of the tournament, which begins at 9 a.m. today. (Southeast Missourian file)

"Obviously, going into the year Spencer was a big part of our plans, but I feel good about our schedule and what it's shown us," Scott said.

In Goodman's absence, the Indians have turned to their inexperienced bench for answers. Sophomore guard Marcus Harris has used his athleticism to make his mark with extended playing time. The rest of Jackson's reserves have also gotten extended looks.

"That's the one thing about injuries -- by necessity you'll play more kids," Scott said. "Marcus [Harris] has been thrown into a much bigger role than he would have been. I think from that standpoint, it's helped us to play some guys that will be important players as we go down the stretch."

The Indians will likely have to try to earn a fourth straight trip to the finals without Goodman, who is not expected to play in the tournament.

Whether Goodman is back or not, Scott expects to gain insight into his club heading into the second half of the season.

"I know our kids will get up for it," Scott said. "I think it's a good gauging point. It's the midpoint of the season, and you can assess what you need to do for the second half."