Meyer leads Jackson boys basketball team to overtime win

A hot start by the Jackson boys basketball team indicated Friday's game might be a breeze for the Indians.

New Madrid County Central didn't let that happen, but the Indians were able to celebrate at the end.

Jackson, which only trailed for a few seconds all night, needed overtime to slip past the visiting Eagles 54-50.

"A win is a win no matter overtime or not," Jackson senior center John Meyer said.

The 6-foot-9 Meyer, who was hampered by foul trouble much of the game, put in the winning basket.

New Madrid County Central defender Willie Jimmerson tries to block a shot by Jackson's Karson King during the fourth quarter Friday in Jackson. (Laura Simon)

Neither squad was able to score for most of the four-minute extra session until Meyer's short bank shot with 18 seconds left broke a 50-50 tie.

"I had to do something, had to make a move," Meyer said. "Just spin, throw it up there, hope it goes in."

NMCC nearly forced a second overtime, but senior guard Lamonte Nelson missed a short shot in the lane with 6 seconds remaining.

Meyer grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 4 seconds left. He made both free throws to ice the victory.

"I couldn't make a free throw worth anything," Meyer said about his first-half problems from the charity stripe that saw him go 1 of 4.

Jackson fans cheer on the Indians before the start of Friday's game against New Madrid County Central.

NMCC (8-12) wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead before Meyer put Jackson (14-10) ahead to stay.

NMCC freshman guard Willie Jimmerson stole the ball near midcourt late in overtime and drove to the basket.

Jackson senior guard Caleb Newcomer hustled to get back and bothered Jimmerson enough for him to miss the contested layup.

The Indians came up with the rebound, which led to Meyer's winning bucket.

Jackson coach Darrin Scott said Newcomer's hustle play was just one of many the Indians turned in.

"Without watching film, we did a lot more little things than we've done," Scott said. "We didn't make any shots the second half, but we made a lot of effort plays. Caleb's play was an example, and we ended up with the ball."

Jackson started on fire. It hit its first three shots to grab a 6-0 lead. The Indians stayed in control most of the way.

The Indians scored the final seven points of the opening period to lead 19-6. They hit 8 of 12 field-goal attempts in the period.

Jackson built a 27-11 advantage in the second quarter before NMCC closed to within 34-24 at the intermission. The Indians shot 70 percent (14 of 20) in the half.

"The first half we were making shots," Jackson sophomore swingman Karson King said. "The second half we got a little bit cold, and John got into foul trouble."

Jackson shot just 20 percent (4 of 20) in the second half, and the Eagles rallied by shooting 57.1 percent (12 of 21).

NMCC outscored Jackson 15-8 in the third quarter to make it 42-39. The Eagles forged their first tie early in the final period at 42-42.

The Indians quickly went back ahead, but the Eagles grabbed their first lead of the night on a basket in close by senior forward C.J. Chism to make it 48-47 with 1 minute, 14 seconds left.

"We started out good, but we stopped looking to drive as much and our shots weren't falling," Meyer said.

It looked like King might be the hero when he tipped a ball away from a NMCC player at midcourt and hit a layup off a pass from sophomore guard Josh Daume.

King also was fouled on the play, and his free throw made it 50-48 with 32 seconds remaining.

But NMCC forced overtime on Nelson's short bank shot in traffic with 4 seconds left.

That's when the Indians finally took control despite missing a shot and having three turnovers on their first four overtime possessions.

But the Eagles could not take advantage. They were shut out in overtime.

King led the Indians with 14 points. Meyer and junior forward Luke Stevens added nine apiece.

Jimmerson paced the Eagles with 14 points. Nelson and Chism both scored 12.

Jackson has beaten NMCC in overtime twice this season. The other time came in the consolation final of the SEMO Conference tournament in early December.

"They've gotten a lot better since the last time we played them," Scott said.

The Indians finished shooting 45.2 percent (19 of 42). NMCC wound up at 44.7 percent (21 of 47).

Jackson hit 14 of 20 free throws (70 percent), while the Eagles made 6 of 12 (50 percent). The Indians had 16 turnovers compared to 11 for NMCC.

NMCC 6 18 15 11 0 -- 50

Jackson 19 15 8 8 4 -- 54

NEW MADRID COUNTY CENTRAL (50) -- Earl Grissom 2, Lamonte Nelson 12, Willie Jimmerson 14, JaShawn McDaniel 2, Brandon Ray 2, C.J. Chism 12, Armondo Thatch 1, Chillis Johnson 2, Darrin McGlosan 3. FG 21, FT 6-12, F 21. (3-pointers: Nelson 2. Fouled out: Nelson)

JACKSON (54) -- Josh Daume 4, Caleb Newcomer 5, Braxton McDowell 7, Calvin Lysell 6, Karson King 14, John Meyer 9, Luke Stevens 9. FG 19, FT 14-20, F 13. (3-pointers: Newcomer 1, McDowell 1. Fouled out: none)

JV -- Jackson won 52-51 in OT.