Winning by committee

Jackson's boys basketball enter the 60th annual Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament undefeated, seeded first and in the role of defending champion.

And outside of area basketball fanatics and Jackson residents, it's likely few people would recognize many of the names on the roster for the 8-0 Indians.

"We're just a bunch of average guys," Jackson senior guard Tyler Beussink said. "We don't have a guy going Division I like Tyler Hansbrough." .

While the team does not have a bonafide superstar like Hansbrough, the Poplar Bluff senior headed for the University of North Carolina, there are plenty of components that make the Indians click.

Senior guard Jack Puisis, the only returning starter, has carried much of the offensive load. Puisis has scored in double figures in all eight games, including 65 points in back-to-back wins over Scott City and Dexter.

"Jack Puisis, it's his year to have a great year," Beussink said. "So far there's a lot of key guys -- it's not only seniors."

Aaron Redecker, a 6-foot-10 junior center, and 6-8 senior Ryan Mirly have given the Indians strong play down low. The pair presents matchup problems, with Redecker and Mirly averaging about 10 points apiece.

Jackson coach Darrin Scott said he's been pleased with the play of his post players.

"We're getting pretty good production from those two guys, and we have a guy coming off the bench averaging seven," he said.

At guard, the Indians have several accurate outside shooters: Seniors Beussink, Cody Cardwell and Adam Ross all were contributors off the bench for the Indians last season, and juniors Kyle Pridemore, Ryan Leet and Drue McNeely also get plenty of minutes.

"We have four kids who have in one game or another hit two or three 3-pointers," Scott said. "That's not a lot of points, but if you have four kids who can hit three 3's, it helps your post players free up."

Jackson uses its entire 12-man roster, with the minutes spread out fairly evenly. In a recent rout of Hillsboro, all 12 players hit the floor by the end of the first quarter, and all 12 finished in the scoring column.

"We have a lot of guys we can put on the floor that can help us out," Redecker said.

Added Scott, "We have a lot of kids with the potential to score 15 points on a given night."

Last year, Jackson came into the Christmas tournament as the fourth seed and upset Charleston in the semifinals, then beat Central in the finals.

This year, Jackson already has wins over No. 3 Scott City and No. 4 Central. With the top seed and an undefeated record, there will be plenty of teams gunning for the Indians. Jackson's path could lead it to a semifinal matchup with Central.

"Just from a personal standpoint, I feel pressure from wanting to play as well as we can," Scott said. "I don't feel having the No. 1 seed is any added pressure."

Jackson will start its quest for a second straight title this morning when it faces No. 16 Chaffee at 9 a.m. at the Show Me Center. The four-day tournament concludes with the championship final at 8 p.m. Thursday.

"We want to play all four days, and we want to try to stay in the winner's bracket," Scott said. "Most importantly, we want to play well and learn something that's going to help us down the road into the second half of the season and as we prepare for district play."