Jackson topples No. 8 Gateway Tech in girls sectional

FARMINGTON, Mo.-- Jackson's girls basketball team grabbed the lead with three minutes left and used strong free-throw shooting to defeat eighth-ranked Gateway Tech 50-38 in the Class 5 sectional round.

The Indians (20-8) move on to the quarterfinals at 3:15 p.m. Saturday in Farmington against Nerinx Hall (19-10), a 67-56 winner over Hazelwood West.

Jackson's 12-point win wasn't as easy as the margin would suggest. Gateway Tech (23-4) held a 12-10 first-quarter lead and led 20-16 at halftime. Playing a lineup with three 6-foot-2 players, Jackson had trouble handling physical play early.

"You can't play physical basketball with three fouls," Jackson coach Ron Cook said of his team's low first-half foul total.

Jackson tightened up its 2-3 zone in the second half and got strong play from post player Whitney Werner, who scored six points in the second half, and had four in the third quarter. Jackson's 15-8 third-quarter margin eased the Indians into a two-point lead going into the final quarter.

Gateway scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to go back up 33-31, but Jackson used a 4-0 run of its own to shoot back ahead by two. Jenna Leet's turnover with three minutes left led to a Tracie Harris 3-point play, giving Gateway its final lead at 36-35 with 2:49 left.

On Jackson's next possession Kristen Howard hit her third 3-pointer to give Jackson a 38-36 lead. Leet redeemed herself on the next play when she stole ball and put up a 3-point play of her own. Leet's three points gave Jackson a five-point lead, and it was the last field goal Jackson would make. The Indians scored their final eight points from the line.

Leet led all scorers with 18 point,s and Werner had 10. Tracie Harris led the Jaguars with 14 points.

Cook said Leet's leadership and intangibles were just as important as her 18 points.

"The last seven or eight games she's really got the other girls involved," he said. "She's a complete player."