Jackson overpowers Kelly

The Jackson boys basketball team's season finale may not have gone the way coach Mike Kiehne would have liked, but the Indians managed to fight through a sloppy second quarter to win 52-35 over visiting Kelly on Tuesday night.

"It was just one of those types of games where you just grit it out and get the job done," Kiehne said.

Playing without senior Tyler McNeely, who sat out with an injury, Jackson (21-4) looked like it would have little problem with the Hawks early on. Jackson built a 19-8 first-quarter lead and had its biggest lead at 23-9 early in the second.

While the Indians were compiling points, they also were collecting fouls. Before the midway point of the second quarter the Hawks were already in the double bonus. Kelly (9-12) shot 11 free throws in the quarter, and by halftime the lead was down to 26-24.

"We were fouling guys that were 80 feet from the basket," Kiehne said. "Our defense was lacking a bit."

Jackson made an adjustment in the third quarter, holding Kelly to five points while keeping its fouls down. Senior Brad Eaton scored five of the Indians' 11 points in the third, including a 3-pointer.

Kelly started the fourth with a basket to cut the lead to 37-31, but the Hawks did not get any closer. Jackson began to play keep-away with about 3:30 remaining, and Kelly to sent the Indians to the foul line 13 times down the stretch.

Eaton scored another five points in the fourth and finished with a game-high 14 points.

"We found out yesterday in practice Tyler wasn't going to play," Eaton said. "We knew someone was going to have to step up, and we all stepped up."

Kelly struggled in the second half, scoring only 11 points after the break. The Hawks had only four field goals in the second half and 12 total.

"We've been cold shooting the last two weeks," Kelly coach Nick Lanpher said. "We just can't buy a basket."

Jackson improved to 9-0 at home with the win. The Indians' 21 triumphs matches their highest win total since 1998, the last year Jackson won a district title.

"We feel awesome," Eaton said. "This is a storybook ending. To go undefeated at home and have 21 wins, what else can you ask for?"

Jason Schafer and Jack Puisis added 11 points apiece for Jackson.

Kendal Deason led Kelly with 12 points.

Jackson 52, Kelly 35

Kelly 8 16 5 6 -- 35

Jackson 19 7 11 15 -- 52

KELLY (35) -- Kendal Deason 12, Michael Glastetter 5, Josh Jones 5, Brooks Edmonds 5, Derek Felter 2, Kent Deason 2, Trey Simmons 2, Chris Romas 2. FG 12, FT 11-17, F 18 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Kendal Deason)

JACKSON (52) -- Brad Eaton 14, Jason Schafer 11, Jack Puisis 11, Nick Fiehler 4, Tyler Beussink 6, Marc Lumsden 2, Ryan Mirly 4. FG 16, FT 16-25, F 16 (3-pointers: Beussink 2, Puisis 1. Fouled out: none)

JV: Jackson 53, Kelly 35