Jackson defense thwarts Hawks

JACKSON -- Kelly, coming off an emotional win the previous night, appeared to run out of gas in the fourth quarter of its loss to the Jackson Indians.

Host Jackson took control in the final quarter for a 56-36 decision over the Hawks on Tuesday.

"Obviously, it's going to have some (effect) after you play a game like we did last night with such emotion and such meaning and play as hard as we did," said Kelly coach Cory Johnson.

On Monday, the Hawks went to the wire for a 65-62 conference championship-clinching win over East Prairie, a victory that also likely assured them of a No. 2 district seed.

In a low-scoring first quarter, both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm as Jackson managed a 10-5 lead.

Kelly (15-8) picked it up in the second quarter, riding a 9-0 run to its first lead at 16-15 with 1:44 left in the half.

Jackson (17-7) outscored the Hawks 5-2 in the closing minute to take a 20

-18 lead in at halftime.

"Early when we didn't score, we got tight and lost some aggressiveness," said Jackson coach Darrin Scott. "We didn't do a good job of getting second shots."

With a decided height advantage over the Hawks, the Indians were unable to capitalize inside, scoring or rebounding, in the first half.

Jackson's 6-foot-10 post Aaron Redecker was relegated to the bench for most of the half with two quick fouls.

"He never got into a good flow," said Scott, of Redecker who blocked three Kelly shots in the first period. "Obviously, we need him to step up his game. Foul trouble has been his biggest problem the last two games. He's got to do a better job of not getting fouls early."

Kelly, with 6-3 senior post Spencer Ayers scoring six of the Hawks' 10 points, pulled into the lead at 28-24 about midway of the third quarter.

Jackson, needing a lift on Senior Night, got it from senior guard Kyle Pridemore. Pridemore tallied six points and the Indians knocked down two 3-

pointers for a 12-0 run to finish off the quarter with a 36-28 advantage.

Said Scott, "Kyle (Pridemore) plays with great intensity and plays hard every night."

In the fourth quarter, Jackson's superior size, coupled with Kelly's apparent fatigue, outscored the Hawks 20-8 to put the game away.

"We played a great three quarters tonight, then kind of fell apart in that fourth quarter against the physical, big and talented team that Jackson is," said Johnson. "No excuses. You've got to give Jackson all the credit. They're the one that came out in that fourth quarter and stepped it up."

Jackson, in its regular-season finale, switched out of its zone defense in the fourth period and forced seven Kelly turnovers.

"When we went to full-court man (defense), we finally picked up our intensity and I think that showed when we got some turnovers," said Scott. "Anytime you get a few turnovers, the shots on offense start to fall (because) you get into a rhythm."

Kelly was led in scoring by the Ayers brothers, 12 from Brandon and 10 from Spencer.

Ryan Leet paced the Indians with 17 points, including three treys. Pridemore had 11 and junior reserve guard Logan Lawson added nine with two momentum-gathering 3-pointers.

Jackson defeated Kelly 54-37 in the junior varsity contest. Chris Cooper led the Hawks with 10 points and Josh DeBrock and James Miller had eight apiece.

On Friday, Class 3 Kelly hosts Class 1 power Bell City.

Jackson awaits Poplar Bluff for its Class 5, District 1 opener next week at Cape Central High School.