JACKSON MAKES QUICK STATEMENT; LADY INDIANS OVERCOME COR JESU SIZE, WIN 67-44

JACKSON -- It's understandable if Cherish Tillman, Jackson High's 5-foot-10 sophomore center, felt a little intimidated when she met Cor Jesu's 6-4 sophomore Katie Neff for the opening tip Saturday afternoon.

Once play began, any intimidation quickly vanished. Tillman controlled the tip, and Jackson dominated, winning the game between the perennial state powers 67-44 in the Lady Indians' home debut.

Jackson (4-0) jumped out to a 19-5 first-quarter advantage, which inflated to 41-14 by halftime. The Lady Indians' lead peaked at 30 points early in the second half.

Jackson's Christa Millham scored 14 of her 18 points in the first half and had seven rebounds and five assists, despite spending considerable time on the bench with the game in hand.

Dana Littlepage had eight points and eight rebounds off the bench. Tillman scored nine points and Chrissi Glastetter and Dana Eakins each added eight.

With its relentless pressure, Jackson forced 23 Cor Jesu turnovers.

"That was the key to the game," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "We were really effective with our press. Our big girls are quick and they can anticipate on the pass, so that's a good combination."

Cor Jesu's guard tandem of Beckie and Katie Lewis, who are twins, both picked up quick fouls.

"The twins were in early foul trouble, and that wasn't good for us, because when they went down we didn't handle their pressure well at all," said Cor Jesu coach Gary Glasscock. "Overall we played very badly. We don't look like a very good club because we haven't played well against the good teams yet."

Tricia Sinnett, a 6-0 senior, led the Chargers with 11 points and Beckie Lewis added 10. Neff finished with seven points, six rebounds and three blocks, four off her average.

For Cook, the game was a test for his Lady Indians. Jackson, which finished second in Class 4A last season, was ranked just sixth in the first Associated Press 4A poll and was seeded second behind Poplar Bluff in next week's HealthSouth Holiday Classic.

"I got a good measurement on our team," Cook said. "I really believe that we can play with some of the better teams now."

The Lady Indians want to show they're still the best team in southeast Missouri.

"Yeah, exactly," said Millham, a 5-10 senior who signed with New Mexico State. "At least show that. Seeding doesn't mean a whole lot, especially when it's done before the season. But that's all right; it's OK to be the underdogs every once in a while."

Cor Jesu (3-2), which won the 4A title in 1995, lost to defending 4A champion Gateway Tech 64-38 last week in the championship game of the Oakville Tournament.

So how does Jackson compare to Gateway, the team that beat the Lady Indians last season in the state championship game?

"They're pretty comparable," Glasscock said. "It would be a good match. I see them as being probably two of the top five teams in the state. (Jackson's) an excellent team. Well-coached, very good players."