Indians reach district title game with 62-60 win vs. Central in 2OT

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Central senior Kevin Casasola heaved a desperation 3-pointer from mid-court just before the buzzer sounded.

"I threw it up and was praying the whole time," Casasola said. "It seemed like it took hours."

The shot hit the rim but bounced high into the air and away to conclude Thursday's double-overtime marathon. Jackson survived the scare and earned the 62-60 victory in a Class 5 District 1 semifinal.

"It feels like we won state right now," Jackson senior Henrie Williams said. "It makes it that much sweeter because it was Cape Central. I'm just so excited. I'm on top of the world."

Jackson junior Zach McDowell proved the hero for the Indians down the stretch. He scored with 30.4 second left to even the score at 59-59, but Central's Andrew Williams hit 1 of 2 free throws to give the Tigers the lead with 18.5 seconds left.

Jackson players celebrate a 62-60 double overtime win against Central in their Class 5 District 1 semifinal game Thursday night at Poplar Bluff High School in Poplar Bluff, Mo. (KRISTIN EBERTS)

That's when McDowell delivered again. He took a pass in the corner and swished a jumper to give his team a one-point lead. Williams was shocked to see his teammate toss up the shot.

"At the time, I was like, 'What are you thinking?'" Williams said. "But he's been through a lot. People have been giving him so much stuff with his brother [Seth McDowell] coaching for the other team. He was ready to step up and end this one right, unlike last year."

Central beat Jackson 65-54 in last year's Class 5 District 1 semifinal.

McDowell, who finished with 14 points, never doubted himself when he took the shot that gave his team the lead with 9.3 seconds remaining.

"I had to make a big play for my team and I shot it," he said. "It felt good."

Jackson's Kyle Keith looks to pass as Central's Terrance Howard defends during Thursday's district semifinal game.

McDowell said he's taken that shot countless times in practice and felt comfortable going up for the jumper just a few feet inside the 3-point arc.

"Because there were so many free throws, you kind of visualize what you want to do in your mind when you get down there," McDowell said. "So you have an idea of what's going to happen, but when it happens, you don't know what's happening. You're just in the moment."

Jackson coach Darrin Scott said he considered calling a timeout as he watched his team work the ball down the floor before McDowell's shot. But he quickly considered his options and decided to let his team work on offense.

"Zach had made two shots in a row, so they came up and I was thinking about calling timeout," Scott said. "I was kind of waiting. When Zach caught the ball, I wanted him to shoot. If we'd drawn something up, we couldn't have gotten anything better than that so we took it."

But the victory wasn't secure yet. Central inbounded the ball and junior Blake Ozbun tried dribbling up the sideline along the Jackson bench when Jackson sophomore Caleb Newcomer was whistled for a pushing foul with 4.1 seconds left.

Ozbun stepped to the line with his team down one. His first attempt hit the front of the rim and back back toward him.

"If he makes the first one, we were going to call timeout," Scott said. "When he missed the first one, we were going to let it play out. The big thing there was come up with the rebound and we did."

Ozbun's second attempt rattled around before bouncing out. Williams, Jackson's 6-foot-6 big man, gobbled up the rebound.

"I pride myself on my rebounds," Williams said. "I knew this rebound would be so important to us. I knew I wasn't going to let anybody stop me from getting it."

The Tigers immediately fouled Williams, and he went to the free-throw line to ice the win with 2.8 seconds left. Williams missed the first but hit the second for a two-point lead. That set up Casasola's last-ditch heave.

Casasola dropped to the floor after the shot and remained there while the teams exchanged handshakes after the game. He was helped off the court with his jersey over his head.

Central coach Drew Church said Ozbun shot about 75 percent from the free-throw line during the season.

"I told him, 'Don't forget the feeling, but you've got to put it behind you,'" Church said of his advice to Ozbun after the game. "I told him to remember how this feels in the offseason when we're working and you remember this feeling out here to give you a little extra motivation."

Williams sent the game to overtime when he hit a shot with 37 seconds left in regulation. Neither team led by more than four points from the fourth quarter on. Williams had the chance to end the game after one overtime when he was awarded two free throws with 2 seconds left and his team trailing 53-52. His first attempt bounced high off the rim and rattled home but his second attempt missed.

"When I shot the ball, it seemed like the ball hit everything and I was like, 'Oh man, I hope it goes in,'" he said. "I'm glad I made at least one so we could go to double overtime. I was just saying over and over, 'Please make it, please make it.'"

Williams' miss on his second attempt set up the thrilling final overtime session.

The Tigers wrapped up the season 15-10.

"We had opportunities," Church said. "Tonight wasn't our night. When there was a little opening or a little window when we could do something, something didn't go our way."

The Indians, who improved to 15-11, now must refocus on tonight's district title game. Jackson will face top-seeded Poplar Bluff, which beat Seckman 81-75 in the other semifinal.

"We're young, we'll bounce back," McDowell said. "We'll go home, get a good night's sleep, go through the afternoon walk-through then come down here and be ready to play tomorrow night.

"I think I'll be able to sleep well. I'm pretty tired."

Jackson 62, Central 60

Jackson 19 7 10 12 5 9 -- 62

Central 8 19 9 12 5 7 -- 60

JACKSON (62) -- Taylor Williams 5, Kyle Keith 9, Zach McDowell 14, Henrie Williams 14, Bobby Clark 20. FG 25, FT 8-12, F 15. (3-pointers: T. Williams 1, Keith 3. Fouled out: Keith.)

CENTRAL (60) -- Blake Ozbun 4, Andrew Williams 12, James Lane 16, Terrance Howard 3, Kevin Casasola 17, Zach Boerboom 8. FG 22, FT 10-20, F 12. (3-pointers: Williams 3, Lane 1, Casasola 2. Fouled out: Howard.)