TIGER SHOOTOUT: JACKSON BOYS SLIP BY SLUH

What has happened to Don Maurer's St. Louis University High Junior Billikens more than once this season occurred again in the Cape Central Tiger Shootout.

"Whether it's Jackson or DeSmet or Ladue or St. Charles West," said Maurer, a former Notre Dame High coach, "we're playing real good teams pretty good, but we can't get that little break or get over the hump to win."

Hence Jackson's 54-52 win Saturday afternoon at Tiger Fieldhouse.

Trailing by seven points entering the fourth quarter, the Jr. Bills (8-7) came within a point with 1 minute 18 seconds remaining. But Jackson made 5 of 6 free throws from there and SLUH had no luck until Chris Carroll hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

"We never could get the loose ball, the rebound, or the big basket when we needed it at that stage," Maurer said. "It came down to where every possession was important and we didn't play well enough to win. And (Jackson) did. They're a good team."

But considering the way Jackson coach Steve Burk stormed the sidelines early in the game, it's doubtful he would have agreed with Maurer's assessment at the time. The Jr. Bills led nearly throughout the first half, holding a 14-11 first-quarter advantage and trailing 26-24 at halftime.

"Our intensity level needed to pick up," said Burk. "If you're going to compete against really good teams, you're going to have to have a high level of intensity. Our kids steadily picked it up as the half went on. I thought the second half we played better."

That's why Burk seemed much calmer after halftime. Jackson (12-3) led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter and never trailed in the second half.

"Tonight we showed signs of improvement," Burk said. "I thought Justin Keen played very well for us. I thought Cory Daniel and Jeff Walter were tough inside. I thought our guards did a pretty good job of ... adjusting to the trap. And we hit some free throws at the end."

Keen hit five 3-pointers and finished with 16 points. Walter had 12 points, Daniel 11 and Doug Cary 10 as he hit two 3s.

"We gave up five 3-pointers in the first half. That hurt us," Maurer said. "We knew they could shoot it, but we didn't contest it as well as we'd like to. You've got to get a hand up on them, at least, and we didn't do that in the first half. We had the lead, and they were able to get back with some of those (3s)."