NMCC uses defense to build early lead in win over Jackson

NEW MADRID, Mo. — A strong defensive effort and another dominating performance from Jadis Jones helped lift New Madrid County Central to a win over Jackson on Thursday, Feb. 9.

The Eagles (15-7) won 57-47 against the Indians (15-8) behind a game-high 31 points and 21 rebounds from the standout junior.

“[Jones] stepped up to the challenge,” said NMCC assistant coach Dontre Jenkins. “Jackson has size and quickness, but [Jones] went right at them and did the things he’s been doing all year. It’s not a surprise to us.”

NMCC's AJ Ruff (20) drives the baseline during a 57-47 win over Jackson on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. (Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat)

Jackson scored the first bucket off the game when Grant Borgfield found Blayne Harris for a quick score in transition, but the Indians were held scoreless for the next five minutes while NMCC built an 11-2 advantage.

The run started when Jones grabbed a steal and assisted BJ Williamson on a fast break score and continued when AJ Ruff knocked down a short shot and then had a takeaway and found Jones for an easy layup.

Jones added a couple more made field goals to cap off the stretch.

“[Jones] is one of the top talents in the state,” said Jackson coach Kory Thoma. “He showed tonight why he is the best player on the court.”

Benjamin Talley scored inside to end the scoring drought for Jackson with one minute and 58 seconds left in the opening quarter, but NMCC ended the quarter with a 17-6 lead after a Jones putback in the final moments.

“We came out and competed from the opening tip,” Jenkins said. “Our main focus was put pressure on them. We wanted to take them out of the offense by throwing their timing off. We came out with the right mindset and did that.”

The Eagles extended the lead to 25-6 early in the second quarter after Jullian Courtois assisted Kayden Minner on a 3-pointer, Ruff converted a 3-point play and Jones pulled down another offensive rebound and finished in the post.

“It was a physical start and we got punched in the mouth,” Thoma said. “We turned the ball over multiple times and we were stumbling because we couldn’t execute, which is a credit to [NMCC’s] defense.”

The Indians started to look more comfortable and answered with a nice run to narrow the lead to 27-17 midway through the quarter after free throws from Harris and field goals from Gavin Holdman and Caedmon Winborne.

Jackson narrowed the lead to single digits late in the second quarter, but NMCC went into halftime with a 33-22 advantage after Ruff buried a pair of shots from the charity stripe just before the break.

The Eagles pushed the lead to 37-22 at the start of the third quarter after another putback by Jones and a solid post-move finish by Brayden Newsom, but Jackson refused to away and battled back within 10 points by the end of the quarter.

“That’s SEMO [Conference] Basketball,” Jenkins said. “Night in and night out the games are going to be tough and physical. It’s usually going to be the team that adapts that is going to be the one that comes out on top. We face competitive teams nearly every night in this conference.”

Jones had a takeaway and score to make it 50-38 with three minutes left in the game, but the Indians were able to narrow it to 51-45 a short time later after Harris stole an inbounds pass and made a layup.

“We didn’t have a very good first quarter but we competed the last three quarters,” Thoma said. “We stayed in the game and played them chest to chest the rest of the way. We gave ourselves an opportunity but they hit their free throw late in the game to secure the victory.”

Ruff went 6-for-6 from the free line in the final minute to clinch the win for NMCC. Ruff finished the game with 17 points and five steals. The Eagles had 17 total steals in the game.

“[Ruff] knocked down some clutch free throws for us,” Jenkins said. “He did a great job tonight and made them pay for it when they sent him to the free throw line. We also had some guys step up on the glass late in the game which led to us getting several second and third-chance opportunities. Our guys let loose and played ball tonight.”

NMCC will face Rock Bridge (16-5) during the Hall of Fame Classic in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday, and will host Poplar Bluff (7-11) on Monday and Sikeston (16-4) on Tuesday.

“We haven’t had a chance to watch much film on [Rock Bridge] yet,” Jenkins said. “But I know they have some size and some guys that can shoot it. It’s going to be another game where we have to be focused on defense.”

Jackson will host Seckman (5-13) on Tuesday and travel to Sikeston on Friday.

“It’s going to be Senior Night [against Seckman] and hopefully we’ll have a good crowd,” Thoma said. “I’m going to start my five seniors and we’re going to get back at it after a long week against some tough competition.”

__NMCC 57, JACKSON 47__

Jackson 6 16 12 13 — 47

NMCC 17 16 10 14 — 57

__Jackson (47) —__ Blayne Harris 12, Gavin Holdman 11, Judd Thoma 7, Keegan Stutzman 7, Caedmon Winborne 6, Steven Schneider 5, Braedon Thoma 2, Grant Borgfield 2, Benjamin Tally 2. FG: 20. FT: 14-22. F: 17. (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Borgfield.)

__NMCC (57) —__ Jadis Jones 31, AJ Ruff 17, BJ Williamson 4, Kayden Minner 3, Brayden Newsom 2. FG: 19. FT: 18-25. F: 14. (3-pointers: Minner 1. Fouled out: none.)