Top-seeded Jackson reaches semfinals

For 24 minutes Tuesday afternoon at the Show Me Center, top-seeded Jackson looked like it could be the second team to be upset by No. 9 Scott County Central at the 60th annual Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

Jackson led by seven points after three quarters, but the Indians wore down the Braves in the final period. By the time the final 8 minutes had ticked off, Jackson walked away with a 93-64 victory.

Jackson will face Central in the semifinals at 6 tonight. The Indians improved to 10-0. Scott County Central will face Bell City in the fifth-place bracket.

"We didn't play very good at the beginning," Jackson junior center Aaron Redecker said. "We had to get loosened up. We just came out ready to play in the second half."

Jackson's size, depth and the scoring ability of senior guard Jack Puisis helped the Indians pull away from the upstart Braves. Jackson's big men, Redecker and Ryan Mirly, combined for 27 points, while Puisis scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter.

"The second half, I think we became a lot more aggressive. That's when Jack got some looks at the basket," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said.

With Scott County only down seven early in the fourth quarter, Puisis scored 11 straight points to push the lead to 72-57. Puisis mixed in some mid-range shooting along with several drives to the basket while scoring 23 points in the second half.

"That may be his best part of his game," Scott said of the drives. "People have to respect his shot, then he can drive to the basket."

As the Indians' lead grew, Jackson was able to get some quality minutes for its reserves. Nine Indians players scored in the fourth quarter, as Jackson outscored Scott County 34-12. Jackson had 10 players in the scoring column, with five players scoring eight or more points. Redecker finished with 16 and Mirly had 11.

"We've got a lot of players who do not have had a lot of varsity experience. Every time they play in a game like this, it's a learning experience," Scott said.

While the Indians grabbed a comfortable winning margin by the final buzzer, the Braves took several leads through the first half.

With the help of Avis White's strong outside shooting -- White had 15 points in the first half -- Scott County led late into the second quarter and early in the third. Scott County's last lead was 39-37 early in the third quarter.

"I think the biggest thing in the first half is we were a little tight," Scott said.

White led Scott County with 18 points, Jeremy Johnson had 16 and Isaac Porter had 13.

Jackson will look to earn a spot in its second straight Christmas Tournament title game with a win tonight. The Indians have appeared in three of the last four title games, winning last year's tournament over Central.

"We just have to take each game as it goes," Redecker said. "Anyone can have a good game on any given night."

JACKSON 93, SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL 64

SCC 13 19 20 12 -- 64

Jackson 16 19 24 34 -- 93

SCC (64) -- Avis White 18, Jeremy Johnson 16, Isaac Porter 13, Chris Monroe 4, Josh Boley 5, Pershard Owens 3, DeAngelo Turner 3. FG 21, FT 13-19, F 17 (3-pointers: White 4, Johnson 2, Turner 1. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (93) -- Jack Puisis 30, Aaron Redecker 16, Ryan Mirly 11, Kyle Pridemore 9, Tyler Beussink 8, Drue McNeely 5, Ryan Leet 5, Tyler Grantham 4, Cody Cardwell 2, Trey Stone 3. FG 37, FT 16-23, F 15 (3-pointers: Puisis 1, Leet 1, McNeely 1. Fouled out: none)