Jackson seeks first trip to final four since 2003

~ The Indians play Normandy this afternoon in St. Louis.

The Jackson girls basketball program under coach Sam Sides has emphasized depth and team play.

The Indians, who have averaged more than 20 wins a season during Sides' four years at the helm, are in the state playoffs for the second straight year. Jackson will put its philosophy on the line today with a berth in the Class 5 quarterfinals against Normandy. Tip off is 2:45 p.m. at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Jackson (19-7) and Normandy (19-7) could not be much different statistically.

Normandy is a two-woman show. Shameia Green leads the team with an average of 22.6 points per game, while Jasmine Bailey chips in with 18.8 points per game. Only two other players average more than two points per game.

In comparison, Jackson does not have a single player averaging in double figures but has several players averaging around nine points per game.

Junior guard Kelci Keith has been one of the top scorers late in the season thanks to her outside shooting. Keith hit three 3-pointers in the sectional win over Mehlville.

Senior post players Amanda Peiffer and Gabrielle Garritano have also been among the team's scoring leaders at times, as has junior guard Lindsay Poole.

"You look at any of our kids individually, and we don't have any stats to hang your hat on, but collectively we're a decent team, anyway," Sides said. "We do try to play together."

Normandy got by St. Joseph's Academy in the sectional round with only three scorers. Bailey led the way with 29 points, and Green added 21 to combine for 50 of Normandy's 57 points. St. Joseph's Academy led by 17 points after one quarter, but Normandy stormed back with help from a 23-for-33 performance from the free throw line.

While the Indians had to deal with a bigger opponent in Mehlville in the sectional, Sides said he expects Normandy to be much quicker and try to use dribble penetration.

"This team we're playing, they're going to be a lot quicker, and that's going to be a big key in the game," he said. "I've got a couple of girls with quickness. Cody Goodpasture is as quick as any player we've faced. We'll rely on her a lot on her to control that."

Seven players got into the scoring column in Wednesday's win for Jackson, led by Keith's 15 points. The Indians seemed to wear Mehlville down with their depth as the game went along. Jackson hit four 3-pointers in the game, a staple of its offense.

"We've relied on that all year," Sides said. "We just can't score consistently any way else. We'll have to shoot well [today]."

Along with some key outside shooting in the first half, Jackson's defense was the star Wednesday. For the third straight game, the Indians held an opponent to fewer than 40 points. Mehlville managed just 20 points through three quarters before rallying in the fourth quarter to finish with 35.

Jackson will have to hope its defense can rise to the occasion against Normandy's two-pronged attack. Bailey also is a big threat on the boards, averaging more than 12 rebounds a game.

"You want your defense to be on top of its game, and if we're not, it won't be much of a game if we don't contain them," Sides said.

A win for the Indians would give Sides his first trip to the final four as Jackson's head coach. Sides was an assistant during Jackson's dominant run during the 1990s under longtime coach Ron Cook, which ended with a third-place finish in 2003. The Indians went to seven final fours from 1992 to 2003.

"I've been fortunate in my coaching career to see some finals," Sides said. "It's a great experience. I'd like our girls to experience that. We're looking for that chance."