Jackson takes third place in Ameritime Classic

ST. LOUIS -- Jackson senior guard Linden Hahs scored 12 points Saturday night in the third-place game of the Ameritime Classic on the Maryville University campus. But it was the 30-second span in which Hahs scored six points that turned the tide as Jackson won its matchup with Jefferson City, 45-37.

The Indians' offense wasn't clicking along the first half of the game, until Hahs gave it a much needed injection.

With just over 30 seconds remaining in the first half, Hahs hit a jump shot to bring Jackson with one point of Jefferson City, 14-13. She then stole the inbounds pass and turned it into a layup for the Indians' first lead since the halfway point of the first quarter.

After Jefferson City turned the ball over with 4 seconds remaining in the Jackson end, senior guard Kate Loos found Hahs with a full-court touchdown pass on the inbounds play. Hahs handled the ball perfectly and went in for the layup as the half expired. The Indians (19-3) wouldn't trail again.

Senior forward Ashley Bartels matched Hahs with 12, and sophomore forward Kylie Werner notched nine points.

Bartels was named to the all-tournament team just before the championship game began. St. Joseph's defeated Duchesne 64-40 for its second consecutive Ameritime title.

Jackson coach Sam Sides was content to bring home the third-place trophy.

"I'm real happy with the way it turned out," Sides said. "I thought they came out hard and did a good job."

Jackson spent Friday night in a hotel and Saturday afternoon taking in parts of the city. Sides didn't know how his team would respond with a busy schedule before they hit the court.

"I thought we were fatigued last night," Sides said. "I didn't know how they'd react. But they barreled through real well."

You'd have never known the Indians were tired by their demeanor on the court.

Despite multiple attempts by Jefferson City to pressure Jackson into turning over the ball, it wouldn't. The full-court press didn't work, the half-court trap didn't work. The Indians were careful and cautious with the ball most of the night.

"That's one of our strengths," Sides said. "We're a guard-oriented team and we're quick. We make good decisions with the ball."

When they weren't pushing the ball up the floor at a demon's pace, the Indians were causing havoc on the defensive end. They held the Jay's to six points in the second quarter and forced six turnovers in that quarter alone. Jackson 45, Jefferson City 37

Jefferson City 8 6 8 15 -- 37

Jackson 5 12 11 17 -- 45

JEFFERSON CITY (37) -- Thomas 5, Parker 7, Clark 6, Gerber 2, Culbertson 15, Rudolph 2. FG 16, FT 8-9, F 15 (3-pointers: Parker 1. Fouled out: Clark)

JACKSON (45) -- Ashley Bartels 12, Linden Hahs 12, Kylie Werner 9, Katie Loos 6, Jennifer Ferrell 6. FG 15, FT 14-21, F 8 (3-pointers: Ferrell 1. Fouled out: none)