SportsFebruary 28, 2023
NMCC downs Charleston to earn a third straight trip to state quarterfinals
BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — New Madrid County Central turned the tables on Charleston in a top-5 and MSHSAA Sectional showdown on Monday, Feb. 27. It was standing-room-only at the Bloomfield High School Gymnasium for the Eagles’ 65-61 win over Bluejays. There was ample star power and plenty of household names from throughout the SEMO area on the court, but it was Jadis Jones who shined the brightest with his 29-point, 23-rebound effort...
By Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat
BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — New Madrid County Central turned the tables on Charleston in a top-5 and MSHSAA Sectional showdown on Monday, Feb. 27.
It was standing-room-only at the Bloomfield High School Gymnasium for the Eagles’ 65-61 win over Bluejays. There was ample star power and plenty of household names from throughout the SEMO area on the court, but it was Jadis Jones who shined the brightest with his 29-point, 23-rebound effort.
“The team was ready,” Jones said. “We knew what it was going to take to get the win against the defending state champions. We fought for everything throughout the entire game.”
No. 1 Charleston (28-5) hit the ground running while the No. 4 NMCC (21-7) had to overcome a slow start.
The Bluejays led 3-0 after Almareion Williams nailed a 3-pointer for the first points of the game.
Jones came right back on the other end with a strong finish inside, but Rico Coleman answered with back-to-back buckets to extend the lead to 7-2.
“We had some guys get around the basket but we couldn’t put it in those first couple of minutes,” said NMCC assistant coach Dontre Jenkins. “We got them calmed down, and [Jones] and [BJ Williamson] started attacking the rim. We got a couple of baskets in the paint that helped us get in the flow of things.”
Charleston was able to keep a slight cushion for most of the first quarter. PJ Farmer made a pair of free throws to make it 14-6 midway through the opening quarter and Ko’Terrion attacked the baseline off an assist from Farmer to make it 16-10 with about a minute to go.
However, NMCC finished the quarter with vengeance. Jones finished through contact and converted at the free throw line with 35.6 seconds left and BJ Williamson unleashed an impressive set-back fallaway 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie it 16-16.
“That’s [Williamson’s] shot,” Jones said. “He makes it all the time. When that one goes in the net it gets the crowd up and going, and gives us all the momentum that we need.”
A quick basket by Williamson at the start of the second quarter gave the Eagles their first lead of the game, but Farmer grabbed a steal and finished in transition to put the Bluejays back on top 22-21 with five minutes and nine seconds until halftime.
Charleston couldn’t hold the lead for long as Jones quickly responded with an excellent post move and score. The Eagles led 29-27 at halftime.
“Our guys didn’t back down,” Jenkins said. “We came out and got off to a slow start but battled through the adversity and kept competing. The defense continued to step up in a big way.”
Perhaps, the biggest reason for NMCC’s turnaround after the slow start was a switch to a zone defense.
“That shrunk down the penetration lanes,” Jenkins said. “It shut down the points in the paint and made them rely on the [outside shot].”
The Bluejays shot more from the outside than they typically do, making just 5-of-22 from 3-point range. Charleston averaged between 10 and 15 attempts per game this season.
“They did a good job of keeping us away from the bucket,” said Charleston head coach Jamarcus Williams. “But our nonaggression allowed that to happen. I think we still could’ve gotten to the bucket. We just didn’t force the issue.”
Coleman made two consecutive shots to tie it 31-31 with 6:58 left in the third quarter, but the Eagles countered with made shots by AJ Ruff, Williamson and Jones to increase the lead to 37-31.
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Coleman continued to make big plays, this time a big slam dunk off an assist from Almareion Williams, and Owens scored in the paint to narrow the lead to 39-37, but Kayden Minner buried an outside shot to push the lead back to multiple possessions.
NMCC led 48-38 with 1:47 left in the third quarter after Jones forced a turnover and finished with a one-handed jam exclamation point.
“Adversity hit and we came together and kept battling as a team,” Jenkins said. “That’s what championship teams do. They come together when something goes wrong, continue to work and fight for the goal.”
Charleston trailed 50-42 at the end of the third quarter after Coleman barely got off a runner at the buzzer.
The Eagles also did a great job rebounding and not allowing the Bluejays many second-chance opportunities.
“We took care of the ball and forced them to take shots,” Jenkins said. “We really couldn’t pull away, but we kept battling and finished the game.”
Rommie Turner and Owens each made a shot at the start of the fourth quarter and narrowed the lead to 50-46 with 6:43 left in the game. A couple of minutes later Farmer made a 3-pointer to shrink the lead to 51-49, but again Jones quickly answered to put NMCC back ahead by multiple possessions.
“Down the stretch, we went to [Jones] and he capitalized for us,” Jenkins said. “Time after time, whether it’s taking the ball to the basket or kicking it out for an open 3-pointer. He makes things happen for us when the ball is in his hands.”
Jones scored arguably the biggest basket of the game on a nice left-handed finish shortly after Williamson fouled out with about four minutes remaining to make it 56-51.
“At that point, I knew we had to control the tempo of the game,” Jones said.
Farmer made another 3-pointer to make it 56-54 with 2:11 left in the game, but the Eagles scored the next eight points to make it 64-54 with 43.8 left in the game.
The Bluejays made a last-ditch effort and cut the lead to 64-61 with 12.6 seconds left after Farmer made another 3-point shot, but Minner was able to ice the game at the charity stripe.
“Charleston is one of toughest teams in the entire state of Missouri,” said NMCC head coach Lennis McFerren. “They showed that tonight. They’re a well-coached team and they didn’t quit, but [our players] want to win at all costs. They understood and handled the magnitude of this game well and showed all the people that they had what it took tonight.”
NMCC will face West County (16-11) in the state quarterfinals at the Farmington Civic Center on Friday, March 3 at 7:45 p.m.
“It’s going to take focus,” Jones said. “We’re taking it one game at a time and I can promise that no one on this team is thinking about anything except our next opponent. Let’s go get it.”
Owens and Coleman each scored 16 to lead Charleston, while Farmer added 15. The Bluejays will graduate an exceptional group of seniors.
“[NMCC] did a great job of adjusting from the previous game to this one,” coach Williams concluded. “I’ll never forget the camaraderie and family atmosphere of this group. I’ve been with the guys for six years. The end of an era is hard, especially when it isn’t the ending you wanted. Now it is my job to help them write their next chapter.”
__NMCC 65, CHARLESTON 61__
Charleston 16 11 15 19 — 61
NMCC 16 13 21 15 — 65
__Charleston (61) —__ Ko’Terrion Owens 16, Rico Coleman 16, PJ Farmer 15, Trey Stanback 7, Almareion Williams 5, Rommie Turner 2. FG: 22. FT: 12-15. F: 19. (3-pointers: Farmer 3, Stanback 1, Williams 1. Fouled out: Farmer.)
__NMCC (65) — __Jadis Jones 29, BJ Williamson 13, Kayden Minner 10, AJ Ruff 6, Brayden Newsom 4, Ra’Mond Brooks 3. FG: 25. FT: 12-21. F: 18. (3-pointers: Minner 2, Williamson 1. Fouled out: Williamson.)
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