POPLAR BLUFF OUSTS JACKSON IN OVERTIME

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- The Poplar Bluff High boys basketball team finally won an overtime game.

And as a result, the Mules will play for a district championship.

Second-seeded Poplar Bluff outscored third-seeded Jackson 11-7 in the extra period to squeeze out a 64-60 victory Monday night in the second contest on the opening day of the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament at the Farmington Civic Center.

"We've had four other overtime games this year and we've let people beat us at the end in all four," said Poplar Bluff coach John David Patillo. "I'm really proud of the way we handled things tonight."

The Mules, who improved to 15-10, will play top-seeded Farmington Thursday night in the title game of the four-team district.

Jackson's season ends at 9-18 as the Indians lost 14 of their final 16 games. But they put up quite a fight against the Mules, just like Patillo figured they would.

"Jackson had lost a bunch lately, but they've got a good team and it seems like we bring out the best in them," said Patillo, whose squad had lost to the Indians earlier in the season.

Playing the Mules tough was of little consolation to Mike Kiehne, the Indians' first-year head coach.

"That's kind of been the story of our season," said Kiehne. "We were right in there in so many close games.

"It was a learning experience for all of us this year, for myself and my team. We had a lot of guys that didn't have much varsity experience."

Tony Webb led the Mules offensively with 14 points. Ronnie Webb had 13 and Jaimie Waddell added 12.

Jackson's Matt Ferrell scored a game-high 21 points, including all seven of the Indians' overtime points. Seth McDowell added 15 points.

The Indians were hurt by a poor performance from the free-throw line as they hit just six of 16. Poplar Bluff was 23 of 32 from the charity stripe, including nine of 12 in overtime as the Mules made only one field goal in the extra session.

"We work on free throws all the time," Kiehne said. "If you don't make the free ones, it hurts you."

Jackson trailed only briefly early in the game and controlled much of the first half, leading 17-15 after one quarter and by nine twice in the second period before settling for a 34-30 advantage at the intermission.

After going up 36-30 early in the third quarter, Jackson saw the Mules storm back to gain a 43-40 lead heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter was tight, but the Mules led most of the way after overcoming a 44-43 deficit early in the period.

A technical foul on Kiehne with 1:33 left he was whistled for arguing what he believed to be a traveling violation on the Mules appeared to turn the tide in Poplar Bluff's favor.

Waddell made one of two free throws on the technical for a 50-48 Poplar Bluff lead, then Waddell made two more foul shots on the resulting possession as the Mules went ahead 52-48 for their biggest lead of the night to that point.

McDowell came back with a strong move inside that resulted in a three-point play at the 46-second mark as the Indians closed to within 52-51.

After the squads exchanged turnovers, Tony Webb was fouled with 14 seconds left and he made one of two for a 53-51 lead. But McDowell was fouled on the rebound after Webb missed his second free-throw attempt.

McDowell calmly swished both foul shots with 13 seconds remaining to force a 53-53 tie. When Poplar Bluff missed two shots in the closing moments, the squads were headed to overtime.

Ferrell's driving shot early in the four-minute extra session put Jackson ahead 55-53, but it would be the Indians' final lead of the night.

Two free throws by Ronnie Webb with 2:50 left tied it at 55-55. After a Jackson miss, Travis Tinsley made two foul shots at the 2:21 mark to put the Mules ahead for good at 57-55.

After a Jackson turnover, Stan Revelle made one of two free throws to make it 58-55 with 1:25 remaining.

McDowell missed a pair of foul shots at the 1:11 mark, then Ronnie Webb's fast-break layup 10 seconds later put the Mules up 60-55.

Ferrell scored with 47 seconds left to bring Jackson within 60-57.

Two Waddell free throws with 39 seconds remaining made it 62-57. Kyle Young hit one of two a short time later as the Mules went ahead 63-57.

Ferrell drilled a huge 3-pointer with 12 seconds to play, making it a one-possession game at 63-60.

But Ronnie Webb iced the victory as he made one of two free throws with seven seconds left.