LONGHORNS STAND IN JACKSON'S TITLE PATH

Look out for No. 1.

Jackson's quest to claim its first state in girls basketball title won't come easy as the Lady Indians will take on the state's top-ranked team, Parkway West, in the semifinals tonight at 7:55 at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo.

Parkway West boasts the state's best record at 29-1 with its only loss coming to state semifinalist Springfield Kickapoo. The Longhorns have two soon-to-be Division I players, including one who is going to Oklahoma, one of the top 10 teams in the nation.

Parkway West starts three players at least 6-foot-1.

But there's more.

Parkway West already destroyed Jackson this year, 64-36.

That game, however, was played when Jackson all-stater Andrea Koeper wasn't in the lineup.

"It's almost like we're going to play a completely different team," said Parkway West coach Steve Baxter.

Jackson coach Ron Cook is hoping that the Longhorns might take his team lightly after such a convincing win at the end of January.

"It was so easy for them the first time we played them," said Cook, whose squad is 21-6.

Even with Koeper's presence, though, Parkway West is clearly the favorite to win.

"There's no doubt that talent-wise, they're the best team in the state," said Cook, who added that he thought this was the most talented overall team the Lady Indians have played in the Final Four, including the St. Joseph's Academy team which included Kristin Folkl, who went on to earn collegiate All-American honors and is now playing professionally.

But Jackson has pulled off upsets before. The Lady Indians twice knocked off Poplar Bluff, which was ranked as high as first in the state.

"We can't afford turnovers," Cook said. "And we'll have to get after the loose balls. They hit the offensive boards well so we'll have to rebound well, too."

Jackson does not match up well at all in terms of height.

"But our height is deceptive because we like to run a lot," Baxter said. "We don't sit back and become trees. We like to move."

Pushing the issue will be point guard Dionnah Jackson, the soon-to-be Sooner. At 5-foot-10, she's probably the best player in the state, averaging 16 points, five assists and five steals per contest.

"The other girls sprint to the other end because they know she'll get the ball up the court," Baxter said. "They know if they don't have the ball in their hands they better start running."

Paired with Jackson is 6-1 senior Emily Jaskowiak, who is headed to Tulsa. She averages 18 points and nine rebounds per game. She could eclipse the 1,000 career rebound barrier tonight.

To prepare for the size and quickness of the Longhorns, the Lady Indians have practiced this week against some of the school's boys basketball players.

"We don't have enough height on our team, so we asked some of the boys to come in," Cook said.

Parkway West also played Cape Central earlier this year. Despite some injuries, the Lady Tigers held their own and fell 54-42 in the Notre Dame Shootout. The Longhorns didn't pull away until the last couple of minutes in that game.