Jackson settles for split

FARMINGTON -- After playing one of the best first halves of its season Friday in the Clas 5 district finals, the Jackson boys basketball team struggled out the gate Tuesday in a sectional game and fell to Lindbergh 44-37 at the Farmington Civic Center.

The Indians held Hillsboro to eight first-half points in Friday's win, and then came back to score just eight points of their own in the first half of Tuesday night'g game. Jackson's only lead was at 4-2, and the Indians trailed 13-8 at halftime.

"We didn't shoot the ball well," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "When you score eight points, their defense was part of it.

"I thought the second half we played with heart and battled."

Lindbergh picked up the tempo in the third quarter, pushing its lead to 21-10 early in the third. Jackson reserve guard Caleb Guilliams hit a pair of third-quarter 3-pointers to keep things close, but the Flyers remained in control.

Jackson's Antonio Garritano, left, wrestled for control with Lindbergh's Robby Meeh in the second quarter Wednesday night at Farmington Civic Center. (Fred Lynch)

The lead was still nine points late in the third when Jake Leet made a little run for the Indians. Leet scored the final seven points of the quarter for Jackson, pulling to the score to within 29-25 heading into the fourth quarter.

Leet's momentum was not carried over to the fourth quarter, with Lindbergh again pushing the lead to nine points at 36-27 with 2:46 remaining. The Flyers scored their last field goal with 3:30 remaining, finishing the final 3 minutes of the quarter with 18 free thow attempts.

Jackson's strategy to foul was successful, with Lindbergh hitting just nine of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter.

"When you're down like that the other team is in the driver's seat," Scott said. "You have to score every time and hope they don't score. They missed a couple of free throws, and we got a couple of chances."

The lead was down to four points at 38-34 with 1:05 remaining, but Jackson came no closer. Spencer Goodman's 3-point attempt rimmed out which would have narrowed the gap to thee points with a little less than a minute to go.

Despite their size advantage -- Jackson starts three players 6-foot-5 or taller -- the Indians did almost nothing in the post. Antonio Garritano finished with four points and Hunter Grantham was held scoreless.

"We had trouble finishing tonight all around," Scott said. "We had trouble finishing around the basket."

Leet was the lone offensive force for the Indians with 19 points. Goodman added eight points.

Charles Little led Lindbergh with 11 points and Robby Meeh added nine points. Lindbergh's top two scorers combined for just seven points, but the Flyers got eight players in the scoring column to just four for Jackson.

"Their seniors I thought they played well," Scott said. "You've got to give Lindbergh a lot of credit."

Jackson will lose just two seniors off its roster, and returns all five starters. This was the first sectional appearance for Jackson since 1998.

"When it's the seniors it's hard because it's their last time," Scott said. "The others have to learn from this experience and try to get better."

Lindbergh 44, Jackson 37

Lindbergh -- 7 6 16 15 -- 44

Jackson -- 4 4 17 12 -- 37

LINDBERGH (44) -- Robby Meeh 9, Charles Little 11, Ben Harmon 4, Drake Smith 5, Tyler Kiel 2, Tremieko Drake 2, Antwon Robinson 4, Robert Williams 5. FG 17, FT 9-20, F 9 (3-pointers: Little 1, fouled out: none)

JACKSON (37) -- Jake Leet 19, Spencer Goodman 8, Caleb Guilliams 6, Antonio Garritano 4. FG 12, FT 8-8, F 18 (3-pointers: Leet 3, Guilliams 2, fouled out: Steven Spradlin)

(Girls)

Jackson 45, Mehlville 35

Mehlville 8 7 5 15 -- 35

Jackson 14 12 10 9 -- 45

MEHLVILLE (35) -- Alyse Gordon 13, Kayla Gordon 6, Liamesha Lewis 6, Laquish Lewis 2, Ashley Buehler 6. FG 15, FT 2-7, F 19 (3-pointers: A. Gordon 3, fouled out: A. Gordon, Kaylin Montgomery)

JACKSON (45) -- Kelci Keith 15, Amanda Peiffer 6, Ashley Charbonneau 9, Jenni Tenholder 4, Lindsay Poole 5, Cody Goodpasture 3, Ashton Howard 3. FG 15, FT 11-19, F 15 (3-pointers: Keith 3, Poole 1, fouled out: none)