4A SECTIONAL DOUBLEHEADER; WASHINGTON FIRST ON LADY INDIAN AGENDA

The Class 4A sectional game has been little more than a bump in the Jackson High girls basketball team's postseason drive the last three seasons. The Lady Indians won the three contests by an average of 27 points.

The trend likely will continue when Jackson meets Washington (22-6) tonight at 6:30 at the Farmington Civic Center.

Last season Jackson hammered McCluer 52-20 and in 1996 it beat Gateway Tech 54-38. Both games were at the Civic Center. Both years Jackson went on to place second in the state tournament.

For the Lady Indians, ranked No. 3 in Missouri Class 4A and 23-2 after dominating No. 4 Poplar Bluff 57-33 in the district championship game Friday, anything less than a first-ever state championship will be a disappointment.

"We've got a good chance to win (the state championship) this year. A real good chance," Jackson coach Ron Cook said after Friday's game.

Before meeting either Cor Jesu or Kirkwood in Saturday's quarterfinal game at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Jackson must beat a Washington team that is led by Stephanie Albright, a point guard who averages 11 points a game. No other Lady Blue Jay averages more than seven points.

"She's probably the top player on their team," said Cook. "We'll concentrate on her.

"I understand they rebound well. So it's going to take a team effort to block them off."

Cook said Washington likes to play man-to-man defense, uses full-court pressure and only goes about six or seven girls deep.

Jackson is also piloted by a guard, 5-foot-10 senior Christa Millham. One of the top players in the state, Millham averages 17 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals a game.

Jackson's other four starters each average at least eight points. Junior Melissa Palmer averages 11 points and four rebounds, sophomore Cherish Tillman eight points and a team-high five rebounds, senior Dana Eakins eight points and junior Chrissi Glastetter eight points.

Cook said his team will try to do the same thing it's been doing. That includes a full-court press and different defensive looks.

"Right now I think these girls are anxious to play," Cook said. "The main thing is team unity."

The Lady Indians should feel at home in the Civic Center.

"I think there will be a large crowd," Cook said. "We've been having a good crowd all year. People have been following the girls. With the boys up there (playing Lafayette at 8:15), I expect the lights will be out in Jackson."