Jackson boys basketball team claims third consecutive district title

ARNOLD, Mo. -- Members of the Jackson boys basketball team wanted to prove something on Friday during the Class 5 District 1 title game for the third year in a row.

The Indians weren't trying to validate anything to anyone but themselves, and it wasn't just about winning another district championship.

Instead, the Jackson players wanted to show that they aren't "scared of the moment" when it comes to playing in critical games, according to senior guard Braden Wendel.

The Indians confirmed to themselves that they're capable of handling a pressure situation when they defeated Poplar Bluff 73-59 at Fox High School to secure their third consecutive district championship.

"Early in the year, Christmas tournament, conference tournament, we talked about it [being scared of the moment]," Jackson coach Darrin Scott said. "I felt like we played a little scared. We didn't play confident. When we were coming out I said, 'Great teams, if you're going to play great in big games you've got to play with confidence, you've got to have composure, and you've got to communicate.' We had one stretch in the second quarter where I thought we lost that for a little bit, but for the most part we did a great job of that."

Jackson jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the first 2 minutes, 16 seconds of the game after Wendel hit his first three 3-point attempts.

Jackson's Blake Reynolds shoots between Poplar Bluff's Willie Lucas, left, and Joseph Eiler during the first quarter of the Class 5 District 1 championship game Friday, March 6, 2015 in Arnold, Missouri. (Fred Lynch)

The Mules cut it to three with 2:17 left in the quarter when senior guard Abiodun Francis came up with a steal and scored, but the Indians finished the quarter on a 10-0 spurt that ended with a 3-pointer by junior guard Garrett Walker that rimmed in as the buzzer sounded and put Jackson up 25-12 after one.

Wendel made his first four 3-point attempts and had 14 of his 21 points in the first quarter, which helped the Indians build up a lead it would sustain the remainder of the game.

"It's weird -- during shootaround and at the gym this morning I couldn't throw it in the ocean," Wendel said with a laugh. "I was like, 'Oh my gosh, if I get an open look I don't know if I'll be able to put anything in.' I came out and saw that first one go through, and they just let me get open after that."

The offense didn't come quite as easily for Jackson in the second quarter. The Indians were held to two points -- a basket by Walker with 1:12 left in the half -- and the Mules cut it to 27-23 at the break.

Jackson was 1 of 13 from the field, 0 for 4 from beyond the arc and missed a couple of free throws in the period.

"They were doing a good job doubling Blake [Reynolds] and he was kicking it out," Scott said. "We were taking shots that were open, but we were a little quick, a little bit out of rhythm."

The Indians scored the first five points of the second half to push their lead to 10.

Poplar Bluff cut it to five points on a jumper by senior guard Chris Stocks with 25 seconds left in the third, which was as close as the Mules would get.

Members of the Jackson Indians pose for a photo after their 73-59 victory over Poplar Bluff in the Class 5 District 1 championship game Friday, March 6, 2015 in Arnold, Missouri.

It was the first field goal of the game for Stocks, who'd scored 25 on the Indians when the Mules beat them on Jan. 20. He had one point in the first half and finished with a team-high 15.

"We wanted to come out and not make anything easy for Stocks," Jackson senior forward Blake Reynolds said. "Last time we played them he got a lot of easy buckets and was able to get going early, so we wanted to make sure that he didn't see the ball go through the hole in the first half. Jacob Smith did a great job locking him down in the first half and making it tough on him."

Meanwhile, the Indians pounded the ball inside. Reynolds, who finished with 27 points. He had 11 in the third and eight more in the fourth as Jackson extended its lead.

The Indians hit 10 of 11 free throws in the final eight minutes to seal its win.

"We got some easy ones and we got some easy post touches, not only for myself but some of the other guys," Reynolds said. "That was one of our main goals tonight, getting the ball into the post and working from the inside out."

Jackson fans cheer a score against Poplar Bluff during the third quarter of the Class 5 District 1 championship game Friday, March 6, 2015 in Arnold, Missouri.

Jackson (22-6) will face Class 5 District 2 champion Vianney (17-11) in a state sectional at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Missouri.

"They've got more size, not as much quickness, so it'll be a different type of game and it'll change maybe what we get offensively," Scott said. "We've still got to execute. Then for that game it's going to be huge if we can keep Carte'are Gordon from dominating around the basket. We've got to do a good job of taking him away and then we've got to do a good job of limiting their second shots."

Jackson 25 2 20 26 -- 73

Poplar Bluff 12 9 17 19 -- 59

JACKSON (73) -- Blake Reynolds 27, Braden Wendel 21, Garrett Walker 10, Connor Shepard 7, Jacob Smith 4,Terry Venable 3, Jacob Friess 1. FG 23, FT 21-31, F 16. (3-pointers: Wendel 5, Walker 1. Fouled out: Smith, Shepard.)

POPLAR BLUFF (59) -- Chris Stocks 15, Malik Metcalf 10, Patrick Tillman 10, Abiodun Francis 10, Willie Lucas 7, Joseph Eiler 4, Brandon Stuckenschneider 3. FG 17, FT 21-27, F 16. (3-pointers: Francis 2, Stocks 1, Stuckenschneider 1. Fouled out: Eiler, Francis.)