THE GATEWAY TO 4A FINAL: JACKSON GIRLS WAGE TITLE GAME REMATCH IN SEMIFINALS

Try, try again ...

That's what Jackson's girls basketball team will be doing when they make their fourth consecutive journey to Columbia in an attempt to claim a Class 4A state championship.

The state streak started with a third-place finish in 1995 followed by runner-up endings the last two seasons. Friday's semifinal opponent, top-ranked Gateway Tech, beat Jackson 42-41 to claim last year's 4A title with a perfect 28-0 record.

Including Jackson's 54-38 victory over Gateway two years ago in a 4A Sectional at Farmington, today's 9:15 a.m. tip-off will mark the third year in a row, these two teams have met in the state tournament.

"They have primarily the same players except for a couple girls (graduated seniors Brandi Archibald and Latosha Thompson) playing for Three Rivers Community College," said Jackson coach Ron Cook. "They don't go as deep as they have in the past, but they still have quality athletes."

Senior Christian Shelton, on her way to St. Louis University after graduation, leads four Lady Jaguars in double-digit scoring, averaging 16 points a game. Diana Hill (14.7), Tara Harris (11.0) and Tiana Ford (10.3) are Gateway's other offensive threats.

"They have a quality team," Cook said. "If you break it down and look at their individual talent, they have a good team."

A good team, but not necessarily a deep one. Once Gateway coach Sherman Curtis puts his starting five on the court, he'd rather not go to his bench much.

"I feel pretty confident, but Jackson has the numbers," Curtis said. "They have a lot more players to throw at us. I may go with just six or seven."

Jackson has about eight players in its normal playing rotation. Reserves Dana Littlepage, Kara Thoma and Jamie Heitz have spelled the Lady Indians' potent starting five well over the course of the season. Seniors Christa Millham and Dana Eakins head Jackson's starting lineup along with juniors Melissa Palmer and Chrissi Glastetter and sophomore Cherish Tillman.

"We might have an advantage shooting the threes and penetrating," said Cook. "It all depends on how well they shoot the ball."

Despite his team's balanced scoring, offense is one thing Curtis wasn't talking much about.

"I never can say how we're going to play, but our defense has been a constant all season," said Curtis. "If we keep the score in the 50's it will be to our favor. Defense has been our forte all season."

Both teams enter with just two losses, but Gateway is undefeated against teams within the state. The Lady Jaguars only two losses came to nationally-ranked Taylorville (Ill.) in the Coca-Cola Shootout in St. Louis and state-ranked White County (Tenn.) in a tournament in Springfield, Mo. Despite the two losses, Gateway has held the top spot in the 4A poll since the start of the season.

Jackson, also state-ranked since the beginning of the season, lost to local rivals Poplar Bluff and Notre Dame. But the Lady Indians avenged both of those losses later in the season.

"Every time we've lost this season, the next time we've played the same team we've won," said Eakins, who is hopeful that premise holds over from last season.

Revenge might also be a factor considering the history of these two teams.

"They came out (last year) really wanting to get back at us for knocking them out the year before," Millham said. "So this year we're going to go up (to Columbia) and they beat us last year, so ... "

Curtis knows all about the revenge angle Millham spoke of, but doesn't expect that will come into play with this contest.

"I look for Jackson to be competitive, but I don't think revenge will have anything to do with it," said Curtis. "At this point in the season, teams don't quit and we'll have to keep our foot on the pedal to stay ahead of them."

Class 4A Semifinal

Jackson vs. Gateway Tech

Friday, 9:15 a.m.

(at Hearnes Center, Columbia)

Probable Starters

Jackson (25-2, ranked No. 3 in state)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Christa Millham G Sr. 5-10 16.2

Dana Eakins G Sr. 5-5 7.1

Melissa Palmer C Jr. 5-10 10.7

Chrissi Glastetter F Jr. 5-9 8.1

Cherish Tillman F So. 5-10 8.4

Gateway Tech (27-2, ranked No. 1 in state)

Player Pos. Yr. Ht. Avg.

Tara Harris G So. 5-10 11.0

Diana Hill G Jr. 5-10 14.7

Tiana Ford C Jr. 6-2 10.3

Christian Shelton F Sr. 5-10 16.0

Mahasin Al-Amin F Sr. 5-8 3.9

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