Jackson downs Notre Dame with late shot

~ Tight game is decided by a basket with 8 seconds left.

There is something about Notre Dame that brings out the best in Jackson's Jake Leet.

For the second time in two weeks, Leet burned the Bulldogs.

This time the fire was especially hot.

Leet, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, swished a jumper from about 17 feet away with 8 seconds remaining Friday night, lifting the Indians past the host Bulldogs 65-63.

Notre Dame's Ty Williams, right, and Jackson's Matt Lang, center, struggled for a loose ball Friday night at Notre Dame. Jackson's Aaron Floyd, left, also pursued the ball. (Kit Doyle)

That basket was the last of Leet's 27 points, after he had 31 points against the Bulldogs 13 days ago during Jackson's 61-53 win in the championship game of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament.

"I just get really pumped up when we play them," Leet said.

It seemed like every player who took the court at Notre Dame was especially pumped up for the matchup between two of the area's top high school basketball teams.

A jam-packed, noisy crowd in the Bulldogs' gymnasium -- which only seats about 1,200, according to Notre Dame coach Paul Hale -- witnessed an instant classic.

The Indians (12-5) and Bulldogs (9-6) waged a tense, back-and-forth battle that featured 10 lead changes and six ties. Neither squad led by more than eight points.

Jackson fans and players rushed the court and celebrated after the Indians' 65-63 victory over Notre Dame.

"It had to be fun to watch," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "It was a great atmosphere and a great game."

Jackson appeared to have opened up enough breathing room when the Indians used a 12-0 fourth-quarter run to go ahead 62-54 with under 4 minutes remaining.

The Indians still appeared to be in good shape at 63-56 with a little more than 2 minutes left.

But the Bulldogs rallied with seven straight points, capped by 6-foot-8 senior center Ryan Willen's follow shot with 36 seconds left that made it 63-63 and sent the home fans into a frenzy.

Jackson ran more than 20 seconds off the clock and called a timeout with 13 seconds remaining.

The plan was for Leet -- who had already hit four 3-pointers -- to drive toward the basket and either look for his shot or, if the defense converged, pass off.

"We tried to put shooters on the wings and Jake was going to drive," Scott said. "If they [the defense] helped, he'd kick it out."

Leet received the inbound pass just into his backcourt, took a few dribbles and moved inside the 3-point line.

Two Notre Dame defenders ran out at Leet, but the smooth lefty stepped up and hit nothing but net from straight on about a step or two inside the arc.

"I was supposed to make a good decision, either kick it out or shoot it," Leet said. "I just thought it was there."

Leet smiled when asked how the shot felt when he let it go.

"It felt awesome," he said.

Notre Dame still had a chance, but junior guard John Unterreiner's 3-point attempt from the right corner was partially blocked.

Jackson grabbed the rebound as the Indians' sizable student section stormed the court and mobbed Jackson's players.

"It was a great game, intense," Jackson senior guard Matt Lang said. "Notre Dame's our rivals, the crowd was packed and our fans really showed up tonight."

Lang hit three 3-pointers and added 12 points for the Indians, the same total as 6-5 senior center Hunter Grantham, who scored all his points in the second half after he battled back from three first-half fouls.

Spencer Goodman, a 6-6 senior, who also had three first-half fouls, contributed 10 points.

Notre Dame was led by Unterreiner and senior wing Mark Himmelberg with 15 points apiece.

Willen was held to 14 points by Jackson's physical inside defense. Junior forward Austin Greer added 13 points.

Jackson 19 9 22 15 -- 65

Notre Dame 13 18 19 13 -- 63

Jackson (65) -- Marcus Harris 4, Spencer Goodman 10, Matt Lang 12, Jake Leet 27, Hunter Grantham 12. FG 25, FT 7-15, F 20 (3-pointers: Goodman 1, Lang 3, Leet 4. Fouled out: none)

Notre Dame (63) -- Nick Koeppel 2, Ty Williams 4, Mark Himmelberg 15, John Unterreiner 15, Austin Greer 13, Ryan Willen 14. FG 20, FT 18-25, F 19 (3-pointers: Williams 1, Himmelberg 3, Unterreiner 1. Fouled out: Koeppel)

JV -- Jackson won 51-46.