Jackson rallies from 17-point deficit to defeat Central

~ Jackson overcame a 17-point deficit and defeated Central 51-48.

Jackson senior Jake Leet already has a game-winning shot against conference rival Notre Dame on his resume this season.

And Tuesday night he added a game-winning blocked shot to his list of late-game heroics against SEMO Conference foes.

With his team leading 49-48 with 7 seconds remaining, Leet rejected Central's Jajuan Bell who drove to the basket for a layup. Leet held on to the ball, and the Indians held on for a 51-48 victory at the Show Me Center.

"We knew Jajuan was going to get it because he's a great player," Leet said. "Jajuan just got in there real quick. We've been working all week on helping off, and I think that really helped us out. I just saw him coming, and I helped off."

Jackson's Jake Leet shot over fallen Central defender Derek Walker after they collided during Tuesday's game at the Show Me Center. (Kit Doyle)

Leet also scored 16 points and Spencer Goodman chipped in 17 points as Jackson overcame a 17-point first-quarter deficit to beat the Tigers.

The Indians have beaten Central all four times the two schools have squared off this season. Jackson improved to 17-7 on the season and 7-1 in the conference.

Central took an early lead with some strong shooting from behind the 3-point line. The Tigers hit six treys in the first quarter alone.

The Tigers built a 10-0 lead in the first 2 minutes, 53 seconds of the contest on a free throw by Derek Walker, two 3-pointers by Chase Johnson and a trey from the top of the key by Bell.

Central led 23-8 after one period.

Jackson's Jake Leet shot over Central defender Derek Walker Tuesday night, February 5, 2008, after they collided at the Show Me Center. (Kit Doyle)

Central's Shane Nolen said his team gained cofidence offensively against Notre Dame last week, when the two schools played each other at the Show Me Center and the Tigers scored nine 3-pointers in the first half. Central ended up losing that game by six points.

"We looked at it as if we could play against Notre Dame, then we could play with anybody," Nolen said. "We just wanted to keep the monetum up and play hard 'D.' That just about it."

The Indians added to their early woes by getting into foul trouble.

Starting guard Matt Lang had two fouls in the first 24 seconds, which forced him to the bench, and post-player Hunter Grantham committed two fouls in the period.

"That hurt us a little bit," Leet said. "[Grantham is] a big guy inside and finishes around the basket, and Matt's a great defender."

Goodman added about the Indians slow start: "That's not how we wanted to come out. Once we saw that score, we knew we needed to do something. We knew we needed to start playing like we normally do."

Jackson used the second quarter to dig its way back into the game, outscoring Central 19-7 to head into halftime trailing by just three points at 30-27.

Goodman and Leet combined to score 13 of their team's 19 points in the second quarter. Goodman nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to help his team gain a little extra momentum.

"Our intenesity went up and we played a lot harder," Goodman said of the second period. "I knew I had to get rebounds, keep my hands on the ball, keep it alive and help other people get rebounds.

The game remained tight throughout the third quarter, and it was knotted 41-41 heading into the fourth quarter.

Central led 48-47 with 1:22 remaining in the contest and was in possession of the basketball after a steal by Johnson. The Tigers ran the clock down to 44 seconds before the Indians fouled Walker.

Walker missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Jackson controlled the rebound and called timeout.

Goodman said his team did not discuss a set play. He just said that he and his teammates knew they needed to get off a good shot.

Jackson inbounded and junior Marcus Harris drove the lane with 28 seconds left and scored a layin for a 49-48 advantage.

"That was a big basket," Goodman said. "Marcus got the ball and his guy rushed at him, and he knew he had him on the base line and he took it in for an easy layup."

Central then inbounded to Bell, whose shot was blocked by Leet. Leet hung on to the basketball and drew a foul.

"It was a great help defense," Gooodman said of Leet's block. "He came over and saw Bell going to the basket and he just got up and took it away."

Leet missed his 1-and-1 attempt at the free-throw line, but Grantham collected the rebound, was fouled and then made his two foul shots with 4 seconds remaining.

Bell rushed down the court and put up an attempt at the buzzer but missed.

Jackson 51, Central 48

Jackson 8 19 14 10 -- 51

Central 23 7 11 7 -- 48

Jackson (51) -- Marcus Harris 6, Andrew Shrum 2, Spencer Goodman 17, Matt Lang 2, Jake Leet 16, Hunter Grantham 8. FG 21, FT 7-8, F 14 (3-pointers: Goodman 1, Leet 1. Fouled out: none)

Central (48) -- Jajuan Bell 14, Anthony Watts 6, Chase Johnson 9, Shane Nolen 7, Zach Boerboom 4, Garrett Pannier 3, Derek Walker 5. FG 18, FT 4-7, F 12 (3-pointers: Bell 2, Watts 2, Johnson 2, Nolen 1, Pannier 1. Fouled out: none)