Top-seeded Jackson reaches title game

With just one starter returning from last year's team that went 23-4, Jackson girls basketball coach Sam Sides didn't know what to make of his Indians.

"I didn't have any idea. We competed fairly well in the summer, but you never know until you get out there," Sides said.

Much to Sides' delight, Jackson is off to a 9-0 start -- and Friday night the Indians earned a berth in their second straight HealthSouth Holiday Classic championship game.

Jackson, the defending champion and top seed for the eight-team event, held off fifth-seeded Massac County (Ill.) 53-49 in the first semifinal at the Show Me Center.

"I'm real pleased with how we've started out," Sides said.

Jackson will face Farmington Monday night in a rematch of last year's title contest. Farmington, seeded second, rolled past No. 6 Notre Dame 50-33.

In consolation semifinal play, No. 4 Dexter routed No. 8 Cape Girardeau Central 45-15 and No. 3 Sparta (Ill.) eased past No. 7 Perryville 62-49.

Jackson led most of the way against Massac County, but never comfortably. The Indians seemed to take control with a burst early in the fourth quarter that put them ahead 46-36 for their biggest advantage of the night.

But the Patriots hit three 3-pointers in the late going to pull within 51-49 before Jackson was able to hold on.

"For being as young as we are, I felt we kept our composure," said Jackson point guard Kelly Loos, the squad's only senior. Added a smiling Loos, "My sister {Katie} was a senior last year when we won the tournament so it would be cool to bring that back."

Junior Kylie Werner led Jackson with 19 points and junior Bobbie Jones added 10. Jones is the Indians' only returning starter from last year.

Massac County (8-2) got 17 points from Josha Rogers.

"Massac County was one of the better teams we've played so far and they were real aggressive," Sides said. "We made some mistakes, but I felt we kept our composure."

Jackson led 51-49 when Werner was fouled with five seconds left and the officials ruled it intentional, upon which Massac County's bench was hit with a technical. Werner converted two of the ensuing four free throws to ice the victory.

Notre Dame, which is also fielding a very inexperienced lineup after last year's strong season, could not duplicate its first-round, buzzer-beating win over Sparta as Farmington pulled away from a 17-12 halftime lead.

Amanda Essner scored 11 points and Kristain Burger had 10 for the Bulldogs (3-4). The Knights (7-2) were led by Randie Wooldridge with 13.

"We know it's going to be a learning process," Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim said. "We just have to learn from our mistakes."

In consolation play, Central (0-8) did not score in the first quarter against Dexter, which was led by Southeast Missouri State signee Rachel Blunt's 15 points.

Perryville (3-3) got 22 points from Krista Miesner and 16 from Amber Hacker. Kasey Claybourn led Sparta with 19.

(Semifinal)

Jackson 53, Massac County 49

Massac Co. 7 15 11 16 -- 49

Jackson 13 13 9 18 -- 53

MASSAC COUNTY (49) -- Jenni Grace 12, Josha Rogers 17, Destiny Mitchell 12, Hayley Hosman 3, Mallory Gentry 5. FG 18, FT 6-10, F 19 (3-pointers: Rogers 3, Mitchell 3, Gentry 1. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (53) -- Andrea Puisis 2, Lindsay Poole 2, Kylie Werner 19, Gabrielle Garritano 2, Loni Littlepage 6, Kelly Loos 5, Bobbie Jones 10, Amanda Peiffer 7. FG 19, FT 15-23, F 12 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: Jones)

(Semifinal)

Farmington 50, Notre Dame 33

Notre Dame 5 7 11 10 -- 33

Farmington 6 11 23 10 -- 50

NOTRE DAME (33) -- Merideth Medlin 2, Amber Karnes 8, Kristain Burger 10, Bailey Reutzel 1, Amanda Toole 1, Amanda Essner 11. FG 15, FT 3-9, F 8 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

FARMINGTON (50) -- Cassie Tiefenauer 7, Erin Parks 2, Julie Schnurbusch 10, Kristen Hayes 4, Christina Johnson 6, Randie Wooldridge 13, Natalie Hoos 8. FG 20, FT 8-11, F 14 (3-pointers: Tiefenauer 2. Fouled out: none)

(Consolation semifinal)

Dexter 45, Central 15

Central 0 7 2 6 -- 15

Dexter 15 1 14 15 -- 45

CENTRAL (15) -- Dani Gross 4, Erica Schabbing 4, Sonja Williams 3, Christina Sexton 4. FG 6, FT 3-6, F 12 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

DEXTER (45) -- Mallory Kennedy 2, Molly Burleson 4, Jessica Fowler 3, Jessica Freeman 3, Haylee Finch 2, Mindy Jones 2, Rachel Blunt 15, Taylor Nelson 14. FG 18, FT 8-10, F 12 (3-pointers: Freeman 1. Fouled out: none)

(Consolation semifinal)

Perryville 6 9 11 23 -- 49

Sparta 17 12 10 23 -- 62

PERRYVILLE (49) -- Meaghan Roth 2, Krista Miesner 22, Amber Hacker 16, Annette Weibrecht 5, Becky Bachmann 4. FG 16, FT 12-17, F 21 (3-pointers: Miesner 4, Weibrecht 1. Fouled out: none)

SPARTA (62) -- Brittni Peck 3, Kasey Claybourn 19, Lauren Buch 12, Ashley Perry 16, Liere Dancy 10, Chelsea Peck 2. FG 22, FT 18-24, F 17 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)