Charleston runs away from Jackson

By the time Jackson's defense even came close to slowing down Charleston's fast break it was way too late.

The Bluejays tuned up for Thursday's highly anticipated matchup with Sikeston at the Show Me Center by rolling past host Jackson 74-58 Tuesday night.

Charleston, the defending Class 3 state champion and currently ranked No. 2, improved to 19-2. The Indians fell to 12-9.

"We had a good start and we kind of coasted to the victory," Charleston coach Danny Farmer said. "I wanted to play better in the second half but I'm glad we came out with a victory."

Charleston ran Jackson ragged in the first half, consistently beating the Indians up and down the court for layups, to build a 45-25 lead at the break.

Jackson's Josh Daume takes a shot against Charleston's Trey Watkins during the first quarter Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Jackson made several second-half runs but never cut the deficit under 10 points.

"It was a tough game," Jackson junior wing Karson King said. "We'd like to play a little better but they're a really good team."

Jackson coach Darrin Scott said the Indians simply did not match the Bluejays' early aggressiveness.

"Their aggressiveness got us. They played well," said Scott, whose squad also lost to Charleston by 18 points (72-54) in the semifinals of the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament. "We took quick shots in the first half and didn't get back on defense.

"At halftime we wrote on the board 'toughness.' That was our goal. I thought we did a much better job in the second half of being patient on offense and getting back on defense."

Jackson’s Karson King takes a shot against Charleston during the first quarter Tuesday in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

The Indians led only once all night, at 4-2. There were ties at 2-2, 4-4 and 6-6 before the Bluejays began to assert themselves.

A 10-2 run opened up Charleston's first double-figure lead at 18-8 late in the opening period. It was 22-13 after one.

Jackson scored the first four points of the second quarter to pull within 22-17 -- but that was as close as the Indians got.

Charleston hit Jackson with a 15-0 run to go up 37-17 as Jackson committed five turnovers during the spurt. The Bluejays' converted after just about every miscue.

"We had a good start," all-state senior guard Ryan Parham said. "We came out, ran the break and got easy baskets."

It was 45-25 at halftime as senior forward Sumner Foster scored 18 points, all from within a few feet of the basket.

"We put some pressure on them, stole the ball a few times, got some layups. We turned defense into offense," Farmer said.

The Bluejays twice went up by 22 points early in the second half and it looked like they might post a massive blowout.

Jackson wouldn't allow it, which didn't surprise Parham. He said the Bluejays did not start looking ahead to Thursday's game with Class 4 top-ranked Sikeston, although Farmer wasn't sure.

"Not really," Parham said. "Jackson always plays good at home."

Said Farmer: "We may have [started looking ahead]. You never know."

Regardless, Scott was pleased with the way the Indians kept battling.

Jackson, trailing 56-40 after three quarters, sliced Charleston's lead to 62-52 with just under five minutes left. The Indians had two consecutive possessions to draw closer but failed to capitalize.

Parham answered by finishing two straight drives in traffic, building the margin to 66-52.

The Indians got within 10 points one more time but by then barely a minute remained as Charleston cruised to the win.

"I was proud of the way we kept playing," Scott said. "We played a lot better in the second half."

Foster led Charleston with 19 points. Parham and sophomore guard Delfincko Bogan both scored 13 points.

Senior guard Michael Hull added 10 points before leaving with a foot injury in the second half. He did not return but Farmer said he should be fine for Sikeston.

King paced Jackson with 17 points. Blake Reynolds, a 6-foot-7 junior forward, added 14 points.

Also of note for Jackson, starting junior point guard Josh Daume finally returned to action after missing all but the first few games of the season with a stress fracture.

Daume came off the bench Tuesday as Scott tries to ease him back into the rotation.

"We've missed him," Scott said. "We just wanted him to get in the flow a little bit."

Charleston 22 23 11 18 -- 74

Jackson 13 12 15 18 -- 58

CHARLESTON (74) -- Delfincko Bogan 13, Robert Bogan 6, Ryan Parham 13, Michael Hull 10, Trey Watkins 2, Sumner Foster 19, Shandor Webster 3, Darrion Carter 8. FG 33, FT 6-12, F 13. (3-pointers: D. Bogan 1, Webster 1. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON (58) -- Josh Daume 4, Braxton McDowell 5, Braden Wendel 3, Skyler Steele 2, Karson King 17, Connor Shepard 4, Blake Reynolds 14, Brandon Lueders 7, Luke Stevens 2. FG 23, FT 9-15, F 14. (3-pointers: McDowell 1, Wendel 1, King 1. Fouled out: none)

JV -- Jackson won 42-40 in OT.