JACKSON UPSETS NO. 1 SEED POPLAR BLUFF 64-51

SIKESTON -- Coaches all over Missouri may be promising resignations if the Jackson Indians continue to win.

On Wednesday night, Jackson again delayed head coach Steve Burk's final game for at least one more day as the fourth-seeded Indians upset top-seeded Poplar Bluff 64-51 in a Class 4A, District 1 semifinal.

Jackson improved to 15-12 and will play in today's 7:30 p.m. championship game against second-seeded Sikeston. The win was also the fourth in a row for Jackson, all coming since Burk announced his retirement plans last week.

Poplar Bluff saw a 10-game winning streak snapped as it ended its season with a 13-12 record. The Mules had been unbeaten since a 46-44 loss to Jackson on Jan 7.

After playing the Mules to a 13-13 stalemate in the opening quarter, Jackson began to take control as it outscored Poplar Bluff in each of the remaining periods.

Jackson opened the second quarter with a basket from Brad Hilbert, putting the Indians ahead 15-13. The lead was Jackson's first of the game and the Indians would not relinquish it for the remainder of the night.

Jackson took a 29-25 lead into halftime with senior Tory Meyr leading the way. Meyr connected for 17 of his game-high 27 points in the half, including both of his 3-pointers in the game.

Jackson padded the lead in the third quarter, outscoring Poplar Bluff 18-10. The Indians took a 47-35 lead into the fourth quarter and both teams then went silent on offense -- a situation the Mules could least afford.

While Meyr didn't score the Indians' first points in the period until the 3:32 mark, Poplar Bluff was only able to net a pair of points during the drought. Meyr's basket gave Jackson a 49-37 lead.

"The one thing that hurt them is they just went ice cold," said Burk. " They couldn't get anything to drop. Then we couldn't get anything to drop."

Poplar Bluff hit on just five of its 18 shots from the field in the fourth quarter. The Mules were 19 of 59 for the game, including just three of 18 from three-point range.

Jackson went 19 of 46 from the field.

Jackson also held a 24-10 scoring advantage at the free-throw line.

Hilbert finished with 10 points for the Indians.

William Britton led Poplar Bluff with 18 points and Ryan Whelan finished with 12 points.