Second quarter carries Jackson past Charleston for fifth place at SEMO tourney

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Jackson Indians' defense thwarted, baffled and shut down the Charleston offense all night to knock off the Blue Jays 73-58 in the fifth-place game of the SEMO Conference tournament Friday.

"We just had to get up on their shooters and make them do stuff they weren't comfortable doing," Jackson junior Bobby Clark said. "Take them out of their comfort zone."

The Indians struggled out of the gates.

Charleston's Gregory Tucker hit three 3-pointers to help the Bluejays build a 17-8 lead before Jackson turned it on.

The Indians ran off a 12-0 run to end the quarter, with Clark scoring the last six to take a 20-17 lead.

Jackson's Henrie Williams, left, tries to tip a rebound during Friday's game.

Jackson's defense took over in the second quarter.

Charleston scored a quick bucket to start the quarter before the Indians' defense didn't allow a field goal for more than five minutes.

"For me, the biggest thing it shows is they've done a good job from a mental part of the game to take away the things we wanted to," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "Tucker and [Deonte] Jones can shoot it so well. Once we got on them and made them put it on the floor, we forced other guys to score. And when they do that then we just tip our hats."

The Indians went on a 16-0 run to gain control. It started when Kyle Keith kicked it out to Taylor Williams, who buried a 3. Keith knocked down two treys on the Indians' next two possessions, and Williams capped it with another trey. Jackson's lead was 36-19 after the run, and it headed into the half up 41-24.

"I was a little disappointed that we didn't initially take away what we wanted in our scouting report," Scott said. "But once we settled down, I thought tonight was our best job of moving the basketball. We made a decision, got it moving and that's why we played so well offensively."

Jackson senior Henrie Williams makes a layup Friday.

Jackson didn't let up in the second half, thanks in part to the play of Keith, its senior point guard.

Keith started the third quarter with a basket, drained a 3-pointer and made a free throw before Charleston scored a point.

The Indians sustained a 20-point lead through the third and headed into the fourth up 57-36.

They enjoyed a comfortable lead throughout the fourth quarter, mainly because of Keith's play and Clark's inside presence.

Keith finished with 20 points, knocking down five treys and carrying the ball up the floor for the majority of the game.

Jackson's Eli Gohn shoots over Charleston's Gregory Tucker during Friday's game at the SEMO Conference tournament in Sikeston, Mo. (LAURA SIMON)

"He is the team leader," Scott said. "Before the game, he makes sure they're focused. Tonight he was big because he had some good rhythm shots from 3 and knocked them down. He takes care of the basketball so well and gets us in an offense. Everybody feels safe when he has the ball. He is our key."

"Just do what I've always done -- come out every night and play hard," Keith said.

Clark added 16 points for the Indians, making his presence felt on the glass and in the paint.

"He was really big," Keith said. "We have to have somebody that can catch the ball and finish around the basket, and Bobby and Henrie [Williams] did a good job."

Charleston 17 7 12 22 -- 58

Jackson senior Taylor Williams passes to teammate Law Duncan during Friday's game.

Jackson 20 21 16 16 -- 73

CHARLESTON (58) -- Mackenzie Ivy 5, Gregory Tucker 24, Jamaul Gray 2, Claude Armstrong 1, Deonte Jones 20, Fabreizio Wright 4, Krushon Scott 2. FG 21, FT 6-13. (3-pointers: Ivy 1, Tucker 4, Jones 5)

JACKSON (73) -- Caleb Newcomer 3, Taylor Williams 6, Kyle Keith 20, Law Duncan 2, Zach McDowell 6, Eli Gohn 10, Henrie Williams 10, Bobbie Clark 16. FG 30, FT 5-8. (3-pointers: Newcomer 1, T. Williams 2, Keith 5)