Jackson overcomes giant game by Bell City's Johnson

Dominitrix Johnson put on a second straight show-stopping performance in the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

But Jackson overcame Bell City's brilliant senior guard to come away with a 79-63 quarterfinal victory at the Show Me Center Saturday night.

The fourth-seeded Indians improved to 9-1 and won for the ninth straight time. They'll play top-seeded Charleston at 6 p.m. Monday in the semifinals. The fifth-seeded Cubs fell to 7-2 and will play Notre Dame in Monday's fifth-place semifinals.

Johnson, after scoring 47 points during Friday's first-round win over Meadow Heights, poured in 43 points Saturday. He was Bell City's only double-figure scorer.

Johnson had 23 first-half points as the Cubs led 37-34 at the intermission. Things remained tight for most of the second half. The contest was tied 57-57 midway through the fourth quarter when Jack Puisis hit consecutive 3-pointers to open a 63-57 lead for Jackson. The Indians then were able to pull away down the stretch.

"That was the big difference. It changed the whole game," said Jackson coach Mike Kiehne of the two Puisis 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. "We were kind of able to settle down after that and run the offense a lot easier. I felt like it gave us some breathing room after that."

Puisis and Jason Schafer paced the Indians with 22 points apiece. Tyler McNeely added 21. Puisis hit four 3-pointers.

"I think our defense was a little better in the second half rather than the first," Kiehne said. "I didn't want to double-team Johnson and have some other players beat us."

Bell City 22 15 13 13 -- 63

Jackson 18 16 17 28 -- 79

BELL CITY (63) -- Dominitrix Johnson 43, Derek Pobst 4, Blaine Stewart 2, Zak McIntyre 8, Randy Conn 1, Tyler Victor 5. FG 22, FT 15-21, F 22 (3-pointers: Johnson 1, McIntyre 2, Victor 1. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (79) -- Brad Eaton 8, Ryan Mirly 2, Nick Fiehler 2, Jack Puisis 22, Tyler Beussink 2, Tyler McNeely 21, Jason Schafer 22. FG 27, FT 17-22, F 21 (3-pointers: Eaton 2, Puisis 4, McNeely 1, Schafer 1. Fouled out: none)