Top-seeded Indians ease past Central

Central coach Derek McCord knew shutting down Jackson senior guard Jack Puisis likely would be impossible, but slowing him down would be a key if the No. 4 Tigers were going to upset the top-seeded Indians on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament at the Show Me Center.

Puisis came out on fire, though, scoring 20 of his 26 points in the first half to help Jackson pull out to a 13-point halftime lead it would not relinquish. Jackson moved on to its second straight final with a 75-49 win over the Tigers.

Jackson (11-0) will play Kelly in the final at 8 tonight, while Central will face Scott City in the third-place game. The Tigers fell to 5-5 after winning five of six heading into the Jackson game.

"We talked about trying to shut him down, obviously we weren't successful early in the game," McCord said of Puisis.

In a rematch of last year's Christmas Tournament final, Jackson used a 10-0 run by Puisis in the second quarter to gain the breathing room it would retain for much of the game. Central cut the lead to seven midway through the third quarter, but drew no closer.

Despite a mere six points in the second half from Puisis, who did not play the majority of the fourth quarter, Central could not make a serious threat at Jackson's lead.

Puisis said as Central stepped up its defense on him, Jackson's other players responded.

"We have such a deep team," he said. "We have so many guards that can shoot. We have height."

It was Jackson's height which plagued Central's offense. Jackson's Aaron Redecker, a 6-foot-10 junior, was either altering shots or swatting them down much of the night. Ryan Mirly, a 6-8 senior, helped to give Jackson a big edge on the boards as well.

"Aaron and Mirly, they're great," Puisis said. "You can say they're tall, but, man, they work hard. They're getting better every day."

After staying close to the Indians in the first quarter, Central's only other big run came early in the third. Central senior Eli Harris scored 12 consecutive points for the Tigers, including two deep 3-pointers. Harris's heroics kept Central in the game, but by the end of the third quarter, Jackson was back up by 14.

"He hit some big 3s that almost brought us back in it," McCord said of Harris.

Jackson had nine players in the scoring column. Mirly finished with 11, and Redecker had 10.

"These kids on the bench, they do a good job of staying ready and coming out to give contributions," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "Whether it's two minutes or two quarters, they contribute to whatever we're working for."

Harris led the Tigers with 22 points, and Alex Ray had 11. Central battled foul trouble all night with nearly every one of its starters with three or more fouls.

"That first half we were plagued with so many people in foul trouble it took away our aggressiveness," McCord said.

JACKSON 75, CENTRAL 49

Central 12 12 21 4 -- 49

Jackson 16 21 22 16 -- 75

CENTRAL (49) -- Eli Harris 22, Alex Ray 11, Anthony Hempstead 2, Darnell Wilks 8, Garrett Ozbun 3, David Deisher 3. FG 14, FT 19-34, F 20 (3-pointers: Harris 2. Fouled out: Ozbun)

JACKSON (75) -- Jack Puisis 26, Ryan Mirly 11, Aaron Redecker 10, Tyler Beussink 8, Trey Stone 6, Cody Cardwell 5, Tyler Grantham 2, Adam Ross 2, Kyle Pridemore 5. FG 28, FT 14-21, F 25 (3-pointers: Beussink 1, Puisis 2, Cardwell 1, Pridemore 1. Fouled out: none)