Kirkwood ends Jackson girls basketball team's season in state sectional

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- When the members of the Jackson girls basketball team stepped onto the court for their Class 5 state sectional game against Kirkwood on Wednesday night at Jefferson College, their nervousness was obvious.

The uneasiness of the Indians led to a couple of missed layups in the first minute of action and five turnovers as they only scored two points in the opening quarter.

Jackson continued to battle from behind before falling 49-36 to the Pioneers.

"We played a little tentative, I felt, in the first quarter, which hurt us," Jackson coach Tyler Abernathy said. " As good as we played defensively, we played just as equally not as good offensively, and it kind of got us in a little bit of a hole there, but we battled."

The Indians trailed 2-0 before the game even officially began after the Jackson bench was issued a technical for not turning in its scoring book in "a timely manner" before the start of the game, and Kirkwood's Jordan Roundtree sank both technical free throws before any time came off the clock.

The Pioneers were just 4 of 17 from the field in the first quarter but led 10-2 heading to the second. Jackson scored its lone basket 1 minute, 40 seconds into the game.

Jackson's Rachel Crites drives past Kirkwood's Haverlynn Bracy in the second quarter of the Indians Class 5 sectional against the Pioneers, Wednesday, March 11, 2015, in Hillsboro. Jackson lost 36-49. (Laura Simon)

A layup by junior guard Cassidi Tomsu and a 3 from the top of the key from junior guard Autumn Reid cut the Pioneers' lead to 10-7 with 5:58 left in the second quarter, but the Indians turned it over on their next four possessions as Kirkwood built its lead back up to nine.

"Most of our turnovers came over just frustration and trying to go faster than we should," Reid said.

The Indians trailed 24-11 at the break and quickly faced an 18-point deficit after Kirkwood drained a 3 and scored off a Jackson turnover 48 seconds into the second half.

"Until you get out there and realize how athletic they are "... film doesn't justify it in a way," Abernathy said of the Pioneer's defense. "You watch it on film and you think gaps are open that aren't gaps, and it just took us a little while to adjust to their length and athleticism."

Jackson rebounded with nine unanswered points, including 3-pointers from senior guard Rachel Crites and Tomsu. A free throw by sophomore guard Rylee Stafford capped the run and pulled the Indians within eight at 29-21 with 4:15 left in the quarter.

Tomsu credited the team's persistence in attacking the basket for getting better shots in the third.

"We had to drive to the basket because driving to the basket gives you good passing angles, gives you good opportunities and just leads to good things," Tomsu said.

A pair of free throws from Tomsu with 2:15 left in the third made it 30-22. She was whistled for an offensive foul on the next possession and the Pioneers, which blocked three Jackson shots in the final minute and a half of the quarter, rattled off six straight points to push the lead back to 14.

Jackson head coach Tyler Abernathy huddles with his players during the Indians Class 5 sectional against the Kirkwood Pioneers, Wednesday, March 11, 2015, in Hillsboro. Jackson lost 36-49. (Laura Simon)

A corner 3 from Crites at the third-quarter buzzer brought the Indians within 36-25, but they never got any closer.

The Pioneers extended their lead to as many as 18 in the final quarter. Roundtree led Kirkwood with 18 points while freshman guard Jayla Everett and 6-foot-1 sophomore gaurd Lauryn Miller added 12 apiece.

Tomsu led Jackson with 14 points and Crites and Reid each finished with eight.

"Really the Miller girl's just a bad matchup for us, a hard matchup for anybody, really," Abernathy said. "That's why she's one of the best players in the state."

The Indians ended their season with a record of 19-10. Kirkwood advanced to face Cor Jesu Academy in a state quarterfinal on Saturday.

"I was just proud of them. I was really proud of our effort," Abernathy said. " I was proud of our seniors. They're just great leaders. When you have great kids, it's enjoyable, and that's what this job is, enjoyable."

Jackson 2 9 14 11 -- 36

Kirkwood 10 14 12 13 -- 49

JACKSON (36) -- Cassidi Tomsu 14, Rachel Crites 8, Autumn Reid 8, Rylee Stafford 6. FG 11, FT 9-13, F 20. (3-pointers: Crites 2, Reid 2, Tomsu 1. Fouled out: none.)

KIRKWOOD (49) -- Jordan Roundtree 18, Jayla Everett 12, Lauryn Miller 12, Hava Turner 3, Haverlynn Bracy 2, Mary Brown 2. FG 17, FT 13-20, F 15. (3-pointers: Roundtree 1, Everett 1. Fouled out: none.)