Top-seeded Jackson gets semi surprise

With a state ranking, a 6-1 record and the top seed, the Jackson Indians provided the best credentials Thursday night at the HealthSouth Holiday Classic.

But it was the Central girls who provided the surprise.

Fourth-seeded Central, playing just six players the entire game, produced the shock of the tournament by upsetting Jackson 43-36 in the semifinal round at the Show Me Center.

Second-year Central coach Sheila Midgett called it the team's biggest win in her tenure.

"In my two year here, this is probably the smartest offensive game we've played," Midgett said.

Central (6-3), which will play in its third HealthSouth title game in the seven-year history of the tournament, will attempt to claim its first crown tonight. The Tigers will face four-time champion Poplar Bluff (6-2) at 8:30 p.m.

The third-seeded Mules upended second-seeded Notre Dame 55-54 on a last-second shot. Notre Dame (2-5) and Jackson (6-2) will meet in the third-place game at 7 p.m.

In the face of a formidable Jackson defense, Central shot 50 percent from the field.

Senior Alex Wieser topped 20 points for the second straight night, leading the Tigers with 21. Senior Anna Brisso added 12 points.

"It's great to have a chance to do this in our last year," Wieser said. "It'll set a tone for the rest of the year, too."

While Central demonstrated poise on offense, the Tigers were crediting defense for the win. The Tigers held Jackson, which had topped 70 points in its last four games, to 12 field goals, 33 percent shooting and a season-low 36 points. The Tigers limited Indian senior Jenna Leet to 12 quiet points.

"We frustrated their main scorer," Central point guard Megan McDonald said. "That was the key point."

Leet struggled from the floor until the end. With Jackson trailing 39-36 with :13 left in the game, Leet misfired on a 3-point shot while be guarded tightly by Courtney Edge. The Indians never got another chance to pull even as Brisso and Wieser went 4-for-4 from the line in the final seconds to seal the win.

"It was my fault," Jackson coach Ron Cook said. "I probably didn't coach it right. We weren't ready to play and that goes back to me."

Cook, who played eight players, was seeking an up-tempo game to take advantage of his team's depth, but Central dictated a slower pace.

Central normally goes seven deep but went with sixth players when sophomore Erica Schabbing became ill before the game.

"We've been playing seven most of the year," Wieser said. "One less player hurt us a little bit, but we've learned to adjust."

In a tight game throughout, Central managed to stay a step ahead of Jackson. The Tigers never trailed, but never led by more than seven points.

Central led 21-17 in the second quarter but Jackson pulled even for the final time on a Linden Hahs layin and a pair of free throws by Whitney Werner with 2:02 left in the half.

Wieser put Central ahead for good when she scored down low off a feed with 1:29 left. The Tigers took a 27-22 lead into halftime and opened up their biggest lead, 29-22, when Megan McDonald opened the second- half scoring with a 12-footer.

Jackson responded with a 6-0 spurt to cut the lead to 29-28, but Central took a 33-30 lead into the fourth quarter.

Wieser put Central ahead 35-30 before Jackson closed the gap again on a putback by Ashley Bartels and a pair of free throws by Leet. Bartels finished with 10 points.

Brisso upped the lead to 37-34 before Leet countered with a short baseline jumper with 5:15 left.

Ahead 37-36, Central began to pull the ball out. Wieser capped a two-minute-plus possession with a 10-footer in the lane for a 39-36 lead. The Tigers, continuing to utilize stall tactics, held on down the stretch.

Poplar Bluff 55, Notre Dame 54

Notre Dame led for nearly the entire game, but saw its hopes to defend its title end on a buzzer shot.

Notre Dame built a 17-7 lead by the close of the first quarter and still led 29-25 at halftime. The Bulldogs took a 41-36 lead into the fourth quarter before faltering.

Ashley Millham led the Bulldogs with 13 points while Ali Tyson and Sommer McCauley had 10 points apiece.

Tierra Johnson scored a game-high 16 points for Poplar Bluff. Frances Kalich netted 13 points and Omega Key finished with 12.

Dexter 66, Perryville 64 OT

April Lorenz scored a game-high 33 points but it was not enough as the Pirates fell in overtime in a consolations semifinal.

Katie Dunlap paced Dexter (6-1) with 21 points while Amy Rose had 14 and Hannah Burleson 11.

Kate Lowry added 11 points for Perryville (4-3), which lost its third straight game after a 4-0 start.

The game went into overtime tied 53-53.

Dexter will face Farmington in the fifth-place game at 5:30 p.m. today. Perryville and Sparta will play in the seventh-place game at 4 p.m.

Farmington 68, Sparta 41

Natalie Bess netted 25 points to lead Farmington (5-4) past Sparta (6-5).

Jessica Wooldridge, 11 points, and Courtney Walden, 10, were also in double figures for the Knightettes.

Liere Dancy netted 10 points for Sparta.