Christmas tournament: Jackson slays Central

Tyler Rhodes is a key member of the Jackson basketball squad although he sometimes gets overshadowed by his taller and higher-scoring teammates.

Not Wednesday night.

Rhodes picked a big stage to hit the biggest shot of his high school career.

Rhodes, a 6-foot senior guard, swished a 3-pointer from the left wing with 45 seconds left against Central.

That basket broke a tie and put the Indians ahead 44-41, which was the final score of a thrilling Southeast Missourian Christmas tournament semifinal played in front of a large crowd at the Show Me Center.

Jackson fans celebrate the Indians' 44-41 victory over archrival Central during Wednesday's Southeast Missourian Christmas tournament game at the Show Me Center. (Kristin Eberts)

"I've hit [game-winning] shots in freshmen and seventh grade, but this is the first one on varsity," Rhodes said. "It brings back a lot of memories and creates a lot of memories."

Third-seeded Jackson (8-2) will play two-time defending champion and top seed Scott County Central for the championship at 8 p.m. today. Second-seeded Central (7-2) will face fifth-seeded Charleston at 6:30 p.m. in the third-place contest.

"It's nice to be in the finals," said Jackson coach Darrin Scott, whose squad is there for the first time since winning the title in 2007.

A matchup between archrivals that hardly could have been closer was decided by Rhodes' second basket of the night, the other a 3-pointer in the first quarter.

A basket in close by senior forward Zach McDowell with a little more than two minutes left pulled Jackson into a 41-41 deadlock.

Central's James Lane makes a pass over Jackson's John Meyer, left, and Zach McDowell during the fourth quarter Wednesday.

It was the eighth tie of a contest that also featured 12 lead changes and no advantage bigger than four points.

"Cape and Jackson battles, they're always good games," Jackson 6-8 junior center John Meyer said.

The contest still was even when Jackson gained possession with a little more than a minute remaining.

Scott, who sent Rhodes back into the game moments earlier, called a timeout. While Scott didn't specifically design a play for Rhodes, the coach said he had a feeling.

"When I subbed him back in, I told him he was going to knock down a 3," Scott said. "We had talked about him getting a good look."

Jackson's Zach McDowell powers up for a shot through Cape Central's Zach Boerboom, left, and James Lane during the second quarter of a championship semifinal game during the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament at the Show Me Center on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010. Jackson won 44-41. (Kristin Eberts)

The Indians ran some time off the clock while working the ball around before a pass came to Rhodes on the left wing.

"We were trying to get it down to one of the bigger guys, but if we had an easy kickout, I was going to let it go," Rhodes said. "I was in rhythm and it felt good."

Central still had plenty of chances.

Senior guard Andrew Williams appeared to try to draw a foul while attempting a 3-pointer from the right corner with about 20 seconds left following a timeout. No whistle came and the deflected ball fell several feet short.

After Central committed a foul -- just its sixth of the half, one short of the bonus -- Jackson failed to inbound the ball in the allotted five seconds so the Tigers regained possession.

Central fans cheer during the fourth quarter of Wednesday's game at the Show Me Center.

Williams was well off on another 3-point try with 9 seconds remaining.

The Tigers still weren't through. Jackson senior forward Brad Clary missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 7.3 seconds left.

Williams took several dribbles and got into decent position for a potential tying 3-pointer. His attempt under heavy pressure hit the backboard but drew no rim as the buzzer sounded.

"It was just a hard-fought game. We knew it would be," Central coach Drew Church said. "They hit some shots late. Hats off to the Rhodes kid."

McDowell led Jackson with 14 points. Senior forward Bobby Clark had 12 points and Meyer added 10.

Central's T.J. Tisdale goes up for a shot as Jackson's Bobby Clark defends during the fourth quarter.

Williams paced Central with 13 points. Junior forward T.J. Tisdale added 12.

"Our last few games with them, I don't know if it's great basketball, but it's exciting," Scott said. "When Jackson and Central match up, you expect an exciting, tough, tight game."

The first half alone featured nine lead changes and three ties, including 23-23 at the intermission.

It was 34-31 Central after three quarters. Both squads held a three-point lead in the final period, with Jackson's coming on Rhodes' game-winner.

"It got down close and I got a little scared, but we pulled it off," Meyer said. "Great shot by Tyler."

Meyer, an emerging big man who has improved considerably since last season, is looking forward to tonight's title game against favored Scott County Central and his first meeting with sensational 6-9 senior Otto Porter.

"I always wanted to play against Otto, see how he is," Meyer said.

Jackson 11 12 8 13 -- 44

Central 14 9 11 7 -- 41

JACKSON (44) -- Caleb Newcomer 2, Tyler Rhodes 6, Zach McDowell 14, Bobby Clark 12, John Meyer 10. FG 17, FT 8-9, F 16. (3-pointers: Rhodes 2. Fouled out: none)

CENTRAL (41) -- Andrew Williams 13, T.J. Tisdale 12, James Lane 8, Garan Evans 2, Zach Boerboom 6. FG 14, FT 12-18, F 9. (3-pointers: Williams 1. Fouled out: none)