Stateswomen tag first loss on Jackson at MLK Classic

~ The Indians lost 62-55 to Webster Groves to fall to 12-1 on the season.

The Friday the 13th jinx came three days late for the Jackson girls basketball team.

The Indians, who actually won a big game on the 13th over Doniphan, fell for the first time in the 2005-06 season Monday in their attempt to win for the 13th time. Jackson fell to Webster Groves 62-55 in the first game of the Martin Luther King Classic at Maryville University in St. Louis County.

"This was our third game in four days and our energy level was just not there," Jackson coach Sam Sides said. "You have to give Webster a lot of credit. They beat us down the court, they shot the ball well and they were the more aggressive team today. They also seemed to make the key shot every time they had the chance."

Webster even went to a zone defense for one of the few times this year. And the high-scoring Stateswomen were able to ice the game with a successful delay game in the final four minutes.

"We did a real good job with the delay," Webster coach Mike Reinhardt said. "This is a great win for the program. I see how good these kids are every day in practice, and they showed it today beating an unbeaten team."

Reinhardt did not want to put any added pressure on a young team which starts three sophomores. He did not tell his players that the Indians were unbeaten until after the game was over.

"We didn't know," Webster guard Lisa McDonald said. "It was like, wow. We beat an undefeated team. They were very good and we had to play really good to beat them. We just kept on attacking the basket and played with a lot of aggressiveness."

Jackson (12-1) played like an unbeaten team early in the game and led 21-15 after the first quarter, as Kylie Werner had eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers. The Indians stretched their lead to 10 points at 27-17 after back-to-back treys by Werner and Lindsay Poole.

But Webster cut the deficit to 35-30 by halftime and McDonald hit a 3-pointer and a field goal to tie the game in the first 30 seconds of the third quarter. The Stateswomen led 50-47 after three quarters.

Jackson tied the game 52-52 early in the fourth quarter after a 3-pointer by Werner. But Webster went on a decisive 10-point run, started by a field goal by 6-foot-3 post player Rachel Webster.

"We were hurt by their big players, and this was the first time in a while a team played a pure zone against us," Sides said. "They have a lot of quick kids who are ball hawks on defense. We had dodged the bullet a few times this year but couldn't today. You have to give Webster a lot of credit. They played a great game."

McDonald led the Stateswomen with 22 points. Webster and Blaire Underwood added 12 points apiece for Webster, which improved to 10-6.

Werner hit five 3-pointers and had 21 points to pace the Indians. Bobbie Jones added 13 points for Jackson.

Webster Groves 62, Jackson 55

Webster Groves 15 15 20 12 -- 62

Jackson 21 14 12 8 -- 55

WEBSTER GROVES (62) -- Lisa McDonald 22, Rachel Webster 12, Blaire Underwood 12, Rachel Hervatin 8, Alicia Marshall 4, Katie Wood 2, Taylor Reynolds 2. FG 18, FT 8-11, F 12 (3-pointers: McDonald 3, Hervatin 2, Underwood 1. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (55) -- Kylie Werner 21, Bobbie Jones 13, Lindsay Poole 9, Amanda Peiffer 5, Gabrielle Garritano 5, Cody Goodpasture 2. FG 12, FT 7-11, F 12 (3-pointers: Werner 5, Poole 3. Fouled out: none)